Shelter Advocate

Shelter Advocate

Provides crisis intervention, empowerment and advocacy to victims of domestic violence in shelter and on the crisis line. This position provides shelter coverage and some clerical duties.

Essential responsibilities include:

• Providing direct service/advocacy/peer support to victims of domestic violence; maintaining client confidentiality; completing client intakes according to shelter policies and procedures.
• Answering crisis hotline and providing referrals and crisis intervention as needed.
• Keeping Assistant Director apprised of all issues, concerns, and behaviors that affect the resident's case plan, as well as their safety and well-being; reporting suspicion of child abuse to AD immediately.
• Enforcing the rule of no physical discipline of children in shelter, which includes being supportive of mothers who are trying to learn non-physical discipline techniques.
• Creating and maintaining an atmosphere of support and assistance for all residents; contacting each resident during your shift to ensure their needs are being met.
• Maintaining the shelter in a clean and orderly manner; assisting residents with chores as needed to provide life skills training and mentoring.
• Providing childcare, with mother's permission, as needed and on a limited basis for jobs, medical, counseling, and legal appointments, as well as landlord interviews with approval from AD.
• Ensuring fire and safety regulations are enforced.
• Assisting with receiving, recording and storing donations.
• Submitting documentation in the "Transfer Log" every shift to provide smooth transition and open communication between others working in the shelter.
• Attending monthly staff meetings and agency in-service training; participating in staff development activities.
• Complying with agency policies and procedures, COA regulations, federal and state requirements, and educational/certification/registry requirements.

Qualifications include:

• Ability to work with a diverse population.
• Ability to work in a stressful/crisis-oriented environment.
• Displaying a caring, compassionate attitude.
• Understanding of domestic violence in the family and in the larger society.
• Ability to meet agency requirements for criminal background check (Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation).

Minimum educational/licensure requirements:
High school degree or equivalent, pursuing a degree in social work and/or related field experience. Certification of CPR and First Aid.