Domestic Violence Victim Advocate - Black Hawk County, Iowa

Domestic Violence Victim Advocate – Black Hawk County, Iowa

Make a difference. Support survivors. Strengthen our community.

Organizational Overview:
For over 130 years, Waypoint has been dedicated to inspiring people to move forward. We continuously evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of individuals, children, and families in our community through a variety of services and resources. Through this work, we remain devoted to improving lives and strengthening our community.

Position Summary:

As a Domestic Violence Victim Advocate at Waypoint, you'll support adult and teenage survivors of domestic abuse through compassionate advocacy, short-term counseling, crisis intervention, education, and connection to resources.

This is more than a counseling role. You'll walk alongside survivors as they navigate difficult circumstances, helping them understand their options and make decisions that are right for them. You'll also have the opportunity to educate our community, build partnerships, and advocate for greater awareness and understanding of domestic violence.

If you're someone who builds trust easily, stays calm in challenging situations, communicates with compassion, and believes in empowering people rather than making decisions for them, this could be the role for you.

Pay & Schedule

Location:

Black Hawk County – Waterloo, Iowa

Starting Pay: $45,000 per Year

Schedule:

Full-Time, 40 Hours per Week (hours may vary to meet agency and client needs)

Why You'll Love This Job –

• Your work has immediate impact. You'll have the opportunity to support survivors during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

• No two days look exactly the same. You'll balance individual advocacy, counseling, groups, crisis response, community education, and outreach.

• You'll build meaningful relationships. You'll walk alongside survivors, helping them identify their strengths, understand their options, and make decisions for themselves.

• You'll connect with the community. From presentations to partnerships, you'll help increase awareness and strengthen the community response to domestic violence.

• You'll be part of something bigger. Your work contributes to Waypoint's mission of creating safer, stronger communities and empowering people to move forward.

• You'll continue to grow. Waypoint provides Victim Counselor Training (within your first 6 months) and supports your path toward Certified Advocate status through ICADV (required in first year of employment).

What You'll Do –

In this role, you will:

Support & Advocate for Survivors

• Provide short-term individual counseling, advocacy, and education to adult and teenage survivors of domestic abuse.

• Provide on-site and mobile services to meet survivors where they are.

• Help survivors explore options, access resources, and make informed decisions.

• Facilitate support, educational, and healing groups.

• Provide crisis intervention and support through crisis lines as needed.

• Make appropriate referrals for needs outside the scope of domestic violence services.

Educate & Engage the Community

• Provide presentations, workshops, and educational programming on domestic violence and related issues.

• Participate in community outreach and speaking engagements.

• Build relationships with community partners and participate in coalition-building efforts.

• Advocate for victims of crime and increase community awareness of domestic violence and available resources.

Support the Program

• Maintain accurate documentation and provide required statistical information for grant reporting.

• Participate in on-call responsibilities as assigned, including evening and weekend hours.

• Provide guidance and oversight to practicum students and volunteers as needed.

What You'll Bring – The ideal person for this role is compassionate, resilient, adaptable, and able to build trusting relationships while remaining calm and professional in challenging situations.

You'll thrive in this role if you are:

Aligned with Waypoint's values:
Have Compassion, Instill Ownership, Empower People, and Embrace Diversity.

Compassionate and nonjudgmental – You create a safe, respectful environment where survivors feel heard, valued, and…