Sexual Assault Advocate

Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Sexual Assault Advocate provides trauma-informed, survivor-centered support to individuals impacted by sexual violence. Core responsibilities include crisis intervention, short-term counseling, comprehensive advocacy (criminal, civil, general, and institutional), prevention education, and community outreach. This role is structured in alignment with Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA) service standards and the Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Act (SASETA).

All advocates are trained and expected to maintain foundational skills across all service areas; however, individual staff members may concentrate more heavily in certain areas (e.g., counseling, outreach, criminal justice advocacy, or prevention education) based on their experience, background, professional development goals and funding.

Requires participation in a 24-hour on-call rotation to respond to calls on the AAFS sexual assault and domestic violence hotline and in-person response to sexual assault survivors at hospitals, court, and with police.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Crisis Intervention & Counseling

• Deliver short-term, survivor-centered counseling focused on healing, normalizing all trauma responses, and empowerment.
• Work with survivors to develop healthy coping strategies and safety plans tailored to their individual needs and identities.
• Maintain a safe, confidential counseling / crisis intervention environment.

Hotline Coverage & Medical Advocacy

• Participate in a rotating 24-hour on-call schedule, providing crisis intervention via hotline and in-person response (e.g., hospital or law enforcement accompaniment).
• Demonstrate trauma-informed, culturally responsive communication techniques that reflect an understanding of the diverse help-seeking strategies and coping mechanisms.
• Provide immediate emotional support, resources, and safety planning during crises, ensuring each survivor feels heard and empowered.
• Deliver hospital advocacy during sexual assault forensic exams, educating survivors about medical and legal rights under SASETA.
• Offer information, guidance, and emotional support to significant others.
• Share information about community and AAFS resources; make immediate referrals.

Advocacy & Support Services

• Criminal justice advocacy:
  Accompany and support survivors during interactions with law enforcement, prosecutors, and throughout court proceedings.
• Civil justice advocacy:
  Assist with protective orders, Title IX / campus complaints, crime victim compensation, VESSA, Safe Homes Act, and other civil processes.
• General advocacy:
  Coordinate with schools, social service agencies, DCFS, housing agencies, healthcare providers, and other institutions on behalf of survivors; provide case coordination when needed.
• Institutional advocacy:
  Engage with systems to improve survivor access, safety, and outcomes through policy advocacy and collaboration.
• Accompaniment and systems navigation:
  Provide in-person or virtual support and advocacy to survivors during medical, legal, or social service appointments.

Prevention Education & Outreach

• Design and implement evidence-based, age-appropriate curricula addressing topics such as consent, healthy relationships, and bystander intervention.
• Develop and implement community presentations, professional trainings, and awareness campaigns.
• Deliver culturally responsive programming, with an emphasis on engaging Arab, Muslim, and other underserved communities.
• Build partnerships with educators, youth programs, religious leaders, service providers, and other community partners.
• Evaluate outreach efforts and prepare narrative summaries and data reports for funders and stakeholders.
• Support educational and awareness activities, such as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), in collaboration with other team members by organizing and attending events.

Social Justice & Community Awareness

• Engage in public education activities that address the root causes of sexual violence including oppression, inequality, and structural injustice.
• Promote community awareness campaigns, social justice initiatives, and survivor visibility through events, media, and advocacy.
• Contribute to ongoing efforts to create inclusive, equitable environments for all survivors.

Agency & Program Support

• Attend team meetings, supervision, and mandatory professional development.
• Collaborate with team members on program growth and survivor support strategies.
• Assist in new-hire onboarding by modeling trauma-informed, empathetic…