Tribal Victim Services Advocate

JOB TITLE: Tribal Victim Services (TVS) Advocate

          DEPARTMENT/LOCATION: Social Services Department

SCHEDULE AND FTE: Regular shift schedule for up to five consecutive days (including some weekend days) for a total of 40 hours each week.

            POSITION SUMMARY:

Provides immediate and ongoing assistance to Native American victims of crime, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, and elder abuse in Brown County, the Kickapoo Reservation, and surrounding areas. Provides advocacy, crisis intervention, safety planning, emotional support, resources and referrals, and case management services to victims.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Identify risk, safety plan, make referrals, coordinate services, and plan for a healthy future by providing case management services and coordinating client needs with collateral agency services.

Responds to calls, walk-ins, and crises. Provide emergency assistance, confer with law enforcement and prosecutors. Assist with court orders, making provisions to meet observed and stated needs within program guidelines. Conducts phone and in-person assessments.

Networks with service agencies to inform and educate regarding the impact of violence in tribal communities, inform and educate community partners regarding the unique experience of Native Americans experiencing violence and the system responses to them, promote the TVS Program, brainstorm, and suggest options and alternatives for victims.

Organize data and victim information; enter data into the confidential data management system.

Assist in developing, coordinating, and delivering culturally relevant community outreach, awareness, and education services in venues such as health fairs, community events, in-service trainings, workshops, community meetings, informative presentations, and awareness campaigns; and coordinate and facilitate support groups while managing volunteer support systems within the service area.

Identify the needs of the service participants and respond by developing, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating services provided to victims through TVS.

Complete other duties as assigned by the Social Services Director.

Requirements:

At a minimum, hold an associate degree in psychology, social work, criminal justice, or other social service-related field or a High School Diploma/GED and certification as an advocate. One year of similar or related experience advocating for individuals in need of assessments, referrals, support services, and case management.

Preferred qualifications include two or more years providing direct services to victims while working in advocacy and a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, criminal justice, or another social service-related field.

Have a valid Kansas driver’s license free of restrictions. Must be insurable by KTIK and hold current automobile insurance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of human behavior and trauma responses.


• Knowledge of technology in data management, communication, report-writing, and research.


• Knowledge of vicarious trauma and an understanding of the effects of exposure to others’ physical and emotional trauma experiences.


• Knowledge of the criminal system, including processes and procedures.


• Knowledge of conflict mediation, crisis intervention, and peer counseling techniques.


• Knowledge of community resources that are available for social, medical, and economic assistance.


• Knowledge of data collection, case documentation requirements, and standards for report writing.


• Skill of active listening.


• Skill of social perceptiveness.


• Skill of effectively managing time.


• Skill of critical thinking and effective communication even in stressful situations.


• Skill of developing options and problem-solving.


• Ability to work efficiently in a team environment while also being a self-starter able to effectively work independently.


• Ability to maintain a professional work ethic, manner, and appearance. Must be reliable, dependable, and responsible. Must be honest, ethical, and able to comply with strict confidentiality standards.


• Ability to maintain composure, keep emotions in check, control anger and frustration, even in very difficult situations, and the ability to empathize with others and understand their perspective.


• Ability to attend out-of-town training courses to periodically enhance job performance.


• Ability to be available and share responsibility for on-call rotations of the crisis line, usually responding by phone but occasionally needing to respond in person.

Conditions of Employment:

Must pass a Background Investigation

Must pass a pre-employment Drug Screen

Indian Preference Exercised.