Youth Advocate

Provides crisis intervention and advocacy services for youth and young adults in Yates, Ontario, and Seneca County who have experienced or witnessed dating violence domestic and family violence, child abuse, and sexual violence, risky online behaviors, sexual exploitation, and those at risk for human trafficking. Conducts client needs assessments, makes referrals to other victim services, and connects clients with community resources. Provides trauma-informed advocacy, maintains case documentation, and supports clients with various needs.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Conducts comprehensive assessments of client needs during the initial crisis period, provides referrals to other victim services, and facilitates connections with additional community support services for additional assistance.
• Manages a caseload and ensures timely and accurate completion of case notes with the Agency database.
• Provides trauma-informed advocacy by helping clients with goal planning, offering crisis intervention, developing safety plans, helping to build skills and providing consistent follow-up services to ensure ongoing support. Meets with clients in the community to assist them in overcoming vulnerabilities.
• Makes mandated child abuse reports to local law enforcement and State Central Registry as appropriate.
• Utilizes and applies the Safe Harbor Act, Title IX, and the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) in client interactions and services.
• Collaborates with the Child Advocacy Center of the Finger Lakes and District Attorneys’ offices and assists with family court orders of protection and other court matters that protect youth survivors of abuse.
• Engages, communicates, and builds rapport with youth, family members, and professionals, including during phone conversations and when leaving voicemail messages.
• Maintains and cultivates professional relationships with community youth agencies and attends community meetings to foster collaboration.
• Participates in outreach activities and agency awareness events to promote services and increase community engagement.
• Covers a 24-hour hotline for approximately four weeks per year offering immediate support and guidance to individuals in crisis.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• A High School diploma with two years of experience working with vulnerable populations is required, while an Associate degree in human services with the same experience is preferred.

BILINGUAL CANDIDATES

• Candidates who are bilingual may qualify for an enhanced starting wage of $25.15 per hour.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively present in public forums.
• Skilled in addressing and discussing sensitive issues.
• Ability to establish and maintain networks of professional relationships.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, demonstrating a capacity to effectively prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
• Proficient in multitasking and managing workload efficiently under pressure, while maintaining professionalism and composure.
• Ability to demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity to other perspectives.
• Demonstrated flexibility to adapt to different work and communication styles of colleagues and clients.
• Demonstrated ability to solve problems using analytical skills and abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain composure and professionalism under stress.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Regularly required to walk, sit, use hands; and reach with hands and arms.
• Manual dexterity is required, including the frequent ability to grasp in both hands and continuous use of fine manipulation skills in both hands.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to various weather conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Occasional exposure to bodily fluids.