Survivor Advocacy Intern Position Description

At Unbound Now, it has always been our aim to fight for the protection of the vulnerable, identify the exploited, and advocate for survivors of human trafficking on their path to restoration. We are motivated by our faith in Jesus and work each day as people who are hope-driven, service-oriented, and excellence-focused. To learn more about our values, please read our Statement of Faith. 

Title: Survivor Advocacy Intern

Internship Status: Part-Time | Unpaid

Location: Local Office

Summary: The primary function of the Survivor Advocacy Intern is to work alongside the Advocates in the Survivor Advocacy Program as they provide crisis response and ongoing individualized case management and support for survivors of human trafficking. Additionally, the Survivor Advocacy Intern will assist with administrative duties such as monitoring the client clothing closet, assisting with advocate documentation, and furthering the Dignity Program.

Availability:  Determined in alignment with the intern’s academic requirements, school-related goals, and Unbound Now's work hours and needs.

Working Conditions: Work is typically conducted in a standard office or professional setting. On rare occasions, duties may require performing tasks in environments with exposure to extreme weather conditions, fumes, odors, or elevated noise levels.

Travel:This position may require limited travel for training and team/professional development

opportunities. May require travel to meet with clients.

Requirements:

• Mature Christian faith, as evidenced by participation in a local Christian church 


• Agree to and pass all required criminal background checks and child abuse registry checks


• High level of emotional maturity and responsibility


• Strong work ethic - consistent and reliable


• Excellent organizational and administrative abilities


• Commitment to excellence and professionalism in services provided


• Excellent relational, communication, and interpersonal skills


• Ability and willingness to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information


• Training and experience in survivor-centered, trauma-informed services


• Ability to build trust and good working relationships with others


• Appreciation of the need for cultural competency


• Participate in ongoing training


• Abide by all Unbound Now Policies and procedures, including Unbound Now’s Abuse Prevention and Response Policy

Objectives & Responsibilities:

Providing advocacy services for clients under the supervision of a field instructor:

• Alongside Unbound Now advocates, respond to calls from law enforcement, CST care coordinators, and other referral sources when on call; arrive at the victim's location within the required time frame.


• Assess vulnerability for exploitation of youth at-risk by utilizing the Commercial Sexual Exploitation Identification Tool (CSE-IT).


• Assist advocates in meeting the immediate physical needs of survivors - clothes, food, toiletries.


• Assist Unbound Now advocates in providing ongoing advocacy, case management, and emotional support to survivors.


• Assist with coordinating referrals, service planning, and documentation of services.


• Assist advocates in meeting with each assigned client according to the required face-to-face visits and maintain communication through other means in between meetings.


• Recognize red flag behavior and report to the Director of Survivor Advocacy or the Regional Director.


• Report any suspicions of abuse or neglect to the Director of Survivor Advocacy or the Regional Director, and to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), as required by state-mandated reporter laws.


• Assist the Advocacy Program Support Specialist with the client closet by organizing and assisting clients who come shopping.


• Alongside Unbound Now advocates, conduct comprehensive assessments, develop service plans, and make decisions in the field regarding the safety and well-being of assigned clients.


• Alongside Unbound Now advocates, document all interactions with survivors, their families, and partner agencies within the required time frame, generally within 24-72 hours.


• Build and maintain good relationships with organizations that provide services relevant to trafficking survivors.


• Attend MDT meetings with other agencies to better assist clients.


• Utilize evidence-based and promising practices to provide effective case management services (relationship-based TBRI, trauma-informed, survivor-centered, and motivational interviewing).


• Assist by contacting partner organizations to gather accurate information that guides Advocates in providing services to clients.


• Assist in expanding the Dignity Program by contacting businesses to provide needed services for clients.


• Attend training and conferences to gain skills and knowledge that will facilitate professional development and ethical practice.


• Attend weekly staff meetings, supervision, and advocacy team meetings.


• Participate in Unbound Now’s Advocacy Resiliency Group.

*This position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the intern candidate. The scope of the position may change as necessitated by organizational demands

Expectations of an Intern:  

• Intern will agree to complete and pass background checks before working with or having access to confidential information of any clients.


• Intern will complete the 40-hour pre-service training and risk management training before meeting in person with any clients.


• The intern will complete additional advocacy training throughout the internship.


• The intern will perform advocacy duties under the supervision of staff.


• Intern will complete assigned tasks within a given time frame or on time.


• Intern will discuss professional development and ethical dilemmas during weekly supervision.


• Intern will maintain confidentiality of clients during and after internship, in compliance with Unbound Now policies and state and federal laws, unless legally compelled otherwise.


• Intern will agree to abide by all Unbound Now policies and procedures, and comply with all applicable state and federal laws, including mandated reporter laws.


• Arriving on time for all assigned shifts is essential


• Commit to once weekly in-person meetings with the supervisor


• Participate in weekly team meetings/case staffings 

Expectations of Unbound Now:

• Unbound Now will provide opportunities to meet with clients and practice SW skills.


• Unbound Now will provide opportunities for continued education.


• Unbound Now will provide weekly supervision to discuss professional development and ethical dilemmas.


• Unbound Now will provide feedback for school assignments on time.


• Unbound Now will provide supervision over the intern's job responsibilities.


• Will the intern be paid? Yes___ No X


• Will the intern receive mileage reimbursement? Yes___ No X

Physical Requirements: 

• Demands frequently require close visual attention


• Demands frequently require prolonged mental concentration


• Demands sometimes require the ability to lift loads to 50 pounds

Internship Relationships:

Supervisor:  Director of Survivor Advocacy/Unbound Now Regional Program Director

Works with: Other Unbound Now team (particularly the CSEY advocacy team), and partner agency staff (detention centers, schools, etc),

Supervises: None

Unbound Now is not obligated to offer full-time employment to an intern at any point before or after the internship period. Similarly, interns are not obligated to accept employment or continue any relationship with Unbound Now upon completion of their internship.