Part-time Crisis Advocate at The Bridge to Hope in Menomonie, WI

Primary responsibilities

Job Description for Crisis Advocate

This is a part-time, non-exempt position providing services to adults and youth who are victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking, and are residing in our emergency shelter in Menomonie, WI. This person reports directly to the Director of Domestic Abuse Services at The Bridge to Hope.  This person is expected to:

• Meet and communicate on a regular basis with all shelter residents, providing services in a trauma-informed manner to promote their healing and self-empowerment.
• Collaborate with the Legal Advocate to ensure that shelter client’s legal needs, victim rights, and victim compensation needs are being met.
• Collaborate as needed with the Sexual Assault Victim Advocate if shelter resident (or their children) have experienced sexual violence or abuse during their lifetime.
• Collaborate with the Housing Specialist if shelter client needs assistance in obtaining permanent housing, or interventions with current or past landlords, or assistance with changing locks, etc.
• Collaborate with the Youth and Family Advocate to ensure that the educational, emotional and physical needs of shelter children are being met and provide fun and educational activities and materials to shelter children.
• Collaborate as needed for any other victim services to meet the individual needs of clients, including physical or mental health, substance abuse treatment, transportation, and other advocacy services as needed.  Assist victims with educational/vocational needs, issues related to employment, and childcare.
• Assist shelter clients as needed in contacting other agencies or community services.
• Schedule and facilitate shelter house meetings as needed and facilitate peaceful conflict resolution with shelter residents.
• Meet regularly with the Director of Domestic Abuse to review shelter client’s needs and challenges and to assist with any conflict resolution.

Shelter Operations:

• Maintain the safety, cleanliness, and smooth operations of the emergency shelter and routinely check rooms and living areas for safety and health issues.
• Regularly assess food and sanitation issues in refrigerators and cupboards.
• Communicate any repair or maintenance needs to the Executive Director, or Director of Domestic Abuse Services and contact appropriate businesses for needed services.
• Maintain and oversee safety and sanitation issues in outside areas of shelter such as back yard. Maintaining and supervising the clothing and bedding supplies for victims.
• Check security features on a regular basis.

Other Responsibilities

• Respond as needed to crisis calls, drop-ins, or provide personal advocacy with victims by appointment. Provide emergency transportation, and transportation as needed to court or meetings with law enforcement, to other agencies, or to safe locations as needed.
• Provide support and information to victims on the dynamics and patterns of domestic abuse, victim danger assessment, trauma assessment, safety planning, and assertiveness.

CULTURAL INCLUSIVITY: All staff are expected to be respectful, sensitive, and responsive to gender, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexual orientation and gender orientation as demonstrated in ability to communicate and interact with other staff, adults and youth.

• Recognize the importance of multicultural sensitivity, and that we hold attitudes and beliefs that can detrimentally influence our perceptions of and interactions with individuals who are diverse from ourselves.
• Apply culturally appropriate skills in all interactions with clients, co-workers, volunteers, partner agencies, and other community members.
• Use organizational change processes to support culturally informed organizational policies & procedures.
• Deliver programs and services in a manner that is respectful and sensitive to clients’ cultural experiences.

In addition, the Crisis Advocate will:

• Attend regularly scheduled staff meetings.
• Attend regional and state trainings by End Domestic Abuse WI, WCASA, VOCA, and others.
• Report and enter required client information into agency data base. Report monthly activities to director in a timely manner. Maintain accurate time sheets.
• Perform other duties as required.
• Be available for a rotation of the following shifts: M-F 3:45-10 pm, 9:45 pm-8:00 am, Sa-Sun and Holidays: 7:45 am-3 pm, 2:45-10 pm, 9:45 pm-8 am