Bilingual Advocate

Position Type: Full Time (37.5 hours per week)

Schedule: Regular hours are Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. This position also requires participation in a rotating coverage schedule for evenings, overnights, weekends, and holidays as needed.      

Location:  On-Site, Torrington, CT

Salary Range:  $22.50-$24.50 per hour, based on qualifications and experience

Summary:  To facilitate healing of primary and related sexual assault victims/survivors by providing sound emotional support to victims/survivors within 26 Latinx cultural groups within the service area and acting as advocate with legal, medical, and other social service professionals. Provide outreach to service area community to facilitate referrals for services.

Responsibilities:

• Accompany adult victims/survivors to a hospital or private physician, police and/or court when requested. To provide advocacy and /or emotional support upon victim's/survivor's request
• Provide individual and group counseling (phone and in person), emotional support, and options to victims/survivors and their significant others and to make referrals when necessary/appropriate
• Coordinate with other staff to provide crisis line coverage during business hours and be available for after-hour shifts
• Keep informed of all services, referral resources, legislation, and policies regarding victims/survivors of sexual assault
• Make referrals when appropriate - such as private therapy, other SBAP services, DCF, etc.
• Co-facilitate support groups and make every effort to provide childcare, if necessary
• Provide court preparation, accompaniment when appropriate/requested
• Provide application and information and support for Victim Compensation funds
• Maintain and provide service data/statistics as required
• Assist with community education and provide in-services as requested
• Assist in assessing needs for and designing and implementing support groups for victims/survivors and/or their significant others
• Assist with outreach as needed to let area agencies know about SBAP victim services
• Participate in individual and group supervision including advocate meetings and co-facilitator meetings
• Serve as back up to sexual assault child advocate, as needed
• Be an ambassador for Susan B. Anthony Project. Participate in events, programs and promotions of awareness and advocacy
• Other duties as assigned to further the mission of the agency

Qualifications:

• Education and experience that may have been gained through relevant training, employment, or volunteer experience.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish (Speaking, reading, and writing)
• Knowledge of counseling and social services
• Ability to understand and incorporate the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence into work
• Ability to understand and incorporate political/system's perspective of domestic violence/sexual abuse issues into work
• Training - certification as DV/SA counselor per statute
• Willingness to participate as a member of a team to enhance agency communication and operation
• Excellent problem solving, communication and follow up skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Platform, and/or other programs
• Use of positive communications and proactive conflict resolution
• Ability to work with other agencies, systems, board and volunteers
• Daily access to a car with a valid CT driver’s license
• Able to lift and move 25 pounds
• Patience and a sense of humor

Employees who are required to be certified to provide direct service to clients under the CGS 52-146K and the managers to these employees, are considered essential personnel. Their classification as essential personnel require coverage of critical crisis services and residential presence during all shifts; daytime, nights, overnights, weekends, holidays, storms and other emergency situations

Benefits:

• Paid time off and holidays
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Supplemental insurance options through Aflac
• 403(b) retirement savings plan