On Site Victim Advocate, Fort Sill, Oklahoma

Provides services in support of the advocacy, intervention, prevention, education and training to address domestic violence under the Army’s Family Advocacy Program (FAP). This position supports the Army’s Victim Advocacy Program (VAP) which provides comprehensive services 24 hours a day, 7 days per week to assist and advocate for victims of domestic abuse and ensure a victim's easy transition to community resources.

Responsibilities

• Serve Soldiers and Army Families living on and off the installation in accordance with program protocol.
• Provide crisis intervention and comprehensive services including emotional support, arrangement of transportation, accompanying victims to medical, legal, and/or law enforcement appointments (when requested), assisting in securing protective orders, emergency food and/or shelter, and information on benefits.
• Work directly with victims to ensure expressed needs are advocated and presented to personnel at intervening agencies.
• Assess imminent risks to the health and/or safety of the victim and make referrals as appropriate.
• Assist victims with navigating the system to obtain desired services and refer victims to appropriate services for continued care.
• Ensure victims of domestic abuse receive sensitive, confidential, and immediate comprehensive care and treatment needed to restore health and well-being.
• Perform initial screening, non-clinical risk and lethality assessment, and safety planning with victims of domestic abuse.
• Assist victims in developing safety plans, conduct lethality assessments, and provide emotional support, crisis intervention, prevention awareness, and education.
• Liaison with the installation Family Advocacy Program Manager (FAPM) to ensure comprehensive victim services and training are provided through a coordinated community response.
• Provide crisis intervention and warm hand-off to community resources for victims not eligible for services through a Military Treatment Facility.
• Provide information on victim rights, services, and resources available on and/or off the installation.
• Coordinate with the FAPM to develop procedures ensuring victims receive timely and appropriate information.
• Make contact with victims either telephonically within 20 minutes or face-to-face within 60 minutes (when requested).
• Explain FAP disclosure and reporting options during initial contact to ensure victims make informed decisions.
• Ensure first responders (Emergency Medical Services and/or law enforcement) are contacted immediately during crisis situations with imminent harm.
• Operate within established guidelines of the FAP and the Victim Advocacy Program, AR 608-18.
• Conduct domestic abuse training and awareness programs for Soldiers, Family members, and Civilians.
• Guide client families through the investigative process, encourage their participation, and help them understand their rights as victims.
• Formulate intervention strategies to improve a family’s coping skills during child abuse case investigations and prosecution.
• Identify and meet the needs of children and families in crisis.
• Educate non-offending caregivers about the dynamics and possible long-term consequences of child abuse.
• Assess family needs and encourage non-offending caregivers to participate in recommended services and counseling.
• Provide information and assistance with completing Crime Victims’ Compensation applications.
• Serve as a liaison between the family and multidisciplinary team members as needed.
• Assist multidisciplinary team members in identifying client needs and providing recommendations.
• Represent the child and family’s best interest at multidisciplinary team case review meetings.
• Accompany non-offending caregivers to court or other appointments, when requested.
• Participate in relevant community awareness campaigns and prevention events.
• Maintain ongoing case management with data entry completed within three business days.
• Ensure daily contact with a victim while in crisis and no less than every 30 days when not in crisis.
• Transfer cases appropriately when a victim departs the servicing area; close cases with concurrence from the FAPM when advocacy services are completed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited school in social work, psychology, marriage, family and child counseling, counseling or behavioral science, education, community health, or public health.
• Two years’ experience working with victims of domestic abuse/sexual assault violence or victim advocacy services.
• Working knowledge of family violence dynamics, safety planning, risk assessments, local community resources, and federal and state laws pertaining to domestic abuse or sexual assault, family law, and the Victim Rights Bill.
• Ability to intervene in crisis situations using sound professional judgment, ethical practice, and common sense.
• Ability to work independently to assess risk, develop, implement, and evaluate safety and intervention plans to meet victim needs.
• Demonstrated understanding, sensitivity, and empathy for victims.
• Ability to develop trusting, helping relationships.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals and families from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to work cooperatively with military and civilian medical, social service, law enforcement, and legal personnel on behalf of victims.
• Possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted motor vehicle license.
• Possess transportation to transport victims in crisis (non-emergent) situations as a last resort.
• Ability to provide on-call 24 hours/7 days per week victim advocacy services.

Schedule

• Part-time positions vary in hours from 12 – 35 hours per week.
• Flexible schedule required, including primarily nights, weekends, and some hours during the day, depending on the needs of the installation.