Victim Advocate (LAP)

About the role

The Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) was implemented to identify risk factors for homicide in intimate partner domestic violence relationships. The LAP Victim Advocate receives referrals from partnering law enforcement agencies and provides outreach to victims who have had police contact or wish to file a police report. The LAP Victim Advocate will be responsible for following up on police referrals and providing casework services to clients including crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, information and referrals, emergency financial assistance, and claims filing.

Position Responsibilities

• Complete intakes with victims seeking services as outlined by policy and procedure to determine eligibility for services and identify victim needs.
• Review consent and confidentiality with victims on a regular basis.
• Provide eligible and needed services to victims including but not limited to crisis counseling, safety planning, advocacy, accompaniment, information and referrals, and Office of Victim Services claims filing.
• Maintain effective and respectful relationships with professionals in the Criminal Justice System including but not limited to officers, attorneys, Child Protective Services workers, etc.
• Complete all administrative tasks as assigned on a timely basis, including but not limited to documenting all activities, preparing weekly and monthly activity reports, maintaining up-to-date case records, and inputting into the client database.
• Evaluate and dispense emergency financial assistance to victims as needed and approved by supervisors.
• Cover incoming calls on the 24-hour Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis/Crime Victims hotlines for a designated period during business hours and after hours through the on-call rotation.
• Provide community outreach through presentations and tabling events.
• Aid in fundraising and special events (some of these may be outside agency hours of operation).
• Build and maintain effective and trusting relationships with professional in the Criminal Justice System including but not limited to officers, attorneys, Child Protective Services workers, etc.
• Complete and maintain training certification as NYS DOH Rape Crisis Counselor.
• Complete NYS Mandated Reporter training; report any behavior or implication of behavior of child abuse to the appropriate authorities.

Essential Requirements

• Must be able to get to and from various work locations throughout the day and during on-call hours.
• Must be reachable outside of office hours as needed and have the ability to work irregular hours on short notice.
• Must have a cellphone willing to use for work (will be reimbursed) with effective coverage for the Dutchess County area.

Skills and Abilities

• Clear and effective communication, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work effectively when under extreme pressure.
• Ability to work independently, but relate issues to manager, as appropriate.
• Possess empathy and compassion.
• Possess out of the box thinking, resourcefulness, and strong advocacy skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain working relationships within respective law enforcement agencies, other community agencies and stakeholders.
• Ability to remain organized and complete administrative tasks, such as documenting activities and maintaining up-to-date records, in a timely manner.
• Strong computer skills, including a working knowledge of an e-mail package and MS software programs: Word and Excel.

Our Mission

To support people, strengthen families, and nurture safer, healthier communities.

Our Values

• Compassion – Extending empathy and understanding to others.
• Integrity – Being honest and dependable.
• Hope – Believing in the strength of the human spirit and heart, to emerge and thrive when faced with a challenge.
• Diversity – Promoting a vision of community comprised of wide-ranging assets.
• Respect – Treating all individuals with dignity and without judgement.
• Community – Recognizing and reinforcing the importance of our world as being comprised of people of differing strengths and perspectives.
• Justice – Promoting social and economic equity and fairness.
• Quality – Aspiring for excellence in every aspect of our work.

Work Environment

The Family Services, Inc. Center for Victim Safety and Support is a 24 hour crisis center. LAP Advocates will split their time between advocating/interacting with community agencies and systems, meeting with individuals and working on a team at the Center for Victim Safety and Support, completing documentation and administrative responsibilities and participating in meetings at Family Services.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match up to 5%.
• Generous paid vacation, holiday, sick and personal time package (2 weeks’ vacation in first year, 13 paid holidays per year, 12 sick days per year and 4 personal days per year).
• Access to Family Services’ Compassionate Leave Program where employees can donate/receive unused time off.
• Group term life and long-term disability insurance.
• Supplemental life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment coverage (AD&D), Supplemental insurance through Aflac.
• Employee assistance program (EAP).
• Pet insurance.

Our Mission

To support people, strengthen families, and nurture safer, healthier communities.

Our Values

• Compassion – Extending empathy and understanding to others.
• Integrity – Being honest and dependable.
• Hope – Believing in the strength of the human spirit and heart, to emerge and thrive when faced with a challenge.
• Diversity – Promoting a vision of community comprised of wide-ranging assets.
• Respect – Treating all individuals with dignity and without judgement.
• Community – Recognizing and reinforcing the importance of our world as being comprised of people of differing strengths and perspectives.
• Justice – Promoting social and economic equity and fairness.
• Quality – Aspiring for excellence in every aspect of our work.