ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide for the immediate emotional, psychological, and physical health and safety needs of clients, including crisis intervention, safety planning, lethality assessment, and assistance with filing orders of protection.
• Provide personal advocacy and emotional support to clients by helping clients manage practical problems caused by experiencing domestic violence, finding resources, providing meaningful referrals, and offering follow-up support.
• Provide clients with information, support, and assistance in the family court system.
• Act as a liaison between victims of abuse and the family court system, including confirming and scheduling appropriate court dates and Team Decision Meetings.
• Work collaboratively with the Family Services Therapists to provide domestic violence group services.
• Participate in continuous quality improvement activities such as maintaining QA standards and ensuring accurate and timely data entry and reporting.
• Develop and facilitate public awareness activities that are designed to inform survivors of domestic violence of their rights, services available to them, and to provide them with assistance.
• Engage in activities that support a coordinated and comprehensive response to survivors of domestic violence and their needs, such as participation on task forces, work groups, and committees that work to develop services and protocols for survivors.
• Maintain on-going communication and collaboration with the Children’s Division and family court system.
• Provide on-call assistance on a rotating basis by responding to call-outs at the hospital and/or local police departments.
• Follow all Hope House service philosophies, policies, and procedures.
• Perform other duties as requested.

IMPORTANT COMPETENCIES:

• Speak effectively in a group setting.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries when working with clients, agency personnel, and community partners.
• Maintain confidentiality, neutrality, and professionalism in the role.
• Multi-task and work in a fast paced environment.
• Work effectively with persons who have diverse styles, abilities, motivations, and backgrounds.
• Demonstrate basic computer and digital literacy skills.
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills and follow through.
• Demonstrate general knowledge of the dynamics and causes of domestic violence and a commitment to end domestic violence as a social problem.
• Adapt to change productively and handle other tasks as assigned.
• Arrive to work promptly and regularly.
• Concentrate and perform accurately.
• Work a variety of schedules, depending upon the needs of the program.
• Demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills.

Post offer, pre-employment screening requires successful completion of a Children’s Division screening and criminal background check; and valid driver’s license, current motor vehicle insurance, and acceptable motor vehicle record report.

WORK ENVIRONMENT and PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, climb, hear, and reach with hands and arms. The employee may occasionally lift and or move objects weighing up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception, and ability to focus.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

This position may be required to travel throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area and between Hope House locations. Periodically, this position may be asked to transport clients in their own vehicle or in the company vehicle with a valid driver’s license.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A bachelor’s degree in social work or comparable human services field OR appropriate training and/or experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Prior experience working with survivors of domestic violence.
• Knowledge of local community resources.
• Knowledge of child protective services and family court systems.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Hope House is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

The Family Court Advocate is responsible for providing support, advocacy, and resource/referral services to adult survivors of domestic violence, primarily those who are involved with the family court system. The Family Court Advocate also works closely with area Children’s Division personnel, and provides on-call coverage on a rotating basis.