At Unbound Now, it has always been our aim to fight for the protection of the vulnerable, identify the exploited, and advocate for survivors of human trafficking on their path to restoration. We are motivated by our faith in Jesus and work each day as people who are hope driven, service oriented, and excellence focused. To learn more about our values, please read our Statement of Faith. 

Job Status: Full-time, exempt, DCFS contract-funded through June 2024 with intent to apply for continued funding

Job Location: Baton Rouge

Job Summary: The primary function of the CSEY Advocate is to provide 24/7 crisis response and ongoing individualized case management and support for youth survivors of sex trafficking, using sound professional judgment and best practices to ensure high quality services and maintain compliance with policies and protocol.

Compensation: Annual salary or hourly rate

Benefits: Option of health insurance (including vision and dental) for employee and family, life insurance, and option to participate in retirement plan (3% salary match after 90 days with 1-year vesting period)

Schedule/Availability: Anticipated 40-50 hour work week with evening, weekend, and holiday call

Travel: This position requires frequent travel within the immediate area and occasional travel in or out of state for client transportation, training, meetings, conferences, and/or client visits

Working conditions: Some work performed in a normal office environment, other service-provider conditions environment, or other professional environment. Some work within the community, in high-vulnerability locations 

Job Responsibilities:

• Respond to calls from law enforcement, care coordinators, and other referral sources when on call; arrive at victim’s location within required time frame
• Meet immediate physical needs of youth - clothes, food, toiletries, etc.
• Provide ongoing field-based advocacy, case management, and emotional support
• Independently coordinate referrals, service planning, and documentation of services for assigned caseload
• Conduct comprehensive assessments, develop service plans, and make independent decisions in the field regarding the safety and well-being of assigned youth
• Provide transportation with parent or guardian permission to appointments and services as needed and as feasible
• Meet with each assigned survivor weekly if in town; meet with survivors placed out-of-town monthly; maintain communication through other means in between weekly meetings
• With input from the care coordination team, create and update safety plans for youth
• Attend external case staffings, emergency response meetings, and service staffings
• Document all interactions with survivors, their families, and partner agencies within 72 hours
• Alert supervisor when difficult situations arise
• Recognize red flag behavior and report to supervisor
• When not otherwise available, provide an appropriate level of support to non-offending family members of victims in order to help create a good home environment to which the victim can return while maintaining needed boundaries.
• Convey a service-oriented approach:
  • Communicate an eagerness to be helpful, starting with every referral, initial contact, and/or initial engagement and continuing through service delivery, with all stakeholders.
  • Provide those seeking assistance with help, even when they are ineligible for advocacy services or are seeking something outside Unbound Now’s scope.
  • When referring someone, offer a warm handoff to others whenever possible. 
  • Balance the limitations of the advocate role with being resourceful, including seeking help from others as needed.
  • Be consistent, reliable, and flexible. Collaborate actively in support of partners’ objectives.
• Ensure case management in collaboration with on-going system and service- or
• investigation-based case management, continuing case management beyond others’ eligibility parameters. Ensure that case management is carried out in a manner that is relationship-based, trauma-responsive, and survivor-centered.
• Commit to weekly supervision with supervisor
• Participate in Unbound Now’s advocate resilience group
• Apply specialized training and use professional judgment in determining the best way to serve youth during crisis and on an ongoing basis
• Complete any required reports accurately and in a timely manner
• Participate in weekly advocacy team meetings and case staffings
• Participate in all required trainings
• Submit expense documentation properly and within required timeframes

Working Relationships:

Supervisors: Regional CSEY Advocacy Coordinator

Works with: Care coordination partners, other Unbound Now CSEY advocates

Experience and Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field
• Experience working with survivors of human trafficking preferred; will also consider experience working with survivors of child abuse and neglect, or youth experiencing homelessness and/or addiction
• Lived experience a plus
• Two to three years case management and/or crisis intervention experience preferred

Job Requirements:

• Mature Christian faith
• Three references, (supervisor, professional, personal)
• Agree to and pass all required criminal background checks, including DCFS criminal history check and abuse and neglect registry check
• Pass employment eligibility verification
• Meet the legal age requirement to rent a vehicle
• Being willing and able to rent a vehicle with personal car insurance
• Excellent relational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Good organizational and administrative abilities
• Ability and willingness to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information
• Ability to build trust and good working relationships with others
• Appreciation of need for cultural competency and humility
• Trained and experienced in trauma-informed care
• Trained in stages of change model and use of motivational interviewing for CSEY, preferred
• Pass all required criminal background checks
• Pass employment eligibility verification
• Complete Unbound Now’s pre-service training for CSEY advocates
• Fulfill Unbound Now’s annual and ongoing training requirements for CSEY advocates
• Abide by all Unbound Now policies and procedures and care coordination protocols at all times, including Unbound Now’s Abuse Prevention and Response Policy
• Willingness to serve in rotation with two other CSEY Advocates for 24-hour on-call response, including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Willingness to use personal vehicle for work travel; valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, current car insurance
• Ability to stay hope-filled in the fight against human trafficking
• High level of emotional maturity and responsibility
• Ability to exercise discretion in caring for youth in crisis
• Strong work ethic with self initiative
• Innovative problem solver
• Ability to adapt rapidly to changes in the field
• Commitment to excellence and professionalism in services provided
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and maintain emotional control and professional composure at all times
• Ability to work effectively and without intensive supervision both independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team
• Commitment to self-care and wellness

Physical Requirements:

• Demands frequently require close visual attention
• Demands frequently require prolonged mental concentration
• Demands sometimes require ability to lift loads up to 50 pounds