Multi-Cultural Victim Advocate

The Multicultural Victim Advocate (MVA) works with marginalized survivors of sexual assault, primarily African American and Black, to ensure RCC is meeting their needs with cultural awareness, sensitivity and humility. Advocates are not counselors or therapists. Advocates are responsible for providing crisis intervention services during regular day-time office hours. Services include providing emotional support and resources over the Helpline and in person, accompanying clients to forensic nurse examinations, accompanying clients to law enforcement reports if the client so chooses, accompanying clients through court procedures while providing information and clarification of victim rights, advocating for clients through barriers that may reduce their ability to focus on their healing, and coordinating with RCC’s therapists to address potential mental-health needs. All RCC employees must be committed to providing services with and to a variety of cultures with cultural awareness, sensitivity and humility.

Primary Position Duties:

Crisis Intervention and Referrals

• Provide short-term crisis intervention services by phone and in-person to survivors across the spectrum of sexual violence, as well as their support people and other community members.
• Provide accurate and up-to-date information and referrals to callers and clients.

Advocacy

• Accompany victims of sexual assault during legal (reports to Police and Detectives, assitance with applying for Restraining Orders, support at Court Hearings and Trials), medical (at Forensic Nurse Exams) and campus-based (Title IX) procedures and meetings.
• Empower sexual assault survivors with all options and accurate information regarding involvement with law enforcement, the criminal justice system, Crime Victim’s Compensation and SAFE funds, Restraining Orders, forensic medical exams, and other healing-related resources and information following a sexual assault.
• Work collaboratively with community organizations and agencies such as law enforcement, District Attorney’s Office, the Forensic Nurse Examiner program, and other community partners.

Emotional Support

• Provide clients with emotional support.
• Maintain appropriate client-advocate boundaries.

• Seek advice and coordinate with team and community partners as needed to meet client’s potential mental health needs.

Program and General

• Ensure Direct Services Supervision Coordinator is regularly briefed in a timely manner on advocacy work.
• Attend regular Direct Services meetings, in-services and agency-wide staff meetings, maintain regular contact with staff and supervisor and assist in office operations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Skills:

Required Qualifications

• Lived experience and professional experience within African American, Black and a variety of cultures and the ability to work for and within communities with cultural awareness, sensitivity and humility.
• Commitment to supporting RCC’s values of serving all survivors in Dane County, and an understanding of privilege and oppression and its impact on client needs and services.
• Possess a client-centered, empowerment approach to working with survivors.
• Commitment to serving people affected by sexual violence and trauma.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience equivalent to or degree in Social Work or related field.
• An understanding of sexual violence and related issues.
• Experience and/or training in providing advocacy to victims of sexual assault.
• Knowledge of Dane County community resources.
• Experience working within diverse communities.

Other Requirements

• Successful completion of RCC’s Helpline Training program.
• Satisfactory Criminal Background Check.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and proof of vehicle insurance and have access to a vehicle during work hours.

Benefits:

• Employee health insurance
• Dental
• Vision
• 401k with employer match!
• Life Insurance
• Short term disability
• Holidays and paid time off!

Work Environment & Job Specifications

The work environment and job specifications listed below are representative of those that must be met by an employee, with or without accommodations, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Work is primarily performed in an office or classroom environment.
• Ongoing daily movement around the office and access or use of computers, office equipment, telephone, and any other pertinent supplies, space or equipment used to perform the duties of the position.
• Must be able to work with frequent interruption.
• Low to moderate noise level.