Victim Services - Sexually Exploited Youth/BSMART Coordinator

Areas of Responsibility

1. Ethical & Professional Behavior

• Represent agency’s mission and values with those you interact in your professional role.
• Maintain a respectful, non-judgmental demeanor towards employees, clients, and community members.
• Maintain client confidentiality, when client/case requires sharing of client/case information obtain and continually monitor appropriate signed releases for each case.
• Provide compassionate and empathetic services while maintaining clear professional relationship boundaries.
• Comply with mandatory reporting and client confidentiality criteria as defined by law.
• Participate in goal setting for the agency and exhibit open communication and teamwork with other staff members.
• Attend all relevant staff meetings, administrative meetings, case consultations, strategic planning sessions, and participate in group decision-making process. Attend board meetings and other meetings as requested.
• Maintain accurate records of client contacts and presentation forms, and complete necessary paperwork in a timely manner.
• Share in & support other staff in general office duties as needed, such as answering phones, filing, photocopying, clean-up, etc.
• Participate in projects and special assignments as approved by Executive Director/Supervisor.

2. Primary Responsibility

• Provide crisis intervention and direct services to primary and secondary victims/survivors of sexual violence, including support, information, referrals, systems advocacy, arranging transportation, and emergency services as needed.
• Provide criminal court/legal advocacy services, including assistance with filing of OFP/HRO’s, attending court hearings with clients, and supporting clients during law enforcement interviews.
• Assist in coordinating sexual violence client services with staff advocates and volunteers, including the coordination of schedules and staff crisis line coverage to ensure client access to services.
• Inform County Supervisor of programming issues, trends, needs, and concerns related to agency’s overall functioning in the county.
• Ensure that statistics/reports are maintained and completed in a timely manner for monthly board meetings; quarterly, mid-year, and annual reports for grant writing.
• Take crisis line/back-up responsibilities on a rotating basis.
• Coordinate with staff to ensure agency participation in special events, such as county/health fairs, fundraisers, Walk A Mile In Her Shoes, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, National Night Out, Community Connect, Crime Victim Rights Week, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

3. Community Relations

• Network with the various systems with which advocacy takes place and represent SWR at various interagency meetings.
• Coordinate and/or assist with adult community education and professional training, including distributing posters, brochures, cards, and other publicity as needed (monthly).
• Network with community agencies to inform them of services and to encourage referrals.
• Complete speaking engagements and assist with the process of evaluating the agencies educational series.
• Attend statewide networking meetings as appropriate.

4. Professional Development

• Stay current with legislative changes and policies affecting agency service areas.
• Continuing education – maintain a minimum of 10 hours per year. Up to 5 hours per year can be by personal education (videos, books, and consultations).
• Participate in staff in-services – annual training update and special topics as relevant.

5. SMART Program Component Duties

Objective: To coordinate/facilitate the Beltrami County Sexual Assault Multi-disciplinary Action Response Team (BSMART) as it monitors implementation and evaluation of response guidelines. The Site Coordinator will facilitate on-going communication between SMART members by maintaining a formal planning process and working with SVJI/MNCASA for ongoing technical assistance.

• Coordinate monthly meetings/annual planning retreat (facilitate meetings, develop agendas, take minutes, & disseminate materials to team members, etc.). Must hold a minimum of 10 meetings per year.
• Build rapport and momentum with the team.
• Assist Executive Director in setting yearly project budget, as necessary.
• Grant writing/report writing.
• Develop District 1 awareness plan for victim services program, brochures, posters, public service announcements, etc.
• Communicate with and facilitate communication between team members.
• Attend sub-committee meetings.
• Work to ensure participation and representation from key agencies (prosecution, law enforcement, probation, hospitals, etc.) and specific populations. Invite/recruit primary and secondary members as necessary.
• Develop materials and provide orientation for new team members.
• Facilitate overall project development and planning, including ongoing monitoring of mission statement and project goals.
• Problem-solve issues and mediate problems between participants/agencies.
• Work to build cultural competency within the team.
• Administer and implement the eight step protocol model in concert with the team.
• Network with agencies, systems, and community members to gather input on improving response to victims of sexual assault in Beltrami County.
• Gather, compile, disseminate and maintain statistical data and records for the project (i.e. client/team evaluations, community needs assessments, etc.).
• Prepare and submit all necessary project reports and updates for the project.
• Attend other multi-disciplinary meetings as necessary.
• Participate in quarterly SWR WE-SMART Meetings.
• Coordinate with Sexual Violence Justice Institute (SVJI)
• Participate in monthly Site Coordinator meetings
• Consult with SVJI staff regarding BSMART progress.
• Provide copies of project documents to SVJI staff for review.

6. Criminal Court Component Duties:

Purpose: Empowering those impacted by sexual violence through navigating the complex criminal legal system with advocacy, support, information, options, referrals, and networking with criminal justice professionals on behalf of clients needs and rights.

· Attend adult/juvenile criminal court hearings on SWR cases, track cases – report back information to appropriate staff, and build rapport with prosecutors.

· Train staff and volunteers related to criminal court advocacy in relation to the following areas:

· Provide supportive services to crime victims and make appropriate referrals to SWR programs and other community resources.

· Assist in crime victims’ understanding and knowledge of the adult criminal and juvenile process through the development of program materials and working individually with victims and family members to ensure they understand each step of the process.

· Maintain open communication with the attorneys who are handling criminal sexual misconduct cases through in-person/over the phone conversations, email, and case notes.

· Be familiar with client confidentiality and case data privacy practices. Obtain appropriate signed releases for each case with the County Attorney’s office, the investigating law enforcement agency, and probation agency.

· Maintain client files with specific up-to-date case information/progress, victims concerns, and communication with all parties. In addition, utilize Victim Information Notification Everyday (VINE) in cases where the offender is in the jail system.

· Comply with statutorily mandated victim’s rights such as notification, participation, reparations, and restitution.

· Assist prosecuting Attorney’s in processing of victim and witness data relevant to legal actions: court accompaniment, case monitoring, inform victims of plea agreement and sentencing, restitution filing assistance, reparation filing assistance, victim impact statement and compliance with other victims’ rights statutes.

· Make personal or telephone contact with victim prior to defendant’s first appearance in court and discuss issues relating to arrest, bail/conditions of release and court schedule.

· Make personal contact with attorney prior to all court appearances by defendant and update attorney regarding victim information.

· Be present at all court appearances and provide all case-relevant information to victim, including assigned prosecutor, charged, bail/conditions of release, court scheduling, nature/purpose of present and future court appearances, prosecutor correspondence and referrals regarding civil remedies or available services.

· Facilitate and be present at meetings between victim and assigned prosecutor.

· Assist the victim to reporting new memories to investigating officer.

· Provide the date, time, and location of all court hearings; to provide timely notice of these hearings to the victim; and to accompany victims to the hearings when requested.

· Provide the victim notice of the outcomes from all court hearings within twenty-four hours of the outcome or as soon as practicable thereafter.

· Create and maintain procedural case notes that document all contacts with victim, and provide those case notes to the Victim Assistance Coordinator by email within two days of the victim contact – with appropriate signed release.

· Explain plea offer and advantages/disadvantages of possible plea agreement.

7. Sexually Exploited Youth:

Objective: Within this work, this staff will be responsible for providing crisis intervention, support, advocacy, and information and referrals to victims of sexual violence and sexual exploitation.

• Coordinate SEY programs by providing victim services and case management to SEY clients in Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater & Hubbard Counties.
• Work with staff from North Homes Children & Family Services, Evergreen Youth & Family Services, and Northwestern Minnesota Juvenile Center to coordinate victim services (as outlined below), meetings with individual clients, and educational training for staff and program residents.
• Participate in job-specific training programs as needed, such as REDCap (client data management program), Not a Number#! (SEY prevention education curriculum) and Safe at Home (confidential postal service program),
• Work in close connection with SWR’s Regional Navigator and Sexually Exploited Youth Coordinators in Clearwater and Grand Rapids. Schedule and attend weekly meetings to create strategies for overcoming client case management or victim service barriers.
• Complete timely reports to Regional Navigator and County Supervisor.
• Participate in data collection and the evaluation of the No Wrong Door project as prescribed by Minnesota Department of Health.
• Provide direct services to victims of sexual exploitation:
• Conduct screening and needs assessment for youth victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking in cooperation with systems professionals and advocates.
• Provide initial case management, including safety plans, in collaboration with advocates and systems professionals and provide referrals for ongoing case management.
• Develop trauma-centered service plans for youth victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking.
• Provide ongoing case management, coordinating services, providing support to youth and connecting youth with local services when possible.
• Document services and client progress to evaluate effectiveness of services.
• Provide ongoing case consultation for service area and coordinate flow of information to all counties.
• Provide outreach and education related to sexual exploitation.
• Research, locate, and connect with organizations (service providers, faith-based groups, etc.) and agencies (law enforcement, county government, county attorneys, etc.) to educate and coordinate systems of care for sexually exploited youth.
• Build, coordinate, and facilitate workgroups/taskforces/coalitions within counties to build their capacity to work with sexually exploited youth.
• Identify needs of each county and develop an “Inventory of Existing Needs” specific to each region.
• Work with key stakeholders and systems professionals to help identify youth who have been or are at risk of sexual exploitation/trafficking.
• Work with key stakeholders and systems professionals to develop a coordinated referral process for youth who have been sexually exploited.
• Provide information to community members and the general public about the commercial sexual exploitation of youth and how to prevent it.
• Ensure training for regional stakeholders/systems professionals on the signs of trafficking and how to refer youth for services.
• Provide or ensure provision of effective outreach and education throughout the region.
• Engage public and stakeholders in primary prevention efforts.
• Participate in quarterly Minnesota Human Trafficking Taskforce meetings and other meetings assigned.
• Any other duties assigned and deemed necessary for the effective and efficient operation of the agency.

8. Support Group Facilitation:

• Develop proposals for different types of support groups, including those directed at various populations affected by sexual violence, specific types of sexual violence, and different locations with SWR’s Beltrami County service area.
• Explore the use of social media and communication platforms (e.g. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Doxy.me) as an alternative to in-person meetings when inclement weather, financial barriers, mental health issues or lack of transportation prevents members from attending their regularly scheduled meetings.
• Develop and update support group agendas, curriculum, and other meeting materials.
• Organize logistics for each support group, including meeting locations, times, topics, guest speakers, etc.
• Create announcements/posters for groups through PSA’s, posters, brochures, and notifying community agencies.
• Develop support group ground rules and establish clear expectations, goals and boundaries.
• Assess group needs and facilitate specific discussions/trainings to best address and suit those needs.
• Assist members in the development of group activities to establish trust and encourage safe and active participation.
• Model appropriate behaviors by: showing respect to group members; responding objectively when individual opinions differ from your own; addressing conflicts among group members constructively; providing positive reinforcement for sharing and self-expression; encouraging less vocal members when they speak up; empowering members to support one another during crisis or difficult life situations, etc.

Position Qualifications

• Prefer B.A. in psychology, human services, medical, criminal justice or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience totaling 4 years may be substituted. Minimum required A.A. in psychology, human services, medical, criminal justice or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience totaling 2 years may be substituted.
• Must demonstrate competency in the completion of the above noted job responsibilities.
• Comprehensive knowledge base and be comfortable in working with issues related to sexual violence on an individual and community level.
• A philosophy of non-violence and non-discrimination. The ability to deal with people of different economic and cultural backgrounds; respect for and sensitivity to the needs and rights of others, including those with differing cultural, racial, religious, age, ability, and affectional differences between people.
• The ability to follow strict guidelines to maintaining client confidentiality.
• Strong advocacy skills, including:
• The ability to identify client’s strengths and needs;
• The ability to connect client to appropriate community resources;
• The ability to respond to women and children in crisis with appropriate interpersonal communication and intervention skills;
• Knowledge of and skills with legal &medical advocacy;
• Being assertive, while maintaining ethical & professional behavior when advocating for victims’ rights.
• The ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Economical and careful with property, resources, supplies and use of time.
• Ability to react calmly and efficiently to new or stressful situations.
• Demonstrates understanding and support of management by communicating information to management, demonstrates support of management to staff, clients and the community.
• Public speaking and group facilitation skills.
• Successfully pass background check.
• The ability to work effectively with the staff, volunteers, board, community agencies, and media, utilizing teamwork where appropriate.
• The ability to work independently with minimal supervision, to seek supervision as needed, and to work as a team member.
• Good organizational skills amidst stressful situations.
• The ability to work flexible hours when necessary and be able to be on-call as needed for the position.
• Must possess a valid Minnesota driver’s license and own working vehicle. Must have and maintain a clean driving record.
• Proficient computer skills, especially in word processing and spreadsheets.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of SWR.

This position is open till filled. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Work Environment: Office setting with some travel required. Clients may have occasional verbal outbursts. Share 6-9 days on-call duties with other staff and volunteers.

**Support Within Reach is an equal opportunity employer. SWR does not practice nor tolerate discrimination in the workplace, regardless of a person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability or genetic information. This policy shall apply to all applicants, employees and all full-time, part-time and temporary employment phases.

Pay: From $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20