• Job Description

  Req#: 150395

  Job Details

  Job Location: Outpatient Services - Portland, OR

  Position Type: Full Time

  Salary Range: $21.78 - $29.39 Hourly

  Description

  Position Close Date 12/12/2024

  The Court Advocate provides services in Multnomah County Courthouse to survivors seeking protective orders. Courthouse services include accompanying survivors to court hearings and being available to court staff for consultation. The Court Advocate specializes in serving survivors who are Elders and those with Disabilities accessing protection order and court assistance. Ideal applicants have lived experience in one or both of those areas of expertise. Additional services include providing emotional support, safety and stabilization assessment, safety planning, advocacy, and system navigation for domestic violence survivors on a short-term and ongoing basis.

  Education, Training & Experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree in social work, women’s/gender studies or a related field preferred. Associates degree and one year of related experience OR high School diploma/GED and two years of relevant experience or lived experience of domestic and/or sexual violence may be substituted in lieu of 4-year degree.
  • This position requires experience or willingness to learn in the following areas: networking and building community partnerships, and provision of supportive services, especially within vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.
  • This position requires knowledge or willingness to learn in in the following areas: courts, civil and criminal law, legal resources, law enforcement and cross-disciplinary response to domestic and sexual violence.

  Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

  • Knowledge of community networking and collaboration techniques.
  • Knowledge of issues related to domestic and sexual violence, healthy relationships, trauma, and systemic factors contributing to these issues.
  • Knowledge of the root causes of domestic and sexual violence and the intersection of injustices based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ability.
  • Skilled in communication, collaboration, and community networking.
  • Skilled in discussing topics related to domestic and sexual violence, healthy relationships, trauma, and systemic oppression with various entities.
  • Skilled in promoting an inclusive and culturally responsive environment.
  • Skilled in crisis intervention techniques, including but not limited to de-escalation strategies, active listening, conflict resolution, trauma-informed care, suicide prevention, risk assessment, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive support and
  • intervention for individuals experiencing crises.
  • Skilled in networking with community organizations and agencies, including the ability to leverage these networks to facilitate resource-sharing, coordinate outreach efforts, and advocate for community and survivor needs.
  • Skilled in utilizing Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel) for documentation and reporting purposes.
  • Skilled with and ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives, including the ability to understand and respect difference and fostering an inclusive environment where all voices are valued and heard.
  • Skilled in utilization of interpersonal skills, including the ability to adopt interpersonal skills to work across partnerships and business groups.
  • Ability to be self-directed, multitask, pivot effectively, be flexible, prioritize daily workload, and operate calmly amidst stressful circumstances.
  • Ability to work enthusiastically with individuals of diverse identities and collaborate with a wide array of community partners, including governmental and non-profit agencies.
  • Ability to engage and relate respectfully with people of diverse backgrounds and ages, utilizing equitable and trauma-informed practices.
  • Ability to manage priorities effectively within defined deadlines.
  • Ability to work collaboratively, exercising good judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving skills to achieve shared goals.
  • Ability to engage in advocacy for survivors of domestic and sexual violence by utilizing de-escalation strategies, active listening, conflict resolution, trauma-informed care, suicide prevention, risk assessment, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive support and intervention for individuals experiencing crises.
  • Ability to utilize equitable and trauma-informed practices when interacting with survivors and colleagues.
  • Ability to continuously learn and adapt to evolving understandings of domestic and sexual violence and social injustices.
  • Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

  Additional Eligibility Requirements:

  • Ability to pass a background check.
  • Ability to travel around the Portland Metro area for job related activities.
  • Completion of 40-hour domestic and sexual violence advocacy training, or equivalent to be approved by the Program Director OR expectation that training will be completed within first six months of employment (provided internally).
  • Completion of Assertive Engagement (AE) training, OR expectation that training will be completed after employment (provided internally).
  • Bilingual Spanish preferred.

  Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Responsible for meeting all Legal Component objectives stipulated by the contract(s) funding this position.
  • Provide culturally responsive court and legal advocacy and assistance.
  • Provide direct support to survivors of domestic and sexual violence to include systems navigation, needs assessments, linkages to community resources, danger assessments and safety planning, and other services as needed.
  • Establish and maintain positive working relationships with Multnomah County Court staff and judges, Family Court Services, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s office, community groups, social service agencies, and other partners.
  • Provide case consultation to court staff and other partners to assist with case planning and cross-training.
  • Provide petitioners with logistical information on civil legal remedies, civil and criminal justice systems, appropriate community resources, and the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence.
  • Provide staffing coverage of the Restraining Order Room and Hotline.
  • Support the restraining order room volunteers in the courthouse and on the Restraining Order hotline.
  • Organize and implement a monthly survivor group focusing on incarcerated survivors.
  • Utilize client assistance to support survivors with transportation needs and debt reduction.
  • Adherence to Home Free’s Ethical Communication policies and procedures.
  • Work collaboratively with a co-advocacy model with case managers across Home Free programming, providing education and co-case management support as needed.
  • Maintain records of service provision, provide necessary statistics, and prepare reports as required by Home Free and funders.
  • Maintain files and ensure all required paperwork is kept up to date.
  • Develop and maintain positive relationships with community groups, social service agencies, and other community partners.

  Other Responsibilities:

  • Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.
  • Attend trainings as required.

  Supervisory Responsibility: Position is not responsible for supervision of other employees.

  Work Environment:

  Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is consistently required to sit most of day, stand, walk, use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects and keyboard, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, kneel, talk or hear.

  The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.

  Environmental Conditions:

  Frequently travels locally for community training, home visits, meetings, and advocacy purposes.

  Must be prepared to handle client crises and/or emergencies.

  Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: This is a full-time position; 40 hrs. per week; Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Extended hours may be necessary as needed.

  
  

• About the company

  Helping Oregonians since 1896, VOA Oregon is committed to helping those most vulnerable, the abused, and those in need of a second chance.

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