Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Salary: $25-$26 DOE

Position: Legal and Community Advocate

Location: King County, WA

Reports to: Community Advocacy Supervisor

Classification: Non-Exempt

Department: Community Advocacy Program

Hours/Shifts: 40 hours/week

(Hybrid Position) Flexibility 4-10s/5-8s

Salary: $25/hr.

+$1 Differential for Bilingual Candidates

Position Summary:

The Legal and Community Advocate (DVLCA) provides trauma-informed domestic violence advocacy support to survivors who navigate various legal and community systems. Sensitive to the emotions and experiences of survivors, the DVLCA performs crisis intervention, safety planning, resource/information, and advocacy.

The DVLCA advocate works in a community advocacy team environment to provide resources, support, and create opportunities for survivors to thrive. The Legal advocate commonly spends time providing compassionate support to survivors, listening to their situations, assessing their needs, strategizing and safety planning, connecting them to resources, accompanying them to court, supporting them with protection orders, and assisting with family law cases, criminal justice matters, and answering the advocacy and support line. The DVLCA will meet clients where they feel safe or attend court hearings across King County; however, some hours are required at the administrative office in Kent.

DAWN Team Member Qualities

We are seeking those

• Who have a passion for ending domestic violence, gender, racial, and economic inequality and for social justice, along with a commitment to DAWNs mission, vision, values and policies/procedures.
• Who have a deep commitment to the value that survivors know what is best for themselves and their children, and an ability to suspend personal opinions to support survivors in their choices.
• Who values of diversity and a commitment to equity in our community are reflected in both the services offered to survivors as well as interactions within the team.
• Who are committed to learn, be challenged and to grow personally and professionally.
• Who conduct themselves in a professional manner with co-team members, clients, donors, and community members.
• Who are enthusiastic attitude about working within a team environment with dedicated, hardworking, and passionate colleagues.

Advocacy:

• Listen, support, and provide trauma-informed, survivor-centered, empowerment-based advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and their children.
• Support survivors in creating safety where they feel they need it.
• Provide community advocacy by offering support, information, and connection to resources to survivors needing help with a variety of issues, including emergency shelter, housing, basic needs, legal issues, immigration, and connection to mental health, childrens services, or other specialized services as needed.
• Provide support with civil legal issues, such as providing education around legal rights and processes, navigating multiple legal systems, and referring clients to appropriate legal services, as necessary.
• Support survivors in criminal justice proceedings, both as the victim and/or the defendant in cases.
• May facilitate community support groups for survivors.
• Develop strong relationships with service providers and acts as a liaison between clients and said providers.
• Answer the 24-hour advocacy and support line during scheduled shifts.
• Understand institutional barriers to services and support and works with outside systems and/or providers to improve the survivors experience navigating the system.
• Support other advocates and team members in their work through consultations, training, or providing co-advocacy, especially in the areas where the advocate may have specific expertise or experience.
• Maintain the strictest confidentiality protocols.

Outreach:

• Represent DAWN at community meetings and events when needed.
• Distribute materials throughout South King County to ensure the community and other partners are updated on services.
• Participates in outreach and education activities which may include offering training, attending community meetings, and/or outreach events.

Administrative:

• Provide timely completion of relevant paperwork, accurately enters data into multiple databases, and maintains complete and current client files.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proven ability to work effectively with diverse staff, clients, and volunteers.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to communicate well with people in crisis, the advocacy team, and community partners, and to communicate across cultures and with those who have limited English.

• Strong time management and organizational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Attention to detail and follow-thru.
• Ability to make sound judgments relating to crisis situations.
• Ability to complete paperwork and enter information into multiple databases on time and in detail, strong time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to speak and write English proficiently (fluently).
• Physical Abilities:
• Ability to sit, walk, stand, bend, kneel, and twist on an intermittent basis including answering the front
• Ability to grasp, push, pull objects such as files and reach
• Physically able to walk or run if needed, climb stairs without
• Ability to lift and carry at 50 pounds.
• Ability to work on a computer for extended periods of time.

Education/Experience:

• High School/equivalent (GED), required.
• Associate degree in social work, psychology, or similar field, preferred.
• 1-2 years of advocacy experience preferred or lived experience of domestic or gender-based violence in lieu of paid work experience will also be considered.
• Some experience with Microsoft Office products: Microsoft 365 (Teams, Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint) preferred; Database experience (Osnium) is a plus.
• Must complete DAWNs DVI training and obtain CPR/First Aid certification within 90 days of hire.
• Must provide own transportation; possess a valid Washington State drivers license, proof of auto insurance and a clean driving record. (However, if this is a barrier to employment and the candidate has alternative reliable means of transportation for all work-required meetings/appointments, please let the Advocacy Services Manager know)
• Must be able to pass Washington State criminal background

About DAWN:

DAWN is a holistic domestic violence agency located in South King County supporting survivors of domestic violence, the community, and other social services agencies towards the goal of ending domestic violence. Through our wide variety of programming, we strive to serve survivors wherever they are in their relationships, meeting their needs as they prioritize them, and working with them physically wherever they deem safe, within the South King County region. Our programs include a 24-hour advocacy support hotline, confidential emergency shelter, mobile/community advocacy, support groups, legal advocacy, immigrant advocacy, childrens advocacy, mental health services, TANF advocacy, prevention and education services, and the marketplace food program. While working with us, survivors and their families are offered advocacy, resources, and a safe place to begin again.

Hiring Requirements:

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Accommodations:
If you need accommodation due to a disability during the application or interview process, please let us know during your screening interview so we can support you.

Inclusion Statement:
We are committed to building a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in every part of our work. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive fair consideration without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, national origin, veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status.

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