Victim Advocate

Type: Regular, Full- Time

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Schedule: 2:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Pay Range: $25.00 - $34.30 per hour

Job Location: Fresno Police Department

Reports To: Crisis Response Team Manager

Position Summary:

The Victim Advocate provides direct support, advocacy, and crisis intervention services for survivors of domestic violence engaged with the Marjaree Mason Center or referred through the court and community systems. This role guides clients through the family court process, including assistance with domestic violence restraining orders, while offering trauma-informed advocacy, safety planning, and linkage to internal and external resources. The Advocate responds to crisis calls, facilitates emergency safe housing entry, and serves as a trusted liaison between survivors, law enforcement, legal systems, and community partners. In addition to direct support, the Advocate conducts community education, provides training to volunteers and partners, and strengthens collaborative networks that enhance survivor safety and holistic care. Serving as a trusted advocate, the Victim Advocate advances trauma-informed, survivor-centered care while contributing to agency-wide collaboration and community engagement, furthering the organization’s vision and mission. This position will uphold a culture of integrity, empowerment, dedication, and collaboration in alignment with MMC’s mission and strategic objectives.

Essential Duties and Job Responsibilities include the following:

• Serve as an advocate for client to provide information on the judicial process and legal advocacy in the family court system, while assisting clients with their applications for DV restraining orders, and supporting clients throughout the process. Will maintain caseload for the client connected through the organization or the court system.
• Provides confidential 24/7 response to helpline calls, offering crisis intervention, safety planning, and supportive services to callers in domestic violence crisis. Assist those into the correct system of care if not MMC.
• Completes drop-in crisis assessments, determines service needs, and connects individuals to appropriate internal or external resources.
• Makes informed decisions about client entry into the Emergency Safe House, based on immediate safety needs.
• Provides general information on safe house services, groups, classes, and resources available, as well as provides referrals for services as needed.
• Facilitates safe transportation and transfer of domestic violence survivors from community sites or other housing programs, ensuring immediate safety and temporary housing until long-term solutions are arranged.
• Monitors facility cameras and responds to access gates, ensuring client safety.
• Adhere to security protocol and procedures if an emergency arises. Promptly de-escalate any potential or actual conflict with clients. Complete incident reports as required. Communicate and notify the appropriate Manager/Director per policy.
• Maintain accurate and confidential client helpline call documentation, crisis assessments, and enrollment of individuals and families within the client data system.
• Adheres to coordinated entry system protocols and maintains strong communication with internal staff and external community partners.
• Provides ongoing training and presentations for community partners, that include but are not limited to local organizations, government agencies, and potential resources to create a network that enhances the service delivery, expands reach, and provides holistic support for domestic violence survivors.
• Provides training and ongoing support to community volunteers and internship participants.
• Collaborates with law enforcement, community partners, medical facilities, government partners, and referral agencies to improve client services access. Respond to law enforcement or medical facilities that may intersect with victims of domestic violence.
• Stay current on best practices in safety planning, community resources, technology, domestic violence dynamics, and domestic violence education. Participate in relevant training and professional development.
• Extensive knowledge and awareness of domestic violence restraining orders.
• Facilitates all classes that educate the client on various types of restraining orders and the legal process.
• Participate in CFT meetings held by CPS.
• Per agency and granting requirements, prepares and maintains clear and accurate client’s records and documentation, update client files as needed, and ensures documentation of services on agency database.
• Maintain accurate program documentation and collect data, surveys, etc, to evaluate impact. Regularly assess program effectiveness and recommend improvements based on feedback and data analysis.
• Partner with all other departments and programs to ensure coordination of resources for clients as well as the ability to provide program support for other departments as needed.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues throughout the organization in order to model and support effective cross-departmental partnerships, trauma-informed practices, resiliency-building, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Adheres to all organizations' and programs' policies and procedures.
• Communicates regularly and provides written program updates to the manager about program activities, outcomes, and community engagement.
• Attend department and agency-wide meetings as required.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in the field of criminal justice, victims’ services, social services, or other related fields and/or training.
• Six (6) months experience in working with “at risk” populations, in addition to working with Domestic Violence victims, preferred.

Knowledge, skills and abilities to be successful in the position:

• Deep interest in and commitment to the mission and vision of MMC with a sensitivity to domestic violence.
• Demonstrated ability to work with sensitivity and without discrimination towards peoples of diverse cultures, races/ethnicities, socio/economic positions, ages, religions, and genders, physical, mental challenges, disabilities, and sexual orientations.
• Knowledge of general office practices, procedures, and terminology. Demonstrated ability to use current business software applications,
• Must be flexible, adaptable, a creative thinker and problem solver who is also open to the insight of others.
• Work well in a team-oriented environment and collaboratively in cross-disciplinary teams and culturally diverse internal/external constituencies.
• An understanding of data analysis and performance metrics?
• Ability to prepare timely, proper, clear, and concise comprehensive reports, summaries, presentations, correspondence, and other documentation.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to communicate effectively, clearly, and concisely both verbally and in writing in English. Bilingual in Hmong, Spanish, or Punjabi is a plus.
• Ability to remain calm and supportive in psychological emergencies and/or crises when provided with appropriate supervision and direction.
• Ability to receive and utilize constructive feedback regarding performance, presentation and relationships with others.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Possession of a valid California driver's license and proof of liability insurance on personal auto.
• Must be insurable at all times at standard rate by MMC insurance carrier.
• Must successfully pass a drug screening, Fresno Police Department background check, and Tuberculosis test.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Ability to adjust focus – (ability to adjust eye to bring an object into sharp focus.).
• Close vision – (clear vision at 20 inches or less).
• Oral Expression and Comprehension – frequent.
• Speech clarity – frequent.
• Hearing – ability to hear instructions - frequent.
• Critical thinking – frequent.
• Lift up to 35 pounds – occasional to frequent.
• Push/pull – occasional to frequent.
• Reach with hands and arms – frequent.
• Sit – frequent.
• Stand – occasional to frequent.
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl – occasional to infrequent.
• Repetitive use of hands – frequent.
• Fine dexterity – Both – frequent.
• Walk – moderate.
• Grasping: simple/light - frequent.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Indoors, environmentally controlled
• Normal office noise level

ALL EMPLOYEES MUST BE ELIGIBLE FOR EMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED STATES AND WILL PROVIDE ALL REQUIRED LEGAL DOCUMENTS TO PROVE THIS STATUS, AS REQUIRED BY STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS.

The Marjaree Mason Center, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.