Part Time - Shelter Advocate bei Domestic Abuse Women's Network

Position: Advocate - Shelter                                   Location: South King County,WA

Reports to: Shelter Manager                              Classification: Hourly

Department: Shelter                      

Hours/Shifts: 10 hr shifts: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 10am-8pm

Salary: $25/hr +$1 Differential for Bilingual Candidates

Benefits Include:

• 104 hours of vacation per year. 
• 78 hours of sick time per year. 
• DAWN offers 4 days of Self Care, 1 day accrued at the beginning of each quarter
• DAWN offers 13 paid Holidays (Holidays are paid if that is your normal work schedule)
• You will be eligible for group medical, dental, vision and life coverage the first of the month following 30 days of employment. The Company pays the full cost of employee coverage. Dependent coverage is available for purchase through a payroll deduction.
• DAWN offers retirement plans (401k) with a 4% company match.

Position Summary:

This part-time Shelter Advocate provides trauma-informed domestic violence advocacy services for survivors of domestic violence residing in Shelter and in South King County. Sensitive to the emotions and experiences of survivors, the Advocate at Shelter performs crisis intervention, safety planning, resource/information sharing, and advocacy-based counseling. This person is a motivated, energetic, and quick learner driven to end violence in our communities.

Shelter Advocates commonly spend time providing compassionate support to survivors and their children while working with them to identify goals, barriers, and resources. This position will also include youth-based activities such as coordinating age-appropriate engagement and helping children build resilience and connection through creative or educational opportunities.

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 DAWN’s 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 learning, be challenged and to grow personally and
• 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.
• Who are comfortable working in a pet-friendly shelter environment, which may include interactions with pets.
  
  

Client advocacy:

• Maintain the strictest confidentiality protocols
• Support survivors in creating safety where they feel they need it
• Accompany survivors to relevant appointments
• Work with clients to implement mutually agreed upon goals to build family stability
• Effectively communicate using appropriate verbal, nonverbal, and supportive listening skills
• Listen, support, and provide empowerment-based advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and their children.
• Have a deep commitment to understanding that survivors know what is best for themselves and their children
• Have strong ability to communicate with people in crisis, the shelter team, and community partners
• Have a calm demeanor that promotes cooperation, trust and safety
• Provide crisis intervention; create integrated safety plans
• Empower clients by encouraging self-sustainability

Outreach and Partnership:

• Act as liaison between clients and outside service providers
• Provide presentations and outreach as needed and assigned
• Refer clients to appropriate housing, legal, medical, educational programs, etc.

Administrative:

• Respond to calls on 24hr Advocacy and Support Hotline—provide supportive listening and referrals to appropriate resources
• Enter data into multiple databases with ease and accuracy
• Attend agency meetings, training, and community events
• Timely completion of relevant paperwork; data, and maintain client files
• Maintain confidentiality, inform clients of mandated reporting exceptions
• Support onboarding for new staff and interns

Operations:

• While DAWN provides maintenance facilities and grounds keeping, shelter advocates sometimes find themselves mitigating maintenance issues, corresponding with Shelter Manager and Lead Advocate
• Advocates also work together to prepare rooms after families move on, creating a clean friendly space for the next family
• Assist in donor/partner pickups when available
• Assist with loading and unloading the vehicles
• Performing other operational task items as needed and assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Maintain a strong commitment to DAWN’s mission and values.
• Proven ability to work effectively with diverse staff, clients and volunteers.
• Respect confidentiality and adapt to what can be a stressful environment.
• Exhibit a friendly and courteous disposition and personality.
• Maintain strong time management and organizational skills.
• Adhere to company policies & standard operation procedures (SOPs) at all times.
• Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must possess the ability to make sound judgments relating to crisis situations.

• Must 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 door
  • Ability to grasp, push, pull objects such as files and reach overhead
  • Physically able to walk or run if needed, climb stairs without difficult
  • Ability to lift and carry at least 60 pounds

Education/Experience:

• Advocacy experience accepted in lieu of degree
• Strong background in domestic violence, trauma-informed care, the intersection of oppression and domestic violence
• Proficiency in data collection and Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook, Osnium, and Infonet knowledge a plus
• A minimum of 30 hours of annual Domestic Violence training
• Must provide own transportation; possess a valid Washington State driver’s license, proof of auto insurance and a clean driving record.
• Must be able to pass Washington State background

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with children or youth in settings such as childcare, education, recreation, or community programs.
• Background or coursework in early childhood education, human services, psychology, or related field.
• Familiarity with child development principles and the ability to create engaging, age-appropriate activities
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills across diverse age groups.
  

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, children’s 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 passing 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.