Safe Harbor Mobile Advocate at Womens Advocates Inc

Description

The Safe Harbor Mobile Advocate will proactively provide supportive services and advocacy to people aged 18-24 who have a history of, or are currently at risk of, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, sexual abuse, and survival sex (SEY youth). This position is responsible for promoting a safe, supportive, and nurturing atmosphere focused on harm reduction where SEY youth can find stable housing and begin their healing journey. The Safe Harbor Mobile Advocate is responsible for locating and staying in touch with SEY youth in the community by connecting with them at Pop-Up Advocacy as assigned, and through referrals from other youth- serving organizations and the Safe Harbor regional navigator. This position is responsible for assisting youth in finding and securing safe scattered site housing, the holistic case-management support of youth, and for developing, supporting, and implementing youth programming that is grounded in positive youth development, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care.

This position will work alongside staff and community partners referring to our Safe Harbor program

Schedule: Full-time, community-based, with 1-3 days in office required, as well as pop-up attendance, flexible hours may be needed depending upon events and participant needs. The pay range for this position is: $22 - $27/hour

Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Provide direct service, advocacy, and case management support, and assist participants with Sexually Exploited Youth (SEY) resources. The caseload minimums will be set by the Director of Outreach & Youth Engagement and will change based on the needs of participants and the needs we are seeing in the community.

2. Travel around the metro to meet with SEY youth where they are through any Pop-up advocacy events assigned, referrals from other youth-serving organizations, and connections from the Safe Harbor Regional navigator. This is a highly mobile position.

3. Proactively provide housing assessments and safety planning through a trauma-informed, harm reduction model; culturally responsive programming; connection to legal services; educational and workforce goal setting; medical and dental referrals.

4. Provide safe sex and hygiene supplies, as well as basic needs supplies as required.

5. Maximize connections with other regional navigators and Safe Harbor services to ensure our participants are connected to the services they need.

6. Maintain on-going case management support of participants through the time they enter including facilitation of individual case plans, complete with individual assessment strategies and outcomes for youth self-reliance and resource building, and holistic support. Connects at a minimum of once a week at a minimum with everyone on their caseload.

7. Plan and facilitate regular survivor groups for participants that include lesson/topic planning, guest speakers, and other relevant activities.

8. Collaborate with Community Housing Stability Advocates, and additional staff partner agencies to provide the needed support for current and potential residents/participants.

9. Attend all applicable WA staff meetings and trainings, as well as monthly Safe Harbor meetings, Human Trafficking Task Force Meetings, Ramsey County’s Youth Provider Connections meetings, and any other applicable community meetings on behalf of the organization that pertain to working with this population.

10. Track, document, and report on all services provided per policies and additional instructions from the Director of Outreach & Youth Engagement.

11. Collect and maintain accurate information on all participants on caseload.

12. Enter information into Client Track daily.

13. Attend community events to promote community education about this population and provide outreach to the SEY population.

14. Respond timely with all requests. Meet with anyone in shelter added to the caseload within 2 business days, and any community members added to the caseload within 5 business days.

15. Respond to all internal emails within one business day and all external emails within 2-3 business days.

16. Provide transportation to participants to help them get to appointments, assistance with life skills building, housing tours and collecting vital documents.

17. Either upon hire, or within 6 months of hire, this position must be trained on doing street outreach, also known as being “green-bagged,” through Street Works.

18. Like every member of staff at Women’s Advocates, this position is a mandated reporter, which requires annual training as well as potential contact with Child Protection Services as applicable.

19. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

1. 4 years of experience working with high-risk and vulnerable youth with histories of sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and/or survival sex. Training in youth development, harm reduction and trauma informed care is preferred. Survivors and applicants with lived experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

2. Familiarity with domestic violence and the cycle of abuse

3. Experience advocating for victim-survivors of domestic violence.

4. Knowledge of issues related to youth sex trafficking and gender-based violence, commercial sex industry, the court systems, out of home placement and social service/ correctional systems, or other systems involved.

5. Cognizant of and sensitive to the needs and issues of youth and young adults in transition – providing options for folx who may not know everything available to them.

6. Excellent organizational, reporting management and communication skills.

7. Strong interpersonal, communication, critical thinking, and organizational skills.

8. At least 2 years of experience in community outreach, case management, and/or community education OR Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in gender studies, human services, criminal justice, social work, communications, education, public health, psychology, sociology, or a related field.

9. Experience working in a community-based, diverse organization.

10. Ability to adjust quickly to changing needs and priorities.

11. Ability to handle multiple assignments, establish priorities, and must be self-directed.

12. Excellent writing, communication, and computer skills.

13. A self-starter with the capacity to follow through on tasks and responsibilities with minimal oversite.

14. Ability to work effectively across differences.

15. Demonstrated experience with and/or commitment to intercultural development and anti-racism work in the workplace.

16. Commitment to actively contributing to the organization being a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

17. Willingness to engage in reflection on power and privilege as it relates to work with communities impacted by domestic violence.

18. Physically ambulatory and able to negotiate multiple stairways.

19. Since this position needs to be able to provide transportation, a valid driver’s license is required.

20. Criminal background check is required for this position.