Position: Advocate - Shelter Location: Kent Office
Reports to: Shelter Manager Classification: Hourly
Department: Advocacy and Programs Hours/Shifts: 4/10s Wed-Sat 12pm-10pm
Position
Summary:
This full-time Shelter Advocate position provides trauma-informed domestic violence advocacy services for Survivors of domestic violence residing in the Shelter and South King County. Sensitive to the emotions and experiences of Survivors, the Advocate at Shelter performs crisis intervention, safety planning, resource and information-based counseling, and advocacy. 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.
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
- 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
- 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:
- Maintains the strictest confidentiality protocols
- Support survivors in creating safety where they feel they need it
- Accompanies survivors to relevant appointments
- Work with clients to implement mutually agreed upon goals to build family stability
- Effective communication using appropriate verbal, nonverbal, and supportive listening skills
- Listens, supports, and provides 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
- 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, and educational programs,
Administrative:
- Respond to calls on the 24-hour Advocacy and Support Hotline—provide supportive listening and referrals to appropriate resources
- Enter data in multiple databases with ease and accuracy
- Attends agency meetings, trainings, and community events
- Timely completion of relevant paperwork, data, and maintaining client files
- Maintain confidentiality, inform clients of mandated reporting exceptions
- Support onboarding for new staff and interns
Operations:
- While DAWN provides facilities maintenance and grounds keeping, shelter advocates sometimes find themselves mitigating maintenance issues, corresponding with the Shelter Manager, and the Operations Lead
- Advocates also work together to prepare rooms after families move on, creating a clean, friendly space for the next family
- Assist in donor/partner pick-ups 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
- Proven ability to work effectively with diverse staff, clients
- Respect confidentiality and adapt to what can be a stressful
- Exhibit a friendly and courteous disposition and
- Maintain strong time management and organizational skills
- Adhere to company policies & standard operating procedures (SOPs) at all times
- Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication
- Must possess the ability to make sound judgments relating to a crisis
- 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 difficulty
- 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, and the intersection of oppression and domestic violence
- Proficiency in data collection and Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook, Osnium, and Infonet knowledge is 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 a Washington State background check
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.