Summary: Voices Against Violence (VAV) is the local domestic violence and rape crisis program serving the greater Framingham and Marlboro area. VAV services include community-based counseling and support groups, legal and medical advocacy, emergency shelter, supervised visitation, community outreach and education, and a domestic violence high risk team. Provide direct services to English and Spanish or Portuguese speaking victims of sexual and/or domestic violence at the Framingham Police Department and act as a liaison between victims and law enforcement.
Why Work for SMOC?
Paid Time Off: All full-time employees can accrue up to 3 weeks of vacation, and 2 weeks of sick time and are eligible for 12 paid holidays during their first year of employment.
Employer-paid Life Insurance & AD&D and Long-Term Disability for full-time employees.
Comprehensive Benefits Package including Medical Plans through Mass General Brigham with an HRA Employer cost-sharing program, Dental Plans with Orthodontic Coverage, and EyeMed Vision Insurance available to full-time employees.
403(B) Retirement Plan with a company match starting on day one for all full-time and part-time employees.
Additional voluntary benefits including; Term and Whole Life Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital indemnity, and Short-Term Disability.
Flexible Spending Accounts, Dependent Care Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement and more.
Primary Responsibilities:
Provide direct services by phone and in person to victims of sexual and domestic violence including crisis intervention, supportive counseling, safety planning and risk assessment, 209A rights and options, information and referral, and provide translation as needed to access services.
Accompany Framingham Police Department Officers/Detectives, "ride along," on calls involving intimate partner violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Act as the liaison between victims and police to facilitate communication;
Facilitate access to services/supports including court.
Gather and review domestic violence police reports from Framingham Police Department; follow up with identified victims in an appropriate manner including phone calls and outreach letters
Attend and assist monthly meeting of the Greater Framingham Domestic Violence High Risk Response Team.
Coordinate cases identified as high risk with the Framingham High Risk response Team Coordinator.
Act as the Framingham High Risk response Team Coordinator as necessary.
Assist victims in accessing victim's compensation.
Develop and maintain community partnerships with the Spanish/Portuguese speaking communities and provide outreach and education presentations about VAV services as needed.
Participate in rotation shifts for support line coverage.
Participate in rotation after hours on-call for medical advocacy.
Facilitate access to immigration services for victims and survivors through the Voices Against Violence / MetroWest Legal Services monthly immigration Clinic.
Maintain accurate records and keep current with data entry in Empower Data Base.
Attend and participate in internal and external meetings and trainings as required including supervision.
Attend & participate in team/department meetings at Voices Against Violence and Framingham Police Department.
Attend and participate in trainings facilitated by Voices Against Violence or relevant outside agencies as needed or requested by the Advocate, Voices Against Violence, or Framingham Police Department.
Attend and participate in law enforcement training and roll call briefings facilitated by Voices Against Violence.
Maintain confidentiality of client, employee and agency information in accordance with federal and state laws and funder requirements.
Conduct continual assessment of Framingham Police Department's performance by surveying (e.g. telephone or mail survey) victims regarding their experience with the department.
Ensure compliance with program/department, agency, and/or funder requirements.
Develop and implement creative strategies for outreach and prevention education
Plan, coordinate, and provide outreach and educational opportunities at community meetings, events, and schools
Develop and present workshops and seminars on sexual and domestic violence, teen dating violence, and healthy relationships
Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge and Skill Requirements:
Fluent (written and spoken) in English as well as Spanish or Portuguese required.
Minimum of an Associate's Degree in public health, criminal justice, social work, human services, women's studies, psychology, or similar preferred. May be replaced by relevant work or volunteer experience, preferably a minimum of one year with a victim service program such as:
Battered women/rape crisis programs (Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault programs)
Certified batterer intervention programs
Victim witness assistance programs (District Attorney's offices or a post-conviction agency)
Other local victim service programs which specialize in rape crisis or domestic violence services
Previous experience with sexual assault or domestic violence survivors.
Excellent interpersonal, organizational, listening, verbal and written communication skills are required.
Demonstrate understanding of the root causes of sexual and domestic violence; commitment to working with victims and survivors; deep commitment to empowerment, social justice and social change required.
Able to manage competing priorities and responsibilities; able to multi-task and effectively deal with the stress of juggling daily tasks, ongoing projects, and the unpredictable nature of crisis work.
Ability to work in a multi-cultural, inclusive environment; ability to interact with people from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Ability to work both as a team member and independently; self-directed, engaging, energetic and self-motivated.
Must possess a high degree of integrity and proven ability to maintain strict confidentiality and professional boundaries.
Knowledge of probate and criminal court issues preferred.
Must have valid driver's license, reliable transportation and meet insurance standards.
Must successfully complete a mandatory 40-hour pre-service training to satisfy the requirements of MGL 20J and 20K.
Must attend Voices Against Violence/SMOC employee orientation.
Successful Police Department background check, required.
Organizational Relationship:
Directly reports to Community Based Program Manager at Voices Against Violence. ??
Indirectly reports to Supervisor in the Domestic Violence Unit at Framingham Police Department..
Direct reports of this position are none.
Indirect reports of this position are none.
This is a grant funded position dependent on the continuation of funding.
Physical Requirement: Ability to drive car both long and short distances. Ability to traverse residential properties where no elevator is available.
Working Conditions: Some travel is required. As part of the responsibilities of this position, the Bi-Lingual Civilian Advocate will have direct or incidental contact with clients served by SMOC in various programs. A successful background check is required.
Remote Work Option: Remote work is permissible in some positions at SMOC depending on the key functions and responsibilities. The Program Advocate position is eligible to work from home ENTER PERCENTAGE of the week in scheduling coordination with the department manager.
Monday-Friday ; 9am-5pm
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