Advocate

Unbound Now - Fort Worth, TX

Full-time - Entry Level

Fort Worth, TX

About the position

The Advocate position at Unbound Now focuses on providing crisis response and ongoing case management for adult survivors of sex trafficking. The role emphasizes individualized support, compliance with program standards, and the application of best practices to ensure high-quality services. Advocates are expected to work collaboratively with various stakeholders while maintaining a strong commitment to the organization's mission and values.

Responsibilities

• Respond to calls from law enforcement and other referral sources when on call; arrive at survivor's location within required time frame.
• Meet immediate physical needs of youth - clothes, food, toiletries, etc.
• Provide ongoing field-based advocacy, case management, and emotional support.
• Independently coordinate referrals, service planning, and documentation of services for assigned caseload.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments, develop service plans, and make independent decisions in the field regarding the safety and well-being of assigned survivors.
• Provide transportation with parent or guardian permission to appointments and services as needed and feasible.
• Meet with each assigned survivor weekly if in town; meet with survivors placed out-of-town monthly; maintain communication through other means in between weekly meetings.
• In coordination with the MDT, help create and update safety plans for survivors.
• Attend CPS case staffings and MDT emergency response meetings and scheduled staffings.
• Document all interactions with survivors, their families, and partner agencies within 72 hours.
• Build and maintain good relationships with organizations that provide services relevant to trafficking victims.
• Alert supervisor when difficult situations arise.
• Recognize red flag behavior and report to supervisor or Executive Director.
• Provide appropriate level of support to non-offending family members of victims to help create a good home environment for the victim.
• Communicate an eagerness to be helpful, starting with every referral and continuing through service delivery.
• Provide assistance to those seeking help, even when they are ineligible for advocate services.
• Balance the limitations of the advocate role with being resourceful, including seeking help from others as needed.
• Be consistent, reliable, and flexible.
• Collaborate actively in support of partners' objectives.
• Ensure case management is relationship-based, trauma-responsive, and survivor-centered.
• Commit to weekly in-person meetings with supervisor.
• Participate in Unbound Now's advocate resilience group.
• Complete DFPS monthly and quarterly reports accurately and in a timely manner.
• Participate in weekly advocacy team meetings/case staffings.
• Submit expense documentation properly and within required timeframes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in social work or related field.
• Experience working with victims of human trafficking, victims of abuse and neglect, or people experiencing homelessness and/or addiction.
• 1 year of experience in case management or crisis intervention.
• Excellent relational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Good organizational and administrative abilities.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Ability to build trust and good working relationships with others.
• Appreciation of need for cultural competency and humility.
• Trained and experienced in trauma-informed care.
• Trained in stages of change model and use of motivational interviewing.

Nice-to-haves

• 2-3 years case management and/or crisis intervention experience.
• Lived experience preferred.

Benefits

• Health insurance for employee and family with premiums covered by employer.
• Employer-paid life insurance for employee.
• Option to participate in Unbound Now's retirement plan (with 3% salary match after 90 days with a 1-year vesting period).
• Dental and Vision insurance available at employee expense.