Sojourner Advocate-DVHRT and RO

Sojourner Family Peace Center•Milwaukee, WI

2d•$0 - $21•Onsite

About The Position

This position will work within the Milwaukee County Restraining Order Office and the Family Peace Center to support and assist victims from diverse backgrounds. The Advocate will work to help DVHRT clients understand and navigate the civil and criminal court system processes, explore their options and rights when utilizing these systems, develop safety plans and access needed community resources. This position must maintain collaborative relationships with, but not limited to Court Commissioners, Clerical staff, Milwaukee County Sheriff Department, Milwaukee Police Department and other advocacy staff.

Requirements

Must possess basic knowledge of de-escalation techniques and utilize when necessary.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, logs, and procedure manuals.
Ability to prepare safety plans, intake information, charts and logs, and correspondence.
Ability to communicate effectively with clients, vendors, and other employees of the organization.
Individual must have ability to listen and help clients develop personal plans for safety and assess their needs for legal and other support services.
Good verbal and written communication skills are necessary.
Ability to handle multiple cases simultaneously, attend to details, solve problems, think strategically and work as a team member.
Ability to work with people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Make and maintain community connections to resources.
Organizational and administrative skills needed.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Ability to multi-task, attend to details, solve problems and work as a team member is required.
Requires the ability to operate a variety of standard business machines, such as a computer and the job related software, a keyboard, calculator, telephone, FAX, photocopier, postage machine, etc.
Regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
Frequently required to talk or hear.
Occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
Must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in criminal justice, social work, human services, or relevant field.
One-two years of professional experience in advocacy, case management, human resources or related field.
Working knowledge and ability to perform Danger Assessment, LAP and other relevant screening tools preferred or ability to learn.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with all Sojourner Family Peace Center staff to assist clients and ensure all safety planning, community resource and legal assistance needs are met, among others. Make client referrals to agency and community resources as needed.
Provide legal advocacy to victims of domestic abuse, harassment, juvenile harassment, individuals at risk and child abuse seeking temporary restraining orders and injunctions.
Accompany DVHRT clients to legal proceedings as requested or necessary; become knowledgeable about basic proceedings in criminal, civil and family law in order to assist and support clients understanding and navigation of these systems.
Provide services including follow-up telephone calls, information and referral to other services, preparation for the final injunction hearing, and accompanying DVHRT victims to court. Document all contacts.
Complete intakes with clients to help identify individual needs and assist with the development of a personal action plan built on formal/informal supports and community resources outlining goals and expectations. Utilize independent critical skills to identify additional challenges such as AODA and mental health issues that can present at varying levels of severity.
Work with external partners such as the police, district attorney’s office and school systems among others, to maximize the effectiveness of restraining orders and injunctions for clients.
Provide backup support to other internal programs, specifically the CDAAP Program (i.e. District Advocates).
Maintain a full understanding of onsite FPC partners including what services are provided and how to make appropriate referrals. Know community resources and maintain active connections to them.
Assess clients for emergency legal needs and refer them to the staff paralegal and attorneys at Legal Action Wisconsin or other legal resources.
Assist non-English speaking clients by walking them through all the steps of the restraining order filing process. Ensure language accessibility and utilize professional interpretation services when appropriate.
Remain informed about legislation, issues and concerns in court systems.
Collect, maintain and report client data, computerized and hard copy files.
Maintain client files, including outcome information.
Assist with gathering and compiling advocacy statistics and assist with reports to funding sources.
Assist with training volunteers and interns.
Attend internal staff meetings and team meetings
Provide community outreach and education as applicable.
Ability to work a regular schedule and have regular attendance at the workplace.
Practice agency policies and safety in the workplace.
Participate in all mandatory meetings and trainings.
Uphold and exhibit the agency’s Core Values.