Victim Advocate (District Attorney's Office)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Victim Advocate provides assistance with the following duties: initial intakes, needs assessments, coordinates services to victims/survivors and their families, and provides general client tracking and file maintenance.

The Victim Advocate will assist with outreach efforts to raise awareness of victim’s rights and available services.

The Victim Advocate will perform other VOCA eligible duties as assigned. 

Victim Advocates must understand the criminal justice system, dynamics of child abuse, crisis development and resolution, effective listening techniques, the impact of trauma on a child, the rights of crime victims, cultural considerations, and intervention strategies.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential Functions

The duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not necessarily limited to:


* Greet visitors when they arrive at the Children’s Alliance Center (CAC).


* Complete initial intake process with victims/survivors and their families and inform them of the CAC process and available services.


* Provides and assesses a screening tool for all child victims to determine an urgent mental health issues and/or suicidal ideations.  Results of the tool are utilized to make appropriate referrals and offer the child resources to manage their mental health.


* Performs an assessment tool with potential victims of human trafficking.


* Field in-coming calls to the Children’s Alliance Center.


* Provide education to children and their families regarding the Children’s Alliance Center.


* Provide victims/survivors and their families with information regarding the Victim Compensation Assistance Program and assist them with filing their claim, upon their request.


* Provide assistance with accessing services such as protective orders, housing, public assistance, domestic violence resources, support groups and transportation.


* Provide victims/survivors and their families with necessary referrals to community agencies and provide victim advocacy when needed, including linkage to necessary community resources to meet some of the basic needs listed above such as housing and transportation.


* Follow up to assure that needed support services are realistically accessible and received (counseling, sexuality evaluation, forensic examination, satisfaction surveys, etc.).


* Coordinate with partner agencies to schedule forensic interviews, medical examinations and sexual abuse evaluations.


* Act as a liaison with other social service agencies in the community to provide timely services and referrals to the family.


* Provide victim support throughout the investigation.


* Assist in creating and maintaining client files.


* Enter client information into client tracking system and perform data maintenance on all services provided.


* Provide opportunities for families to complete outcome measurements relative to services and programs.


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