Job Description

Family Violence Victim Advocate

The primary role of the Family Violence Victim Advocate is to provide services to victims of family violence crimes who are involved in cases in criminal court. These services represent providing support, information and advocacy designed to enhance the safety of victims from the time of arraignment and throughout the criminal court process. The FVVAs work in the court as part of the Family Violence Intervention Unit, administered by Court Support Services (CSSD) and assist CSSD and the State Attorney's Office in recognizing the choices and needs of victims pre and post arraignment. They provide immediate services within the legal system and ongoing case management connecting victims to resources within the community at large. This position is to be carried out while empowering victims with respect to their safety and their right to self-determination.

Role and responsibilities include:

• Informs victims of domestic violence regarding the court process, prosecution, sanctions, orders of protection, and victim compensation
• Initiates and maintains a collaborative relationship with appropriate court personnel including but not limited to judges, prosecutors, probation officers, bail commissioner, family relations officers, police officers, sheriffs, and clerks.
• Provides telephone or in person contact including support in designing and implementing safety plans to include referrals to emergency shelter, counseling, support groups, and all appropriate agencies.
• Provides coverage at the shelter performing all shelter responsibilities
• Maintains all statistical documentation, and submits accurate quarterly reports on a timely basis.
• Attends supervision meetings with the Program Director to discuss individual duties and review performance.
• Attends meetings, workshops and conferences held by CCADV, and other organizations
• Complies with Community Health Center, Inc., and CCADV annual mandatory training requirements
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree (preferred) Substitution of an appropriate combination college training, years of experience, and intern/volunteer service will be considered.
• Bilingual (preferred)
• Comprehensive working knowledge of the dynamics of domestic violence.
• Commitment to working with women and children severely affected by domestic violence, and a capacity to develop an overall plan for their safety and the preservation of their right to self-determination.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the court system, both civil and criminal, as it relates to domestic violence issues and laws affecting victims, and, an ability to effectively apply this knowledge to individual cases;
• Effective oral and written communication.
• Domestic Violence Advocate Certification, as approved by CCADV is required 3 months after hire.
• CHC requires as a condition of employment current American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer and AED (CPR/FPR/AED) certification. The only acceptable alternative is current American Heart Association BLS/AED for Healthcare Providers certification.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Employees must have a current driver's license with a clean driving record at time of hire and throughout employment.

Physical requirements/work environment include:

• May required rapid physical response, though work is primarily sedentary.
• Because of safety and security threats, this can be a stressful position.
• Requires stair climbing.

Additional qualifications include:

This position requires a trauma-informed approach to domestic violence advocacy. Using a trauma informed approach means that we assist survivors in strengthening their own psychological capacities to deal with the multiple complex issues that they face in accessing safety, recovering from the traumatic effects of domestic violence and other lifetime abuse, and rebuilding their lives. This approach requires creating and maintaining an environment that is inclusive, welcoming, destigmatizing, and non-retraumatizing.

Confidentiality of information is a requirement. Confidentiality must be maintained according to CHC policies. Breach of confidentiality in domestic violence programming represents a potentially life threatening or fatal risk to clients in the shelter. Must be willing and able to personally support, and endorse with staff and volunteers, the confidentiality of location of the shelter and all information related to clients of the shelter. Must maintain records in a format that would not threaten women's safety and privacy should records be subpoenaed in a court of law.

Organization information:

Community Health Center, Inc. (CHCI). CHC is one of the country's most creative and dynamic providers of primary medical, dental and behavioral health services, and a leader in practice-based research, health professionals training, and use of innovative technologies to advance health and healthcare. CHCI is designated as a federally qualified health center and a patient-centered medical home by HRSA, the Joint Commission, and NCQA, respectively. We deliver more than 500,000 patient visits per year from primary care hubs and community clinics across the state of Ct, all connected by technology and common standards for quality. We employ several hundred medical, dental, and behavioral health providers who are engaged in practice, teaching, and research. Our Weitzman Institute is devoted to research and practice transformation and is recognized around the country as one of the premier research institutes focused on improving health care and health outcomes for special and vulnerable populations. In addition, the organization has developed three wholly owned subsidiaries from the original pilot developments within the Weitzman Institute, the National Nurse Practitioner Residency and Fellowship Training Consortium (NNPRFTC), the National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement, and the Community eConsult Network. National Nurse Practitioner Residency and fellowship training Consortium, National Institute for the Advancement of Medical Assistants and the Community eConsult Network.

Location: Community Health Center of Middletown

City: Middletown

State: Connecticut

Time Type: Full time

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