Full-Time Victim Advocacy Coordinator
Job Description
Victim Assistance Program, the leading expert in crisis intervention for victims of crime and trauma in Northeast Ohio, is seeking a full-time Stow Municipal Court Victim Advocate Coordinator who will also have some evening and weekend responsibilities.
Victim Assistance Program does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Victim Assistance Program will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities.
The ideal candidate for this integral role will have a passion for helping those in need, be able to work independently, have strong organizational skills and be driven to identify and complete tasks with limited direction.
As one of the first victim services agencies established in the United States, we are driven to expand the blueprint our founder established in 1972. We are always advancing, always changing, and always thinking of new ways to help victims of crime and trauma.
If you are passionate about using your expertise to help create a world where all victims are healed, please read on!
CHECK OUT THE SPECIFICS TO SEE IF THIS IS THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU
The Stow Municipal Court Victim Advocate Coordinator provides trauma-informed services to victims, family members, and communities, impacted by crisis, violence, or tragedy by offering immediate crisis intervention and short/long-term advocacy, via phone, chat, text, or in-person, to address the aftermath of their victimization.
Victim Advocacy
Just because our office is in the municipal courthouse, does not mean our knowledge of the court systems ends there. The Advocate Coordinator must help clients navigate through the entire court system – both on the municipal level and the various branches of the County Court of Common Pleas.
- Educate clients on their rights and the application of applying or waiving their rights as a victim of crime
- Maintain a knowledge of resources and refer clients to outside entities so they may accomplish goals/tasks
- Provide notification/status to victims whose offenders were arrested, subpoenaed, and or arraigned
- Liaison with Stow Municipal Court staff to advocate for client needs throughout the criminal justice process
- Provide criminal justice education and case information to victims whose cases transition to other courts
- Navigate through victim, offender, and case files through various online court systems
Crisis Intervention
- Respond to the scene within 30 minutes to provide crisis intervention in the immediate aftermath of a crisis
- Participate in an on-call rotation with peers to provide crisis intervention at the scene of the crime or hospital during designated shifts between the hours of (4p – 8a) weekdays and all day on weekends/holidays
- Engage clients in the NOVA (National Organization for Victim Assistance) model of crisis intervention
- Maintain open communication with the on-call supervisor to debrief after difficult cases
- Determine when crisis intervention services have been exhausted
- Provide follow up support via phone to each client served
Administrative
The Victim Advocate will have a significant amount of down time as the needs of victims fluctuate to ‘all the time’, to ‘next to none’. During down time, or even while on the phone, there is always work that can be done…
- Foster a professional rapport with police officers and detectives in the Stow Municipal Court jurisdiction
- Foster a professional rapport with Barberton Municipal Court employees
- Maintain up-to-date documentation of the clients served as well as the services provided to each
- Disseminate paper and electronic victim outcome surveys to measure our program’s success
REQUIREMENTS
Victim Assistance Program strives to provide all our employees with the right tools for success, we just need you to come with a few things in your toolbox.
- A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to Victim Assistance Program mission and services.
- 2 years of experience working in the criminal justice system preferred
- Must reside within 25 miles of VAP’s main office.
- Pass and clear a state and federal background check.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE APPLYING
All employees of Victim Assistance Program must appreciate the potential physical and psychological impact VAP employment may have on their personal lives.
Employees may witness, observe, smell, and hear disturbing sights and sounds including but not limited to crime scenes, pictures of abuse, and recordings of violent incidents. Secondly, employees may be exposed to situations which could potentially result in physical harm from victims and/or aggressors. Both are concerns primarily of direct service victim advocates, but any employee can be exposed to these situations from time to time. In addition, all employees of Victim Assistance Program are required to respond 24/7/365 to the needs of victims of extreme and catastrophic incidents impacting Summit County.
As our goal is to respond to trauma, we do not engage in prevention, nor do we engage in activism. To ensure every victim is provided with unbiased support, our agency remains neutral on most social justice issues. We work extremely close with local law enforcement; we are a pro police agency and expect all our employees to strengthen our mission by respecting the work of law enforcement in our community.
TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN
We aspire to ensure the needs of our employees are always identified. Employees are provided above average compensation compared to similar Ohio nonprofits. We strive to provide employees with beautiful, trauma informed office settings, new furniture, up to date technology, security, expansive training programs, Verizon wireless cell phone discounts and employee assistance program including 6 free confidential counseling sessions.
Our newly renovated main office in downtown Akron is within walking distance to the courts, police station, restaurants, shops, and the towpath trails. The spaces include an education training facility, trauma free room, a distraction free room, and two staff conference rooms. A rich benefit package is also provided to full time employees. This includes 3 weeks of PTO, 11.5 paid holiday days off, medical coverage, dental & vision coverage, pet insurance, and a 401k retirement plan with matching contribution.
It is our belief that if employees are taken care of, then victims will receive superior services… and that is our goal.
How to Apply
Those interested can apply at https://victimassistanceprogram.org/about-us/careers/190 total views, 0 today