Family Advocate - Special Victims Unit

The Family Advocate, under the supervision of the Director of Community Programs or their designee, will work on-site at the Special Victims Unit of the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD-SVU). The Family Advocate will be available to the SFPD-SVU for service provision to domestic violence (DV) victims and clients in common, through coordination of advocacy and accompaniment services throughout all phases of the criminal justice and civil legal process.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: 

• Work alongside the SFPD-SVU – providing a timely response in a culturally appropriate manner to individuals and their children (including teens) identified as victims of domestic violence through police reports, walk-ins, or by other law enforcement referrals.
• Maintain for safekeeping client information/files in compliance with site-specific grant and agency policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Offer a core set of services to every client, including expedited referral to (1) individual counseling and group support, (2) domestic violence shelter facilities, (3) housing advocacy, (4) emergency food and transportation services, (5) legal assistance, and (6) other community-based services, including childcare services.
• Execute, maintain, and submit program documentation, including evaluations and surveys, per grant and programmatic requirements.
• Conduct detailed safety planning with clients, referral to La Casa’s 24-hour crisis line, and education about healthy relationships, the cycle of violence, and identifying signs in dangerous relationships.
• Conduct assessments of the danger level of domestic violence and provide assessments to the client.
• Respond as appropriate to Suspicious Injury Reports and SF Supplement to Health Practitioner Suspicious Injury Reports.
• Develop and maintain ongoing knowledge of local, state, and federal domestic violence legislation and regulations.
• Coordinate linkages and work collaboratively with community-based organizations and work groups to ensure accessibility and greater options for clients and their families.
• Participate in regularly scheduled mandatory staff meetings and training
• Assist with other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum two (2) years of college in the human services field of study, plus at least one year of experience in domestic violence-related work or equivalent school/work/life experience.
• Experience working with human trafficked survivors and knowledge of human trafficking resources preferred.
• Possess strong working knowledge of community resources in the San Francisco area.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed counseling techniques, peer counseling models, crisis intervention, social milieu, and group facilitation.
• Understanding of DV/SA confidentiality and privilege laws.
• Ability to work independently and navigate public transportation to and from multi-site collaborative.
• Ability to use all standard office equipment 
• Communicate effectively (in person, telephone or Zoom).    
• Sit or stand comfortably, and the ability to navigate throughout office spaces.
• Bilingual - English/Spanish required and direct experience working with culturally diverse populations.
• Verifiable completion of state-mandated 40-hour domestic violence counselor training. Or will complete the next scheduled agency 40-hour domestic violence counselor training;
• Background check and clearance through DOJ Live scan fingerprinting required; La Casa de las Madres will consider applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with San Francisco’s Fair Chance Ordinance; and
• Completion of SVU orientation requirements (privacy and confidentiality training, new employee orientation, required security IDs, placements, etc.).
• Valid California Driver’s License, clean driving record, and insurable under agency policy, and we will consider a non-driver possessing a valid California Identification card.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation. 
• Comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance. 
• Company-sponsored life and long-term disability insurance. 
• Generous paid time off, including 13 paid holidays, birthday, and work anniversary. 
• Company-sponsored 403(b) retirement plan. 
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.