Advocate

The Hope Project; Muskegon (MI); On-site; USD 30,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hope Project seeks an Advocate to manage a caseload of youth and adult clients, coordinating services across housing, health, employment, and legal needs. This role requires travel between Muskegon and Newaygo counties, strong trauma-informed practice, and the ability to document case notes in Apricot.

Offer includes full-time hours (32–40/wk), typically Mon-Thu 9–5 with occasional events. Preference for a degree in social work or related field and CCAR certification.

Qualifications

• Commitment to The Hope Project’s mission and core values.
• Understanding of sex trafficking, trauma, and vulnerability factors.
• Strong administrative and organizational skills.
• Effective communication with clients and team members.
• Must be able to pass background and driving record checks.
• Local commute between Muskegon and Newaygo counties.

Responsibilities

• Case management for a caseload of 30–60 clients.
• Screening and client intake responsibilities.
• Co-facilitate support groups when needed.
• Document interactions in Apricot database.
• Provide advocacy and connect clients to community services.
• Refer youth to counseling, activities, mentoring, and programs.
• Support criminal justice advocacy and access to legal entitlements.
• Assist clients in gaining employment and independent living skills.
• Help clients access housing, transportation, healthcare, and emergency funds.
• Coordinate recovery coaching and peer-support.
• Educate community on human trafficking and THP mission.
• Collaborate with inter-agency councils and task forces.

Skills

Understanding of sex trafficking

Trauma-informed approach

Strong administrative skills

Time management

Excellent written and oral comms

Driver's license

Background check compliance

Spanish language beneficial

Case management experience

Education

Degree in Social Work or related field

CCAR Certification a plus

Tools

Apricot database

Job description

Status: Full-time (32-40 hours/week), M-Th, 9 AM-5 PM (office hours) and occasional events/groups to attend outside those hours

Classification: Nonexempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act

Education: Degree in Social Work or related field preferred; CCAR Certification a plus

Pay Range: $22-27/Hour

Description Written/Last Reviewed: August 2026

The Hope Project’s (THP) Advocate will help with case management of youth and adult clients and help with fulfilling program goals. This Advocate position will be trained in Muskegon County but will have clients in Muskegon & Newaygo Counties. They must be willing to commute between these two counties.

Responsibilities Include:

• Case Management:
• Provide screening and client intakes
• Manage an active case load of 30-60 clients
• Co-facilitate support groups when needed
• Document in Apricot Database interactions with clients
• Provide Advocacy and Supportive Services: Assist and/or advocate on behalf of clients and to link clients with community systems personnel to secure the following services:
• Youth Services: Provide youth clients with referrals to activities and programming including but not limited to, counseling, recreational activities, arts and crafts, tutoring, mentoring, opportunities to participate in community activities such as 4-H, theater groups, volunteer organizations, etc. while supporting their parents/guardians.
• Criminal Justice Advocacy: Provide support, assistance, and/or advocate for clients at any stage of the criminal justice process, including post-sentencing services. Work to ensure that clients have access to justice and legal entitlements, such as protection orders
• Employment Services: Provide support, assistance and/or advocate for clients in gaining the necessary skills, knowledge, resources to secure employment suitable for maintaining independent living.
• Provide support, assistance, and/or advocate for clients in accessing and utilizing community support services
• Health Care: Provide support, assistance and/or advocate for clients in obtaining emergency and routine health care at hospitals, physicians, dentists, mental healthcare professionals and other healthcare providers.
• Housing Advocacy: Provide support, assistance and/or advocate for clients in obtaining safe housing and/or relocating a client.
• Transportation: Provide and/or assist clients with transportation to and from programming, appointments, court, etc. Adhere to all applicable laws related to safety in the transportation of children and adults.
• Emergency Financial Assistance: Connect clients with financial and/or material resources for items such as prescriptions, transportation (e.g. bus passes, gas cards, taxi vouchers), security deposits, and security systems/modifications to address any emergency needs of the client.
• Recovery Coaching (if certified life recovery coach)
• Provide peer-based support to clients seeking or in recovery from substance use disorders.
• Help create recovery plans, navigate resources, set goals, and build sober support networks with clients
• Help clients maintain accountability to sustain long term recovery.
• Facilitate recovery groups
• Provide Systems Change, Community Education and Public Awareness
• Work collaboratively with community systems used by crime victims during crisis. Systems include active participation on inter-agency councils, Case Managers Meeting and Task Forces to help further resources for clients
• Educate or train adults and the general population on human trafficking.
• Communicate effectively THP’s mission, values, and purpose to inspire people to support THP’s cause
• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at the discretion of the director.

Requirements:

• Commitment to The Hope Project’s mission and core values
• Understanding of sex trafficking, trauma, and what makes someone vulnerable
• Highly professional with strong administrative and organizational skills
• A people person, extremely welcoming and engaging, with a heart of compassion and empathy to serve others
• Ability to work without supervision and manage time effectively
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Must have a valid driver's license
• Must be able to pass national background check and driver record check
• Certified Life Recovery Coach (At least 2-year sobriety) a plus
• Familiarity with Apricot (client management software program) a plus
• Ability to speak Spanish a plus
• Lived experience a plus
• Experience in case management preferred

About The Hope Project

The Hope Project is a 501c3 non-profit Christian faith-based organization. Our mission is to support the healing of girls and women who have survived sex trafficking and prevent further cases through mentoring and education. Our vision is to end the suffering from sex trafficking.

Our core values are:

Love -- We are motivated by the love of Christ.

Justice -- We believe that God has called us to bring justice to a broken world.

Empowerment -- We are committed to creating an environment of empowerment.

Collaboration -- We are committed to meeting the diverse needs of those we serve through collaboration.

Stewardship -- We are committed to using the resources we are given responsibly and transparently.

Prayer -- We believe in the power of prayer.

We provide individual therapy, group therapy, support groups, recovery coaching, recovery groups, mentoring, case management, extra support and resources to survivors of sex trafficking and vulnerable youth starting at age 11 years old. In addition, The Hope Project has opened Rays of Hope, a healing home for women who have survived sex trafficking and is working towards opening a home for children. The Hope Project is located in Muskegon, MI but also has a satellite office in Newaygo County (White Cloud). The Hope Project is an umbrella and oversight to the Newaygo Co. Human Trafficking Task Force and the Lakeshore Human Trafficking Task Force.