Advocate

Family Crisis Center; Spencer (IA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Vacation/Sick Leave

Simple IRA

Full-time

Job summary

Family Crisis Center in Spencer, IA is seeking an Advocate to provide trauma-informed case management, direct client services, and community outreach for survivors of domestic abuse, trafficking, and harassment.

Responsibilities include safety planning, resource navigation, and advocacy at court hearings and appointments, with on-call crisis response and adherence to confidentiality policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human services or equivalent experience.
• Experience in crisis intervention, victim advocacy, or case management preferred.
• Strong ability to respond to crisis and build trust with survivors.
• Excellent public speaking, written communication, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide trauma-informed case management for survivors of domestic abuse and other violence.
• Assist clients with safety planning, crisis intervention, and long-term goal setting for self-sufficiency.
• Connect clients with housing, financial aid, legal advocacy, mental health services, and community resources.
• Accompany clients to court hearings, medical appointments, and law enforcement interviews.
• Maintain confidential and accurate case records; ensure timely data entry and compliance with policies.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Victim advocacy

Public speaking

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in human services

Job description

Advocate

Reports To: Advocacy Services Manager Team: Domestic Abuse Comprehensive (DAC)
Benefits: Full-time, health, dental, vision insurance, Vacation/Sick Leave, Simple IRA, Non-Exempt status
Location: Office location in Spencer, Iowa primarily serving Clay county. Serving as primary back-up in Dickinson, Emmet, Palo Alto, Osceola, and O’Brien counties.

Position Summary:

The Advocate provides direct support, crisis intervention, case management, and advocacy for survivors of domestic abuse, trafficking, and harassment. This role helps clients develop safety plans, secure essential resources, and navigate legal and social service systems. Additionally, the advocate plays an active role in community outreach, public awareness, and education efforts to strengthen local partnerships that increase the impact of advocacy services.

Key Responsibilities:

Direct Client Services & Advocacy

• Provide trauma-informed case management for survivors of domestic abuse and other forms of violence.
• Assist clients in safety planning, crisis intervention, and long-term goal setting for self-sufficiency.
• Connect and support survivors with housing, financial assistance, legal advocacy, mental health services, and other community resources.
• Accompany survivors and provide advocacy at court hearings, medical appointments, law enforcement interviews, and other necessary services.
• Assist clients with protection orders, filing for Crime Victim Compensation and other available support programs.

• Establish and uphold clear professional boundaries with clients, following ethical guidelines and organizational policies. Ensure all interactions remain respectful, professional, and focused on client well-being while maintaining confidentiality and avoiding conflicts of interest.

• Provide in-home services and mobile advocacy when deemed safe and appropriate.
• Maintain a minimum of 60% direct service hours per month supporting victims.
• Participate in on-call rotations, providing crisis response for seven-day periods, including holidays (if applicable). Flexibility to work irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Case Management & Documentation

• Manage incoming crisis calls and walk-ins, ensuring proper assessment and documentation.
• Complete intakes, service logs, needs assessments, confidentiality agreements, and referrals accurately.
• Ensure timely data entry into the agency’s confidential database.
• Maintain confidential and complete case records, ensuring timely entry into the agency’s database for compliance and reporting.
• Follow all agency policies, confidentiality laws, and grant requirements.

Community Outreach & Public Awareness

• Conduct public speaking engagements and presentations to increase awareness of domestic violence, trafficking, and victim services. Assist in distributing educational materials and resources for public awareness campaigns.
• Develop and maintain relationships with referral agencies, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and social service organizations to enhance community response to victim services.
• Represent the agency at community meetings, outreach events, and collaborative initiatives.
• Assist with fundraising and awareness efforts, including selling raffle tickets, attending vendor fairs, and supporting agency events.

Training & Professional Development

• Attend staff meetings, case conferences, and required training sessions.

• Successfully complete mandatory 20-hour victim counselor training upon hire.
• Complete all required training certifications, including the Iowa Domestic Violence Victim Counselor Certification within one year of employment.
• Engage in ongoing training and development to stay current on best practices in victim advocacy.

Staff Wellness & Support

• Prioritize self-care and seek support when experiencing work-related crises or vicarious trauma by utilizing available mental health resources, participating in debriefings, and implementing personalized self-care strategies.
• Communicate effectively with staff and supervisors to foster a supportive work environment, ensure clarity in expectations, and promote collaboration to enhance victim services.
• Adhere to all Family Crisis Centers’ policies, procedures, and confidentiality.
• Adapt to evolving organizational needs by taking on additional responsibilities as necessary.
• Support agency-wide initiatives and assist with special projects as needed.

Qualifications:

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in human service related field or equivalent professional and personal experience.

• Experience in crisis intervention, victim advocacy, or case management preferred.

• Skills & Competencies: Strong ability to respond effectively in crisis situations and establish trust with survivors. Excellent public speaking, written communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and maintain organized client records.
• Training & Certification: Must complete mandatory victim advocate training within 30 days of employment and fulfill on-going certification requirements.
• Travel Requirements: Willingness to travel frequently for client support, outreach, and training.
• Background Requirements: Must pass all required background checks, including/not limited to:
  • Criminal and child/dependent adult abuse background checks
  • Sex Offender Registry clearance
  • Must possess a valid driver’s license and adequate motor vehicle insurance.

FCC is an equal opportunity employer. FCC is fair and impartial in all of its relations with its employees and applicants for employment and makes all employment related decisions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, parental responsibility, language, national origin, age, health status (including HIV-positive), physical or mental disability, or any other categories protected by federal, state, or local law.