Community Based Advocate

Maine Tasting Center; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, life and long-term‑d

SIMPLE retirement plan

Paid time off

Sick time – 12 days/yr

Mileage reimbursement

Job summary

Through These Doors is seeking a Community Based Advocate to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse in Portland, with outreach and connection to local resources. The role includes travel across Cumberland County and on-call duties on the helpline.

We provide comprehensive training, competitive pay of $21.54/hour, and full-time benefits. Prior experience is valued, but training is provided to all new employees. Join a dedicated team focused on safety and empowerment.

Qualifications

• Passion for social justice and commitment to helping victims.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness to travel to events and commitments.
• Strong communication and basic computer skills.
• Openness to learning about domestic abuse, dating violence, human trafficking, and stalking.
• Respect for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Provide safety planning, support, crisis intervention, and information/referral to resources for victims and survivors of domestic abuse, dating violence, human trafficking, and stalking.
• Refer and link victims to TTD services including shelter, groups, legal resources, and face-to-face interactions.
• Engage with residents and service providers to enhance understanding of domestic abuse and advocate for victims.
• Work in Portland to engage residents and service providers with community resources.
• Build and maintain relationships with Portland service providers to improve access to services.
• Collaborate with the Portland Police Department and Cumberland County justice system to inform and improve work with victims.
• Keep up-to-date knowledge of Maine and Cumberland County justice systems to improve victim safety.

Skills

Social justice

Integrity

Flexibility

Teamwork

Travel

Learning mindset

Communication

Computer basics

DEI awareness

Job description

Through These Doors is looking for a Community Based Advocate

Are you seeking a job that brings together your passion to make the world a better place with paid employment in a supportive workplace with great benefits? TTD is seeking motivated, caring individuals and provides all training to do our work!

Mission Statement

In collaboration with local partners and all affected by abuse, Through These Doors (TTD) creates innovative responses and mobilizes our community to promote safety and challenge systems of oppression and violence.

Job Summary

The Community Based Advocate is responsible for providing services and supports to victims and survivors of domestic abuse with the goal of advancing TTD capacity to achieve its mission related to the issues of domestic abuse, dating violence, human trafficking, and stalking. The Community Based Advocate will focus their work in Portland with a focus on outreach, support services, and connections to community based resources.

This position will be based in Portland and will include regular work in the community and some travel throughout Cumberland County. Prior experience and training are an advantage, though TTD values life experiences and provides comprehensive training for all new employees to fully perform advocacy functions.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide safety planning, support, crisis intervention, and information and referral to community resources to victims and survivors of domestic abuse, dating violence, human trafficking, and stalking.


• Refer and link victims and survivors of domestic abuse, dating violence, human trafficking, and stalking to all TTD services including but not limited to emergency shelter, groups, legal resources, and face-to-face interactions.


• Work with all who reach out to TTD to support and improve their understanding of domestic abuse, dating violence, human trafficking, and stalking.


• Work in Portland to engage residents and service providers in the neighborhood to enhance their understanding of domestic abuse and provide victim advocacy services to individuals in their community.


• Build and maintain relationships with service providers in Portland to enhance their understanding of domestic abuse, dating violence, human trafficking and stalking and knowledge of TTD services.


• Working within the Portland Police Department and regularly with the Cumberland County justice system, engage with members of these systems to enhance their understanding of domestic abuse and use what is learned about these systems to inform TTD work with victims and survivors.


• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Maine and Cumberland County’s civil and criminal justice systems and tools to improve the safety of victims and hold offenders accountable.

Required Role on Helpline

All advocates and educators are required to provide on-call coverage for our 24-hour helpline including covering M-F and weekend daytime and overnight shifts, on a rotation, with frequency of shifts dictated by staffing and volunteer levels. On-call responsibilities include serving on the front lines to answer helpline calls as they come through, completing shelter intakes as needed and providing support to our 16-bed emergency shelter, providing support and guidance for on-call volunteers, and seeking consultation from supervisors regarding complex calls. TTD fully trains all employees to fulfill this role, and additional on-call pay rates apply. When hiring, we consider if candidates will be a strong fit for our helpline, in addition to the role they are applying for.

Essential Knowledge, Skills & Attributes

• Passion for social justice


• Integrity, flexibility & creativity


• Ability to work independently and as part of a team


• Ability to travel to work related events and commitments


• Curiosity and desire to learn about issues of domestic abuse, dating violence, human trafficking, and stalking


• Positive communication skills


• Basic computer competency


• Embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion

Pay and Benefits

• $21.54/hour


• Medical, dental, life and long-term disability insurance provided at no cost for the employee to full-time employees


• Paid wellness hours


• 27 days per year of earned time off in 1st year (for full-time employees, pro-rated for part-time employees)


• 12 days per year of sick time (for full-time employees, pro-rated for part-time employees)


• Retirement Plan - Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE)


• Paid time off for voting


• Mileage reimbursement for non-commuting work travel
  
• Flexible work options

A note about our workplace

We are a dedicated and committed staff of advocates who believe in safety for all. We value each other, respect each other, and laugh a lot. We create a space that welcomes our authentic selves to the work alongside those experiencing abuse and violence in their homes while also holding offenders accountable and creating a community in which violence has no place.

Non-Discrimination

The goal of TTD's recruitment and hiring process is to achieve an excellent and balanced workforce with representation and participation from diverse sectors of our society. TTD has a responsibility to our community and to victims and survivors of abuse to actively recruit and hire the best-qualified individuals that it can, and to do so in the context of its commitment to principles of diversity. TTD prioritizes candidates who speak multiple languages and bring a diverse set of skills and experiences to their work.