DV Economic Advocate

SafeSpace, Inc.; Vero Beach (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

SafeSpace, Inc. is seeking a DV Economic Advocate in Vero Beach, FL. The role focuses on delivering the Economic Empowerment Project, enhancing financial literacy and safety for survivors of domestic violence.

The advocate builds community partnerships, conducts presentations and provides individualized support to help clients achieve housing, employment and financial goals. Responsibilities include case management, data entry, and coordination with partner agencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work or related field preferred or HS diploma/ GED with at least 1 year of case management, crisis intervention or advocacy experience
• Experience in domestic violence, sexual violence or human trafficking services preferred
• Knowledge of budgeting, credit building, financial literacy and safety planning.
• Ability to engage survivors with supportive, trauma-informed approaches

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and deliver the Economic Empowerment Project components, including curricula and financial literacy
• Assist survivors in identifying safe housing by accessing transitional or permanent housing options
• Help survivors identify and attain employment goals
• Provide ongoing financial safety planning, counseling, and case management and coordinate services with outside agencies
• Maintain participant data in the agency database with confidentiality and HIPAA-like safeguards
• Attend outreach intakes and feed relevant data into the SafeSpace system
• Collaborate with community agencies to connect survivors with resources
• Inform survivors about victim compensation and address confidentiality programs
• Participate in meetings and trainings as required by supervision and funding

Skills

Financial literacy

Case management

Trauma-informed approach

Crisis intervention

Bilingual (preferred)

Data entry / record keeping

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or related field

HS diploma with relevant experience

Job description

Description

Days / Shift: Monday through Friday; 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (with flexibility to meet program needs)

Position Type/Classification: Full-Time 40 hours per week; Non-Exempt

Location/Travel: Vero Beach/Tri-County (Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin County)

Position Summary

The DV Economic Advocate is responsible for implementing direct services through the Economic Justice Project and reporting accurate data that tracks the number of survivors receiving services, and the type of services provided. The DV Economic Advocate is responsible for implementing best practices in the provision of services to individuals that have been financially impacted due to domestic violence utilizing empowerment based, trauma-informed, survivor-centered interventions.

The DV Economic Advocate directly provides individual and group services to enhance the financial literacy and safety for adults accessing programs. The DV Economic Advocate develops and maintains collaborative relationships with community partners, community members, and project partners to meet the goals of the Economic Empowerment Project and facilitates community presentations and awareness events.

Job Responsibilities

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain an all-inclusive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.

• Develop, implement, maintain and deliver the Economic Empowerment Project to include components such as instructional curricula, financial literacy, economic advocacy, credit and tax education, microloans, micro-enterprises, match saving programs, individual developmental accounts program, sustainability assessments, economic and self-sufficiency goal setting plans, safe housing plans, job readiness, and educational advancement.
• Assist survivors of domestic violence by identifying and securing safe and affordable housing by accessing transitional, permanent, or alternative housing to prevent or reduce the risk of experiencing homelessness.
• Assisting survivors of domestic violence with identifying and attaining their employment goals.
• Schedule and facilitate ongoing Economic Empowerment appointments upon request of the survivor and provide on-going financial safety planning, risk/lethality assessment, counseling / advocacy, transportation, service plan coordination with outside agencies, case management, goal setting, education on the dynamics of domestic violence, information and referrals, shelter screenings, and court accompaniment.
• Enter, update and maintain current and appropriate participant information regarding all ongoing services provided to participants immediately into the agency’s client database system in accordance with SafeSpace standards. Must maintain confidentiality laws applied to survivors of domestic violence and offer Releases of Information in the best interest of the survivor.
• Complete outreach intakes, as needed/requested, and immediately enter all relevant client data / information into the SafeSpace client management database
• Identify resources and collaborate with community agencies including, but not limited to local literacy programs, career centers, Job Links, educational institutions, GED programs, ESOL programs, Dress for Success programs and local libraries.
• Inform and assist survivors in filing victim compensation claims from the Office of the Attorney General and processing Address Confidentiality applications including gathering the needed documentation and informing survivors of their rights. Provide follow-up advocacy with the victim compensation agency on the survivor’s behalf.
• Attend weekly house meetings at the emergency shelters to inform residential participants of outreach services and staff Safe Housing Plans with Shelter Advocates to streamline department referrals
• Participate in case staffing, shift meetings, team meetings, and staff meetings. Engage in one-on-one supervision meetings with the Outreach Programs Manager
• Facilitate educational workshops and community presentations to raise awareness on economic abuse within the context of domestic violence and SafeSpace services
• Attend multidisciplinary meetings, sub-committees, tasks forces, and participate in required project deliverables, as assigned by the supervisor
• Participate in other projects and assist with additional duties as requested by the Supervisor, including supporting the emergency disaster team in the event of a national disaster or weather emergency

Requirements

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in social work or related human services field preferred or High School diploma/ GED, and prior equivalent experience with one year or more providing case management, crisis intervention and/or advocacy to vulnerable, at-risk, or culturally specific populations.
• Experience in the victim services field of domestic violence, sexual violence or human trafficking preferred.
• Must have knowledge of basic budgeting, credit building and repair strategies, financial literacy, and safety planning.
• Ability to engage in and model supportive, healthy relationships, with survivors, peers, staff and community members.
• Ability to safely de‑escape a crisis, conflict, and critical event utilizing a trauma‑informed de‑escape approach.
• Must adhere to SafeSpace ethics, policies, procedures, and contractual standards.
• Must have the ability to gain knowledge of local resources, social service agencies, government systems, and self‑sufficiency programs.
• Ability to communicate efficiently utilizing verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Must maintain and protect the confidentiality of the program participants and shelter locations within agency guidelines and state statutes.
• Bilingual language skills are preferred.
• Must be willing to support the emergency disaster team in the event of a national disaster or weather emergency.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for travel to various locations including shelters and outreach locations
• Must pass Level 2 background screening
• Ability to be flexible and provide coverage at the emergency shelters and outreach departments, when needed including nights, weekends and holidays.
• Must be organized and detail-oriented to report and collect accurate data and information.
• Must be able to handle and prioritize emergencies and unexpected needs of program participants.
• Ability to be self‑motivated and work as part of a collaborative team.

Core Competencies

• Professionalism and compassion
• Attention to detail
• Reliability and accountability
• Cultural humility and inclusivity
• Problem-solving and initiative
• Team collaboration

Training Requirements

Required onboarding training will be conducted at the Administrative office or designated location during the hours of 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Monday through Friday regardless of shift schedule. Must successfully complete CORE Competency training provided by the agency within 90 days of employment and participate in ongoing mandatory education and skills training on relevant topics as required by statutory funding, certification of the agency or personnel, or as identified to improve employee performance. Must maintain annual training requirements outlined in the employee manual. Must have or gain knowledge in Florida Domestic Violence Statutes, Injunctions for Protection, court procedures, victim rights, Office of the Attorney General Victim Compensation / Relocation and Address Confidentiality Program (ACP), and the Florida Department of Corrections VINE (Victim Information Notification Everyday).

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This job operates in outreach locations, throughout SafeSpace service areas, including the 24‑hour emergency shelters. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Will be a noisy environment that is fast paced with high stimulation. Working with survivors of intimate partner domestic violence may increase exposure to secondary trauma.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is active and may require standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing. The employee must frequently lift and/or move items up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Work will be performed in both inside and outside environments.

Notice to Applicants: All finalists for employment with SafeSpace, Inc. are required to undergo screening through the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. For more information, please visit https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

SafeSpace is an Equal Opportunity Employer.