Rural Advocate

YWCA Northeast Kansas; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

YWCA Northeast Kansas is seeking a Rural Advocate to provide survivor-centered case management and advocacy for individuals affected by human trafficking in rural counties. You will coordinate with law enforcement, courts, and health providers to improve access to services, while maintaining confidentiality and trauma-informed care.

The position requires a degree in Social Work or related field, strong communication skills, and the ability to travel within service areas.

Qualifications

• Degree in Social Work, Public Health, Human Services, or related field.
• Experience with crisis intervention and trauma-informed care preferred.
• Knowledge of confidentiality laws and survivor-centered practices.
• Ability to coordinate with multiple systems (law enforcement, courts, healthcare).
• Valid drivers license and reliable transportation required.

Responsibilities

• Provides crisis intervention, safety planning, and advocacy for individuals impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking in rural counties.
• Responds to victims/survivors in person and via phone, including hotlines and walk-ins.
• Provides advocacy and transportation to appointments (medical, legal, housing, court) to ensure access to services.
• Attends dockets (domestic, criminal, PFA) to offer support and connect to services.
• Facilitates supportive counseling and support groups as needed.
• Maintains client caseload with ongoing advocacy and service coordination, ensuring confidentiality.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Advocacy

Communication skills

Trauma-informed care

Confidentiality

Valid drivers license

Education

Bachelors degree in Social Work, Public Health, Human Services, or related field

Job description

YWCA Northeast Kansas is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. We provide transformative services in the areas of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking, Community Violence Interruption, before- and after-school programming, and leadership and inclusion initiatives.

Job Classification:Exempt, Full-Time

Work Schedule:Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:30AM-5:30PM

Reporting Relationship:Rural Project Manager

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Rural Project Manager, the Rural Advocate maintains a safe, confidential, and trauma-informed environment for clients of YWCA Northeast Kansas’ Center for Safety and Empowerment (CSE). The Rural Advocate provides intensive, survivor-centered case management and advocacy to individuals impacted by human trafficking, supporting safety, stabilization, and long-term independence. This role coordinates across systems, reduces barriers to care, and ensure survivors have access to supports.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides crisis intervention, safety planning, and advocacy services to individuals impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking within designated rural counties.
• Responds to victims/survivors in person and over the phone, including hotline calls, walk-ins, and community-based settings.
• Provides advocacy and/or transportation to community appointments (e.g., medical, legal, housing, court) to ensure access to services and a supportive presence.
• Attends domestic, criminal, and Protection From Abuse (PFA) dockets in rural communities to offer support, information, and connection to services.
• Facilitates individual supportive counseling and support groups, as needed.
• Assists victims/survivors with completing and filing Protection Orders and navigating the legal system.
• Carries a caseload of clients, providing ongoing advocacy and service coordination based on individual needs.
• Ensures services are accessible, flexible, and responsive to the unique barriers faced by rural survivors (e.g., transportation, isolation, limited resources).

Coordination & Systems Navigation

• Maintains regular communication with community partners in rural counties, including law enforcement, courts, healthcare providers, schools, and community-based organizations.
• Attends Coordinated Community Response (CCR) Team meetings and other local collaborations to strengthen systems response and referrals.
• Participates in community outreach and education efforts to increase awareness of available services and improve access in rural areas.
• Refers and coordinates services with community agencies for needs not provided by CSE and follows up to ensure connection.
• Builds and maintains a current knowledge of local resources across all assigned rural counties.
• Maintains regular communication with community partners regarding available resources.
• Refers and coordinates services with community agencies for needs not provided by CSE.
• Attends community meetings and collaborates with partner agencies, as needed, to support client services and systems coordination.
• Attends all required YWCA Northeast Kansas, CSE, and shelter staff meetings.
• Serves in the on‑call rotation, including after‑hours, overnight, weekend, or holiday availability as required.
• Completes all required documentation for each client served in a timely, accurate, and confidential manner.
• Enters all client contacts, services, case notes, and outcomes into the agency database in accordance with program and funder requirements.
• Maintains strict adherence to confidentiality laws and ethical standards, including VAWA/VOCA/FVPSA protections.

Other Position Functions

• Refrains from assuming any duty that is unrelated to and/or interferes with the responsibilities of the position.
• Advocates, promotes, and practices cultural sensitivity and responsiveness in day‑to‑day interactions.
• Performs other duties assigned by the supervisor or CEO. The job description does not state or imply that these are the only activities to be performed by the employee holding this position.

QUALIFICATIONS

At a minimum, the Rural Advocate must have a degree in Social Work, Public Health, Human Services, or a related field. Relevant professional experience may be substituted for formal education requirements, depending on the nature and scope of the experience. In addition, the Rural Advocate shall have:

• Basic understanding of dynamics of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking.
• Knowledge of local community resources and support services.
• Sensitivity to the needs of others.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage individuals in crisis.
• Ability to function well in a crisis setting where interruptions are frequent.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and the ability to travel within service areas.
• Dedication to relationship building and a commitment to working as an integral part of a team, while exercising significant initiative and autonomy.
• Commitment to the YWCA mission and values, including a strong focus on racial equity and social justice.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical requirements 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:

• Able to climb flights of stairs multiple times daily.
• Travel Requirements:
  • Valid driver’s license.
  • Transportation.
  • Auto insurance.
  • Travel throughout the multi-county rural service area required.
• Pass various background checks.

NON DISCRIMINATION

YWCA Northeast Kansas is an equal opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive, equitable, and trauma-informed workplace. We recognize that systemic inequities impact many aspects of society, and we strive to address these through our policies, practices, and organizational culture. We believe that diversity in all its forms strengthens our mission and our work.

We do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. No question on our application is intended to secure information to be used for such discrimination.

We are also committed to fair hiring practices, including the consideration of qualified applicants with criminal records, in line with applicable laws and our values of second chances and community reintegration.

We strongly encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds — including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; immigrants and refugees; LGBTQIA+ individuals; people with disabilities; gender‑diverse individuals; survivors; and members of other historically underrepresented communities.