Bilingual Advocate

Program Purpose

Provide emergency, safe shelter for individuals and those with children who are actively fleeing Domestic Violence (Intimate Partner Violence, specifically). Roots of Courage offers a safe location with emphasis in a confidential location. Roots of Courage uses a framework of trauma informed care that provides education on how to live without fear, violence, abuse, and/or oppression.

Position Purpose

Roots of Courage Domestic Violence Advocates are trained to navigate crisis intervention and safety planning to provide advocacy and case management for individuals and those with children. Domestic Violence Advocates are expected to operate a 24/7 crisis line and the supportive services of emergency, safe shelter.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Bilingual Spanish and English required

• Roots of Courage Advocates are skilled in providing case management, trauma-informed support and advocacy, crisis intervention, and conflict resolution, to clients in an emergency shelter setting

• Assists with crisis line coverage to screen in new clients who are fleeing domestic violence and seeking confidential shelter, provide over-the-phone safety planning, and resources/referrals

• Roots of Courage Advocates maintain confidentiality of shelter, employees, and client information per Family Tree policies, as well as Colorado State and U.S. Federal laws protecting survivors of Domestic Violence

• Basic knowledge of Domestic Violence and the impact on survivors and/or children

• Assist clients with housing navigation, benefits acquisition, educational/vocational referrals, financial empowerment, behavioral/health referrals, goal setting, life skills, and the establishment of a personal support network

• Promptly enter documentation and information into the Salesforce database and other respective tracking systems as required

• Maintain documentation and data needed for monthly grant reporting

• Complete documentation for client interactions in a timely and accurate manner

• Follow up with applications for services and complete intakes of new clients

• Communicate with partner agencies and other professionals on a case when necessary to better service our clients

• Supports interns and volunteers assigned to the Shelter program

• Assures coverage including weekend, evening, and holiday shifts

Other Duties:

• Adhere to Continuous Improvement Practices according to Family Tree's standards

• Serve as a support to volunteers, interns, and other staff

• Communicate and coordinate with the Program Director for materials and items needed

• Adhere to Family Tree's mission, vision, values, goals, and personnel policies

• Adhere to Family Time Program procedures

Required Skills/Competencies

• Critical Thinking: Demonstrate the ability to think clearly and rationally when a situation demands it. Ability to analyze facts objectively

• Problem Solving: Demonstrate abilities to carry out self-directed tasks with limited supervision. Demonstrate abilities to identify and define a problem; determine the cause of the problem; identify, prioritize, and select alternatives for a solution; implement a solution; and evaluate the results

• Fostering Teamwork and Collaboration: Demonstrate abilities to collaborate with team members, Family Tree Leadership, and partnering agencies to help our program goals and outcomes. Demonstrate abilities to listen to ideas and communicate ideas and disagreements timely and constructively

• Flexibility and Adaptability: Comfortable navigating the unknown and able to make decisions with limited information. Can easily transition from one task to the next and work in a fast-paced environment that changes frequently

• Communication: Ability to explain complex and diverse ideas to audiences in written and oral formats. Ability to provide direction, information, or instructions effectively. Demonstrate abilities to report factual interactions

• Collaboration: Willingness to collaborate with internal departments and community partners, to deliver comprehensive support services for adult and child survivors in shelter settings.

• Professionalism and Work Ethic: Demonstrate abilities to manage their time adequately and be accountable. Demonstrate abilities to focus on client's needs, applying trauma-informed practices, cultural competency, and inclusiveness

• Initiative: Able to work in a self-directed manner while also communicating well within a team; able to perform tasks with strong attention to detail, critical thinking, and excellent organizational skills

Preferred Skills/Competencies

• Relationship Management: possess the skills to build healthy and effective working relationships with Family Tree team members. Skills gained from lived experience and professional experience working with vulnerable populations and marginalized communities.

• Previous knowledge of and experience in safety planning with individuals and those with children experiencing Intimate Partner Violence

• Previous experience working in an emergency shelter and/or residential setting

• Knowledge of the Power and Control Wheel

• Decision Making: skilled in gathering information, evaluating options, and presenting solutions or courses of action.

• Organizational Competency: Can prioritize and manage workload, manage their time, and demonstrate strong attention to detail.

• Digital Literacy: Ability to find, evaluate and communicate information by utilizing typing and digital media platforms like Microsoft Suite Programs and search engines.

• Resourcefulness: Knowledge of and ability to navigate Metro Denver area community resources; an understanding of voucher administration and Medicaid billing processes.

Working Environment

• This is a full-time, in-office position only

• Must have access to reliable transportation to attend scheduled shifts

• Our Shelter Program is staffed and operates 24/7/365 days a year

• Schedule: Wednesday-Saturday; 7am-5pm

Physical Activities

• Sitting/standing for long periods

• Talking, hearing (ordinary conversation)

• Seeing (reading the paperwork, computer screen work, etc.)

• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate computers and telephones