Victim Advocate

Founded in 1973, the RCC Sexual Violence Resource Center (RCC) is the only comprehensive sexual assault-specific center in Dane County. RCC works to support hope, help and healing for those harmed by sexual violence and strives, through education and outreach, to create social change to end sexual violence. RCC provides 24-hour helpline support, emotional-support, system advocacy, personal advocacy, short-term counseling and therapy, community education and outreach, youth programs centering sexual violence prevention, and programs promoting self-defense and by-stander intervention.

Position Summary

Advocates are not counselors or therapists and are responsible for providing crisis intervention services during regular office hours.  Services include emotional support (on the telephone and in-person), medical accompaniments and advocacy, law enforcement report accompaniments and advocacy, criminal justice advocacy, systems-based advocacy,  answering the helpline, general assistance with referrals and community resources and other advocacy that can help a survivor focus on their healing process. As with all RCC employees, the Victim Advocate must be committed to providing services with and to a variety of cultures with cultural awareness, sensitivity and humility.

Duties and Responsibilities

Crisis Intervention and Referrals 

• Provide short-term crisis intervention services by phone and in-person to survivors across the spectrum of sexual violence, as well as their support people and other community members.

• Provide accurate and up-to-date information and referrals to callers and clients.

• Answer the helpline as directed based on a monthly schedule.

Advocacy

• Provide legal (reports to Police and Detectives, assistance with applying for Restraining Orders, support at Court Hearings and Trials), medical (at Forensic Nurse Exams) and campus-based (Title IX) advocacy and accompaniments to victims of sexual assault. 

• Empower sexual assault survivors with all options and accurate information regarding involvement with law enforcement, the criminal justice system, Crime Victim’s Compensation and SAFE funds, Restraining Orders, forensic medical exams, and other healing related resources and information following a sexual assault.  

• Provide emotional support survivors and their support networks.

• Must work collaboratively with community organizations and agencies such as law enforcement, District Attorney’s Office, the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program, and other community partners.

Program and General

• Attend regular staff meetings and in-services, maintain regular contact with staff and supervisor, document services provided, and assist in office operations.  

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Commitment to providing services to a variety of cultures with cultural awareness, sensitivity and humility.

• Must possess a client-centered, empowerment approach to working with survivors.

• Commitment to serving people affected by sexual violence and trauma.

• Access to reliable private transportation.

• Favorable background check.

• Flexible work hours-though generally during the 9-5 business hours.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience equivalent to or degree in Social Work or related field.

• An understanding of sexual violence and related issues.

• Experience and/or training in providing advocacy to victims of sexual assault.

• Knowledge of Dane County community resources.

• Bilingual in Spanish and English.

• Experience working within diverse communities.

Physical Requirements

These physical demands 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 an individual with disabilities to perform the essential job responsibilities.

• Work is primarily performed in an office environment with minimal exposure to injury.

• Ongoing daily use of computers and telephone.

• Walk, sit, stand, bend, climb, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk, hear, read, count, and write. 

• Must be able to work with frequent interruption. 

• Low to moderate noise level.

• Travel as needed to perform the duties of the job.