Career Center

The Direct Services Advocate provides support, information, and academic and legal/court advocacy to victim/survivors/concerned persons of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking and harassment for the University of Minnesota, TC and Augsburg College. This includes providing crisis counseling, referrals, and support to students, staff, faculty and visitors who drop in, schedule appointments, or call The Aurora Center. The Direct Services Advocate also writes protective orders; assists clients throughout police reports, medical exams, criminal justice proceedings, and university systems; facilitates support groups; and assists with training and coordination of the direct service advocate volunteers who staff the 24-hour helpline.

Detailed job responsibilities (include, but are not limited to, the following):
Advocacy: (65%)
● Answer helpline/business line and provide services to walk-in clients during office hours
● Provide advocacy for clients through systems including but not limited to academic, housing, police, hospital/medical, legal, Student Conduct & Academic Integrity, and Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action
● Provide information and referrals about legal, campus, and other community resources
● Assist clients in safety planning, identifying options, and problem-solving
● Provide information about restraining orders, family court, criminal court, and legal procedures
● Assist clients in filling out restraining orders, filing, and attending hearings
● Co-facilitate support groups with Student Counseling Services – manage intake process, maintain meeting schedule, and coordinate additional needs for the support group
● Communicate and assist faculty, staff, university Title IX investigators, university and community attorneys and law enforcement on the needs, concerns, questions, and best practices of working with trauma survivors.
● Provide policy and protocol information about legal, university, and community resources
● Provide procedural options and assistance to clients through systems including academic, housing, police, hospital/medical, legal, Office for Community Standards, Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action, and more
● Keep supervisor informed of high-risk clients situations
● Participate as Helpline advocate back-up if needed

Administrative: (20%)
● Assist in client consultation, guidance, office orientation, and training to student staff, office advocates, and volunteer advocates
● Coordinate, schedule, and assist with Helpline call center system and technology and Helpline advocates
● Participate in weekly direct service meetings for client case management
● Consult with supervisor at biweekly one-to-ones about client concerns, workload management, professional development, scheduling, and other areas
● Attend trainings and continuing education activities as assigned
● Attend annual “new laws” training and webinars related to victim advocacy
● Other duties as assigned

Record-Keeping and Data Coordination: (15%)
● Maintain and input client records into departmental database in a timely manner
● Complete all required service documentation in a thorough and timely manner
● Participate in agency grant and data reporting as directed by supervisor
● Provide statistical reports for Clery Act and other departmental purposes
● Other duties as assigned
 
Outreach and Agency Representation: (5%)
● Adhere to agency and university policies, including but not limited to confidentiality and the code of conduct/ethics
● Maintain professional boundaries with agency clients and co-workers

Report to: Director of The Aurora Center for Advocacy & Education
Salary: $21.71 an hour. Up to 40 hours a week

This position is temporary, for one semester only - 19.5 weeks
 

Minimum Requirements:
● Bachelor’s degree in related field plus at least four years of related experience
● Completion of 40 hour State Certified Sexual Assault Counselor Program
● Knowledge of the legal rights of victim/survivors and the civil and criminal legal systems in Minnesota
● Demonstrated ability to work with students, faculty, staff and community people from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds
● Effective oral and written communication skills to work collaboratively with clients, co-workers, and University and community partners
● Experience working in environments where confidentiality is required
● Excellent organizational skills
● Demonstrated judgment and ability to identify and prioritize high risk situations and inform appropriate channels

Preferred Requirements:
● Understanding of anti-oppression work and its role in addressing gender-based violence
● Experience facilitating support groups
● Experience working with college students and faculty/staff
● Understanding of University/college systems and resources
● Knowledge or willingness to learn Titanium database program; computer literacy