Air Force Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate (DAVA) - Vandenberg SFB, CA

Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate

IVA'AL Solutions, LLC provides support to the Air Force (AF) Family Advocacy Program (FAP) and is responsible for staffing qualified Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Registered Nurses, Certified Victim Advocates, and Program Assistants at U.S. AF Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) across the country. The AF FAP is a Department of Defense, (DoD) funded program whose purpose is to both prevent and respond to intimate partner abuse, child abuse, and problematic sexual behavior with children and youth.

The Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate (DAVA) provides AF personnel, their family members, or intimate partners who are victims of intimate partner abuse non-clinical emergent and urgent service whenever requested. With the exception of mandatory state, federal, and military reporting requirements (i.e., domestic violence, child abuse, and duty to warn situations) the DAVA provides a private and confidential service to encourage victims in seeking assistance.

Essential Functions:

• Provides 24/7 response to victims alleging abuse (these services are provided based on the needs of client via telephone or in-person).
• Establish a Victim's Safety Plan on a case-by-case basis. The victims' safety is the DAVA's top responsibility and priority. The DAVA will review the Safety Plan during each victim contact.
• Conduct initial and ongoing risk assessments. If imminent risk of serious harm or death is established, notify the social work supervisor, law enforcement, and Command. If children are involved, the process also includes child physical safety and emotional well-being; refer involved children to the social worker for follow-on care.
• Immediately report any changes in the victim's circumstances that changes or impacts the safety plan to the supervisor and/or social worker or mental health provider in charge.
• Advise victims of the military or civil actions available to promote safety (e.g., military order of protection, restraining order, and injunction).
• Offer victims information regarding their identified needs (e.g., emergency shelter, housing, childcare, legal services, clinical resources, medical services, transitional compensation).
• Accompany clients to appointments or court proceedings when requested by the client.
• Assistance with transportation is typically not provided to clients, however, after consultation with the social work supervisor and when no other reasonable means exist the DAVA may transport the victim to important appointments (i.e.: medical, court, protective actions). The DAVA cannot transport minor children unless accompanied by the parent or legal guardian and has the appropriate safety restraints in the vehicle.
• Establish a contact file for each victim served that contains minimal information about the allegations or nature of the incident. The primary purpose of the DAVA contact file is to maintain victim's name and contact information as well as a log of the victim contacts and nature of the contacts or service provided by the DAVA.
• Develop process to keep the social work supervisor and designated POC (e.g. on-call mental health provider, emergency room.) informed of DAVA's location and timelines when providing DAVA victim services. This process will include location, arrival, and departure notification.
• Continually evaluate the quality of the installation's coordinated community response and collaborate with base agencies to improve the system response to victims.
• Empower victims to be involved in plans or decisions about the safety of self and children.
• Collaborate and establish protocols with Security Forces Squadron (SFS), Office of Special Investigations (OSI), and Military Medical Treatment Facilities confirming.
• At the discretion of the Social Work Supervisor, the DAVA may also provide emotional support and information and referral services to the non-offending caregiver in a child maltreatment or youth sexual assault case.

Required Education and Experience/Qualifications:

• Must possess a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited University in any of the following disciplines: Social Work; Psychology; Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling; Counseling or Behavioral Science; Criminal Justice, or related field.
• Must possess 2 years of experience assisting and providing advocacy services to victims of domestic violence/abuse or sexual assault.
• Must obtain the Basic Advocate Credential with designation of Comprehensive Intervention Specialist as approved and offered by the National Advocate Credentialing Program, which is overseen by the National Organization for Victims Assistance.
• Must pass a criminal history/Security Clearance background check.
• Must have transportation and a valid drivers' license.

Health Requirements:

All DAVA personnel working within an MTF must maintain current certification in either the American Heart Association Basic Life Support Course (BLS) (Course C) or the American Red Cross Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/BLS (Heart Saver) Course.

Before starting work, DAVA personnel working with MTFs shall provide proof of immunization from the following diseases according to CDC guidelines: Hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and influenza, and proof of a negative TB skin test (completed within the past 12 months (if positive, proof of negative chest X-ray within the past 12 months) prior to start of work).

Technical Skills:

Must be computer-proficient to work autonomously using Microsoft Office and possess data entry skills needed to create and maintain client files. Specifically, DAVAs must utilize Family Advocacy Program Network computer software to document client visits and safety plans in compliance with AF FAP policies and accepted professional practice guidelines.

Work Environment:

This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. Travel may be required as needed and is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-area and overnight travel may be expected and will comply with Joint Travel Regulation (JTR).

Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position. General hours of work are 7:30am-4:30pm when the AF Clinic is open; however, the DAVA is required to remain on call after normal duty hours if/when a victim of family maltreatment/intimate partner sexual assault is in need of assistance. After normal duty hours, if requested, the DAVA is required to respond telephonically or in-person (with AF Social Work Leadership permission) to the hospital or law enforcement agency. Hours worked after normal duty hours will be accounted for in the form of "flexing hours" or "overtime" pay in accordance with govt policy and labor laws.

EOE Statement:

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, status as a parent, national origin, age, disability (physical or mental), family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit based factors. EOE/AA/M/F/D/V

Indian Preference Statement:

IVA'AL Solutions, LLC, a federally recognized American Indian owned company, provides an Indian Preference Policy for hiring and promoting of fully qualified American Indians. When considering candidates for employment or promotion, that are basically equal in qualifications including education, skill, training, experience and a successful background screening process, priority is extended to an American Indian candidate unless a valid, documented reason of unsuitability or unsatisfactory performance exists to justify non-selection of an Indian employee or applicant.