Human Trafficking Survivor Advocate

Job Description

Job Description

This position requires on-site presence at least 2 days per week, and sometimes more, at a confidential Seattle location. This position is not fully remote.

API Chaya supports and empowers survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking to gain safety, connection, and wellness. We build power by educating and mobilizing South Asian, Asian, Pacific Islander, and all immigrant communities to end exploitation, creating a world where all people can heal and thrive. This work is done through outreach and organizing our communities to end violence and oppression, as well as through support services for survivors. We work in diverse communities, including immigrants and refugees, young people, LGBTQ, faith-based, various ethnic and cultural groups, and people with disabilities. API Chaya is committed to addressing survivor centered and community centered needs as reflected by our strategic direction and theory of change. For more information about our organization, please visit

API Chaya is seeking a Human Trafficking Survivor Advocate who will work within API Chaya’s Human Trafficking Program to provide intensive case management and crisis intervention to survivors of human trafficking. The Advocate should excel at trauma-informed and survivor-centered advocacy, managing competing priorities, and facilitating access to services for clients as well as engaging, building relationships with and communicating effectively with diverse communities and partners. The advocate must have experience working within marginalized communities of color and a commitment to API Chaya’s mission

This position requires thorough knowledge and understanding of a human rights based approach to human trafficking and a strengths-based approach in serving participants. The Advocate should have demonstrated experience in case management skills such as: empowerment based advocacy, harm reduction, professional boundaries, and self-care. 

A successful candidate should adhere to API Chaya’s client confidentiality policy, enjoy working collaboratively within a diverse team, and have an expressed interest in providing individualized, long-term services to survivors.

The candidate should embrace API Chaya's values and possess a thorough understanding of how human trafficking occurs within a complex web of power dynamics and privilege and oppression.

This position is based in Seattle, WA but requires some work and travel throughout the Puget Sound area to provide services to trafficking survivors and engage local communities in mobilizing to end human trafficking.
The ability to complete the position’s required travel, with or without reasonable accommodation, is essential.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

Advocacy and Case Management: 

• Provide culturally relevant, linguistically appropriate, trauma-informed, and survivor-centered case management to survivors of human trafficking, including U.S. citizens and foreign nationals
• Answer Helpline calls from survivors, family and friends of survivors, and other service providers working with survivors
• Conduct screenings and assessments, determine program eligibility, complete participant intakes, and provide initial crisis intervention, including safety and service planning.
• Provide individualized ongoing case management, which may include: crisis intervention, client accompaniment, advocacy, advocacy based counseling, information and referrals related to health care, mental health, employment, legal services, education, law enforcement, and other community resources.
• Assess the need for and distribution of emergency funds and resources to clients
• Collaborate with governmental and nongovernmental partners to provide participants with services in a way that protects their confidentiality and rights
• Identify barriers to services and advocate for higher quality of services with external service organizations including advocating for culturally and linguistically appropriate and trauma-informed services
• Assist participants in developing skills to increase self-sufficiency, and support them to build social networks to reduce isolation
• Organize, support and co-facilitate our survivor leadership groups, psycho-educational workshops, and survivor gatherings and support groups
• Maintain accurate and timely case records, databases, program statistics, monthly reports, and grant-related documentation in accordance with confidentiality and reporting requirements.
• Participate in regular advocacy team meetings, one-on-one supervision meetings, and agency staff meetings
• Prepare and distribute materials, cultivate and maintain relationships and occasionally conduct trainings for relevant service providers, ally organizations and community members
• Work with API Chaya's Leadership Team to formulate annual Human Trafficking Program goals, evaluate program successes, and ensure ongoing program improvement
• Assist with recruiting, training, coordinating and supervising volunteers/interns involved in Direct Services Program.
• Provide community-based education and outreach to increase access and referrals to the human trafficking program as appropriate
• Train and support other advocates in the field on issues relating to human trafficking, including new advocates at API Chaya
• Perform other duties reasonably related to the position, as assigned by the supervisor, and collaborate with the advocacy team to ensure high-quality services for participants. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Understands and supports API Chaya’s mission, vision and values and commitment to incorporate such values in day-to-day work
• Understanding of Asian and Pacific Islander cultures; familiarity with conditions and issues impacting immigrant and refugee communities including understanding how the dynamics of domestic and sexual abuse/violence play out within marginalized communities of color
• Commitment to anti-oppression, including anti-racism, and recognizing the intersections of gender-based and state-based violence
• Ability to maintain a cooperative, and professional demeanor with participants, partner organizations, volunteers/interns, staff/board, donors, consultants, and members of the public
• Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field, OR at least one year of relevant experience in case management, crisis response, survivor advocacy, or direct-service provision preferably in a community-based organization.
• Detail-oriented and focused team-player with superb organizational and communication skills.
  In-depth knowledge of labor exploitation and human trafficking, labor and employment rights, human rights issues, and gender-based violence.
• Experience with survivor centered advocacy within and a deep demonstrated commitment to marginalized communities of color, immigrant communities, and survivors of violence in the Puget Sound area particularly South Asian Communities
• Familiarity with conditions and issues impacting immigrant and refugee communities
• Have an understanding of how the dynamics of domestic and sexual abuse/violence and/or human trafficking play out within immigrant and refugee communities
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with people across diverse racial, ethnic, religious, cultural, disability, gender-identity, sexual-orientation, national-origin, and socioeconomic backgrounds. .
• Experience managing crisis situations with professionalism, empathy, compassion, and discernment
• Excellent critical thinking skills and works from a needs-based, problem-solving approach to address complex situations.
• Proactively seeks support from coworkers and supervisors to address challenges
• Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills, including active listening, reflective communication, empathy, and appropriate professional boundaries.
• Highly organized and has experience documenting work, accounting for expenses, and submitting reports on time
• Basic proficiency in using current office software and tools
• Ability to travel throughout the Puget Sound region for client, community, and partner meetings, averaging approximately 200 miles per month, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Availability to work flexible hours, including some evening and weekend hours

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience collaborating effectively within a team-based work environment.
• Experience with advocacy-based counseling and/or other empowerment-based models.
• Familiarity with local, regional and state laws, organizations, coalitions, policies and practices regarding domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.
• Experience working with interpreters, law enforcement, probation, DSHS, and other government agencies
• Knowledge of and a deep demonstrated commitment to working against domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, trauma, victimization and gender-based violence.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and knowledge of issues involved in working with diverse populations and/or with individuals who have limited English proficiency.
• Experience facilitating trainings, presentations, or community-education activities related to human trafficking, gender-based violence, or other relevant anti-violence topics. Willingness to learn and engage with new material as requested.
• Professional proficiency in Spanish or a South Asian, Asian, or Pacific Islander language is preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Ability to perform computer-based documentation and communication for extended periods, with or without reasonable accommodation. 

To APPLY:
Please submit your resume and cover letter. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Cover letter should include: 
(1) What experience, skills, and personal characteristics qualify you for this position; 
(2) Why the mission and work of API Chaya appeals to you; and 
(3) Why the Human Trafficking Survivor Advocate position at API Chaya is the desired next step in your career.

If the online application process is inaccessible to you or you need a reasonable accommodation or alternative application format, please contact View email address on us.fitly.work. Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the application and interview process.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

API Chaya is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, compensation, promotion, termination, or any other condition of employment based on any status protected by applicable federal, Washington State, or Seattle law and does not discriminate on the basis of race, disability, ethnicity, age, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and/or human trafficking encouraged to apply. 
Applicants are not required to disclose personal experiences of violence or trauma during the application or interview process.

We are located in a confidential location in downtown Seattle, WA. Our office is wheelchair-accessible, and we aim to have a scent-free space. We also provide interpretation and/or CART for Deaf & hard of hearing folks. We welcome employees to bring their full selves to work and strive to make our office as accessible as possible.

COMPENSATION

Salary will start between $67,786 - $79,083 per year depending on experience. API Chaya uses a standardized points scale for equity in compensation. API Chaya offers generous benefits in part including robust medical, dental, vision coverage, retirement contributions, multiple weeks of leave, self care days, flexible holidays, a wellness stipend, and training funds for full time employees.