Sojourner Advocate - DVHRT, 40 hours

Sojourner Advocate - DVHRT (Domestic Violence High Risk Team)

Full-time (40 hours): Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm

Pay: starting at $20.70


One position available.

This position is a Limited-Term position. Additional funding may not be possible to continue this position past 10/31/2026.

Sojourner Family Peace Center employs dedicated, hardworking professionals who want to be of service to others and make a difference in Milwaukee and surrounding communities. If you have a desire to help support survivors and work with passionate colleagues, whose personal and professional experience is as diverse as the clients we serve, this may be the position for you.

Overview

The Sojourner Advocate - Domestic Violence High Risk Team will work with specialty client cases to help high risk victims develop a safety plan and access community resources, as well as offer information, support, education and other needed referrals and services. This position will respond to requests for support from internal and external team members, act as a technical resource for the agency and coordinate and implement the dissemination of program information. The DVHRT Advocate will also work closely with key community partners to develop relationships and services to further the agency's mission and goals, as well as provide community presentations and trainings on domestic abuse, agency services, and other related topics.


Total Rewards Program We Provide

Competitive Pay, $20.70/hour plus $1.50/hour with bilingual skills

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance on first of the month after 60 days

Short-Term Disability Insurance

Group Life Insurance

403B Retirement Plan with Generous Match

Comprehensive Wellness Program

Flexible Spending Accounts

Generous PTO Policy


2 Wellness Days


Paid Holidays

Employee Assistance Program

Voluntary Benefits through Colonial Life Insurance

Professional Development Opportunities

What are the Job Responsibilities?

1. Maintain active caseload of specialty clients - homicides, near fatal, high profile and attend necessary case review meetings as work schedule allows. Refer cases as applicable to agency directors and assist in case staffings.


2. Conduct outreach efforts to victims of domestic violence in an effort to provide information, support and education and safety planning as it relates to each client's individual situation. This includes but is not limited to outreach via phone and in-person via home visits and on-scene response, according to protocol. This position regularly includes crisis advocacy response, with law enforcement accompaniment, to meet with victims in their homes immediately following law enforcement completing their response to a domestic violence incident.


3. Inform, educate, and prepare victims regarding offender's status - in-custody, out-of-custody, bail, warrant status, etc. Register victims for VINE (Victim Information Notification Everyday) if offender is in custody and/or connect them with Probation & Parole, if necessary. Work with clients to develop a personal safety plan while the offender is incarcerated or out-of-custody.

4. Assess client's emergency needs and help them access resources available through Sojourner Family Peace Center, the law enforcement system, the court systems (criminal and civil), the Department of Corrections system and within the community.


5. Assess and identify the individual needs of clients to assist with the development of a personal action plan built on formal/informal supports and community resources. Utilize independent critical skills to provide support to access resources for additional challenges such as AODA and mental health issues that can be present at varying levels of severity.

6. Give support as needed for client follow-up and ongoing support for cases meeting the criteria for staffing by the High-Risk Team.


7. Must possess basic knowledge of de-escalation techniques and ability to demonstrate when necessary.

8. Have working knowledge and ability to perform Danger Assessment, LAP and other relevant screening tools.

9. Know community resources (within the districts and outside) and maintain active connections to them.


10. Build and maintain positive communication and professional relationships with law enforcement jurisdictions and external partners.


11. Assist in the development of an outreach plan, individualized to assigned district, which includes working with neighborhood groups, community based organizations, faith based organizations, etc. to disseminate information on domestic violence, human trafficking/sexual violence and the process of filing for the different restraining orders (i.e. Domestic Abuse, Harassment, Individual At-Risk and Child Abuse).


12. Accompany clients to court, revocation hearings, and other legal proceedings as requested or necessary and as work schedule allows.


13. Attend case staffing meetings (internal or external) as needed/requested. Attend and/or follow-up on DVHRT recommendations on client staffed cases.

14. Maintain client files and computerized data files, including outcome information.


15. Assist with program development, evaluation, improvement and planning.


16. Respond to requests from other team members (internally or externally) for support, information, referrals, and/or counsel to meet client needs. Observe MPD or specific suburban law enforcement jurisdiction protocols and follow directives from command staff, as they comply with Sojourner's mission, policies and goals.

17. Participate in the implementation of community level initiatives to address domestic violence on a neighborhood level. Provide community outreach and education as applicable.


18. Work with community prosecution team to identify and connect with clients who have safety planning, community resource and legal assistance needs.

19. Provide community presentations and trainings on domestic abuse, agency services, systems- related issues, and other related topics.


20. Ability to work a regular schedule and have regular attendance at the workplace.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in social work, criminal justice, human services, or relevant field. Two to four years related professional experience; or equivalent combination of education or experience. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be capable of performing each described essential duty satisfactorily; working independently and safely in an intense, fast-paced and crises-oriented location; handling multiple cases simultaneously with clients who are experiencing trauma and/or crises; working cooperatively as a team member, both internally within Sojourner Family Peace Center and externally with existing "systems personnel" (police, courts, DOC, etc.). Requires comprehensive knowledge of statutory framework for domestic abuse, harassment and child abuse injunctions, and knowledge of and experience with legal system, including prior work with victims, police, prosecutors, court commissioners and judges preferred. Individual must have experience working with clients exposed to interpersonal violence. Individual must have the ability to make and maintain relationships with community resources and must be able to listen to and assist clients develop personal plans for safety and support clients as needed. This position will regularly work evenings, weekends and overnight hours.


Preferred Education and Experience


Three to five years' professional experience in advocacy, case management or other related field. Experience with the issue of family violence preferred. Familiarity with the child welfare system, family court, children's court and the child abuse restraining order process is preferred.


Communication Skills

Strong written and oral communication skills and listening skills are required. Must be able to read and comprehend instructions, correspondence, and memos. Also, must be capable of preparing letters, completing database entries, preparing reports and writing memos, correspondence, and documentation. Must be able to effectively communicate with clients, professional partners and other employees of the organization. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from clients, regulatory agencies, or members of the community. Ability to effectively communicate with all levels of management, all levels of community partners, and other employees of the organization. Bilingual in any language is a plus.

Reasoning Ability


Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Other Skills and Abilities

Ability to multi-task, attend to details, solve problems and work as a team member is required. Requires the ability to operate a variety of standard business machines, such as a computer and the job related software, a keyboard, calculator, telephone, FAX, photocopier, postage machine, etc.

Reliable Transportation

Must have reliable transportation, valid Driver's License, insurable driving record, and automobile insurance with minimum limits of:

1. Liability Coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 of 2 or more people for injury or death

2. Property Damage: $10,000


3. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist: $25,000 per person and $50,000 for 2 or more people injured


Physical Demands

The physical demands described here 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 individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The work environment may expose the employee to the risk of violence. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee routinely performs work-related travel. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to significant.

Apply using our online application system at The review process will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Please apply and upload your resume directly to our web site; we do not access resumes posted in Indeed.


Sojourner complies with all federal, state, and local employment laws, providing equal employment opportunities without discrimination. In accordance with federal requirements, we will ensure that hiring, promotion, and workplace practices remain aligned with applicable laws and regulations.

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