Advocate - Violence Response Team (VRT) Elk Grove

WEAVE's mission is to promote safe and healthy relationships and support survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and sex trafficking. WEAVE's vision is When Everyone Acts, Violence Ends.

Position: Advocate - Violence Response Team (VRT)

Location: Elk Grove Police Department

FLSA Status: Hourly, Non-Exempt (Full-time, 40 hours/week)


Usual Schedule: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM, M-F

Position Summary: Under the direction of the Community Intervention Manager, the Violence Response Team (VRT) Advocate works as an embedded advocate within the designated Law Enforcement agency to provide direct supportive services and advocacy for survivors who have experienced domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking. The VRT Advocate is essential to WEAVE's efforts to improve the responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking in the community. Primary duties include establishing and maintaining a collaborative relationship at the designated Law Enforcement agency, forming strong, empowering and professional connections with survivors and Law Enforcement, providing crisis intervention and accompaniments, safety planning, and connecting survivors to other appropriate WEAVE or community partner services as needed.


The designated Law Enforcement Agency for this position is Elk Grove Police Department.


Key Responsibilities:

• Provide trauma-informed crisis intervention, safety planning, advocacy, and emotional support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking who are or may be interacting with the designated Law Enforcement agency.
• Accompany law enforcement personnel on patrol ride-alongs and/or to calls to provide advocacy and support to survivors, when appropriate.
• Assist clients in accessing a wide range of community resources, including public benefits, food, housing, legal assistance, healthcare, counseling, and financial support.
• Maintain high availability, initiate contact with clients, and provide a welcoming and nonjudgmental environment.
• Confidently and professionally advocate for survivors with members of partner organizations such as the Law Enforcement, District Attorney's Office, Public Defender's Office, mental health teams.
• Attend and actively participate in local and regional meetings and trainings related to service provision for domestic violence, sex assault, and sex trafficking survivors.
• Collaborate with internal teams, external agencies, and community partners to coordinate services, referrals, and advocacy for clients, including attending multidisciplinary team meetings.
• In conjunction with other WEAVE departments, provide occasional presentations and training to law enforcement and other community partners.
• Attend staff meetings, training sessions, and one-on-one meetings with supervisors to enhance skills, knowledge, and awareness of issues relevant to this role and best practices.
• Promote a culture of respect, equality, and diversity.
• Consistent with agency and program requirements, maintain accurate, timely and confidential records of services provided.
• Adhere to all agency and department policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of three years of relevant work experience required; individuals with lived experience are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Strong understanding of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking dynamics, trauma-informed care, and survivor-centered approaches.
• Previous experience working with victims of domestic or sexual violence is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to delivering services with empathy and compassion, while maintaining strong professional boundaries, and the ability to remain grounded when exposed to potentially triggering content or situations.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with law enforcement and thrive in an embedded advocacy role within a law enforcement agency.
• Highly motivated with a demonstrated ability to work autonomously to complete individual tasks while contributing to a collaborative, professional, and supportive team dynamic.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport with diverse individuals in crisis and create respectful, empowering, and professional relationships.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, for documenting services, communicating with survivors, and collaborating with team members or community partners.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple cases and priorities.
• Knowledge of community resources and the ability to connect survivors with appropriate services.
• Cultural sensitivity and an understanding of the intersectionality of sex trafficking with other issues, such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
• Satisfactory results from criminal background check.
• Successful completion of WEAVE's 69-hour peer counselor training program (post-hiring requirement).
• Annual completion of WEAVE's continuing education requirements to maintain Peer Counselor certification.
• Reliable transportation required.

ADA Job Characteristics:

WEAVE is committed to providing inclusive, accessible, and respectful workplaces for all staff, including those with disabilities such as being in a wheelchair, Deaf or Hard of Hearing, blind or low vision or other access or functional needs, and we work to equip staff of all abilities with reasonable accommodation to perform their job functions. These can include the provision of adaptive equipment, materials in alternate formats, and flexible work schedules. Our priority is to provide ongoing, individualized accommodation to give all staff access to resources best suited to their needs. If you require an accommodation to access this job application, please send a request to View email address on click.appcast.io.

Work Environment :

This position is primarily based at the Elk Grove Police Department, a dynamic office environment with cubicles and frequent activity, which may include distractions. Occasionally, the role will require presence at WEAVE's main office, a busy two-story building equipped with both stairs and an elevator. Local travel (driving or utilizing transportation services) will be required to conduct meetings and other activities at various area locations. Employees may need to move around and between floors, occasionally lift or move items weighing up to 25 lbs., or reach items above their head, below their waist, or stored in/on drawers and shelves. Employees may also need to remain in one position (i.e. sitting or standing) for an extended period while completing work tasks. Must be able to efficiently operate a keyboard and mouse or adaptive equivalent, write reports, take notes; utilize desk tools such as phones or calculators, and utilize larger office equipment such as printers and copy machines. Communicate clearly and concisely to others. Apply above average reasoning and attention to detail as required in the accomplishment of job duties.