Victim Advocate (Client Assistance Specialist, Grade 20)

About the Position Montgomery County is located adjacent to Washington, D.C., and with over one million residents, is the most populous county in the State of Maryland. The county is also the most diverse in the state and ranks among the top ten most diverse counties in the nation. The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for delivery of the county’s public health and human services that meets the needs of our community’s most vulnerable children, adults and seniors. The department provides services through more than 120 programs at more than 20 locations and is the largest county department with over 2,000 employees. Role Summary The Behavioral Health and Crisis Services unit is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Client Assistance Specialist to join our Trauma Services team. In this role, you will provide comprehensive victim advocacy services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking as well as other general crimes including homicide and physical assault. Responsibilities Provides victim advocacy services including court/medical accompaniment, assistance with filing protective/peace orders, filing charges, writing victim impact statements, etc. Provides crisis intervention and safety planning. Completes intakes, assessments including danger assessments, CSSR. Develops service plans. Provides case management services including linking and referring to available community resources. Provides support during the sexual assault medical-forensic exam and during law enforcement and/or SAO interviews. Collaborates with SAO’s office, FJC, DVS, HOR, MCPD, Shady Grove Hospital, Trauma Services Staff and other internal and external resources and professionals. Processes crime victim compensation for eligible crime survivors seeking compensation for losses according to the County code. Serves as a liaison with Maryland’s State Criminal Injuries Compensation Board for those survivors whose losses exceed the limit of the local Crime Victim Compensation Fund. Completes timely department and grant statistical reporting that is essential for quarterly state and federal grant report submissions. Bilingual applicants in Amharic, Korean, French, or Spanish languages are encouraged to apply. This position requires the ability to attend meetings or perform work at locations outside the office. Work Schedule Flexibility is required, as client needs, court schedules, hospital response, or crisis situations may occasionally require evening or weekend hours. Minimum Qualifications Education : Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree. Experience : One (1) year of experience in human services that involved substantive client contact and service delivery through direct assistance or referral, including effective cross-cultural communication and overcoming barriers to service. Substitutions : An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted. Medical Protocol : Completion of a pre‑employment Medical History Form to assess ability to safely perform the essential duties. Preferred Criteria for Interview Experience working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or general crimes. Experience or working knowledge of the criminal justice system and community resources. Experience providing crisis intervention, safety planning, assessments, service planning, or case management. Possession of a valid Victim Assistance VAS I, VAS II, or VAS III Certification through the Roper Victim Assistance Academy. Experience preparing statistical or written reports, case documentation, or grant‑related reporting. Multilingual skills in Amharic, French, Korean, or Spanish. Equal Opportunity and Accommodation Montgomery County Government is an equal‑opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. The County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at View email address on click.appcast.io. Montgomery County also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and persons with a disability. Ethics Law Except as provided by law or regulation, county employees are subject to the county’s ethics law, including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside‑employment requirements can be found at 19A‑12 of the County Code. #J-18808-Ljbffr Montgomery County Government