Court Advocate

Job Description

Job Description

BENEFITS OF BEING A YWCA SPOKANE TEAM MEMBER

Compensation for this role:

Pay Range: $21.77-$26.12 per hour, dependent upon prior experience.

Additional Pay Opportunities:

• Bilingual Pay Differential ? additional $3 per hour pay premium for employees who utilize a qualifying second language in the workplace, applicable to all hours worked.

Work Status: 40 hours per week, full-time, non-exempt

Schedule: Monday 8AM-5PM; Friday 8AM-3PM

The YWCA Spokane offers a competitive benefits package* including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Employer Paid Life Insurance

• 12 Paid Holidays

• Employee Assistance Program

• Paid Time Off (accessible at time of hire)

• Employer funded retirement plan & 401K options

• Ongoing training and development
• Flexible Spending & Dependent Care Account Options

• 50% off YMCA Membership

*Benefit eligibility dependent upon employment status

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Court Advocates primary function is to support domestic violence survivors by providing direct services, collaborating with community partners, and handling administrative tasks. Key responsibilities include reviewing police reports and Lethality Assessment Protocols to contact victims, educating them about the criminal justice process, assisting with protection orders, and advocating during court hearings. The advocate acts as a liaison between survivors, prosecutors, law enforcement, and court staff while collaborating with YWCA programs and culturally responsive organizations to offer comprehensive support. Administrative duties include maintaining client records, data entry, and ensuring office efficiency, all while upholding survivor confidentiality.

WHAT YOU?LL BE DOING ?

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the position include but are not limited to the following:

Direct Client Service

• Review Domestic Violence (DV) police reports, Lethality Assessment Protocols, prosecution referrals, and other approved referral sources and establish contact with the victim(s) to check on their status and safety.
• Establish timely, ongoing, trauma-informed contact with Domestic Violence survivors to assess safety, identify urgent needs, explain available services, and offer advocacy support through various intervention methods.
• Prepare weekly criminal and civil court dockets using various software systems, reviewing court personnel notes, court filings, and survivor input.
• Educate survivors about the criminal legal process, protection order process, firearms compliance process, and the role of legal advocacy.
• Obtain appropriate releases of information before sharing survivor-identifying information with community partners.
• Offer scheduled or walk-in advocacy appointments through various methods (in person, phone, or virtual), ensuring accessibility for survivors unable to meet in person.
• Assist DV survivors seeking Domestic Violence Protection Orders and attend DVPO-related court hearings to offer advocacy support.
• Attend various criminal court hearings with Domestic Violence survivors and speak on behalf of Domestic Violence survivors in court to ensure their voice is being heard.
• Answer inbound calls and return voicemails from Domestic Violence survivors to the Legal Advocacy office.

Collaboration

• Engage in team and department meetings, reflective supervision, case consultation, and debriefing to address vicarious trauma symptoms, improve service development and delivery, and support collective growth.
• Act as a liaison between the victim(s) in domestic violence criminal cases and the Family Justice Center personnel, including prosecutors, law enforcement, and court administration and staff to coordinate interviews, meetings, court appearances, and relay victim input.
• Serve as an ambassador of YWCA Spokane?s culture of safety, equity, and dignity with the recognition of intersectional impacts of racism, poverty, disability, gender identity, and trauma in survivors? lives while providing wrap-around services.
• Collaborate with other YWCA programs and advocates to provide survivor-centered, trauma-informed services.
• Collaborate with other culturally responsive organizations and programs to support clients from marginalized communities.

Administrative

• Participate in required and related training aligned with organizational policies and grant requirements.
• Maintain timely, accurate, confidential documentation aligned with organizational policies, funding and grant requirements, and best practices in trauma-informed advocacy.
• Maintain organized paperwork, case materials, and mail consistent with organizational policies and grant requirements.
• Assist supervisor with data collection, outcome reporting, program evaluation, and other grant-related reporting,
• Inform supervisor of urgent safety concerns, client crises, ethical dilemmas, confidentiality concerns, community partner issues, or other activities that are outside the normal scope of work within a timely manner.
• Perform other duties as assigned.