Stepstone, Inc - Advocate

Company: StepStone
Job Title: Advocate
Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm
Job Classification: Non-exempt, Full-time
Reporting Relationship: Coordinator of Housing and Advocacy at StepStone
Salary: $17-$24/hour, negotiable based upon experience

Primary Accountabilities:
Under the general direction of the Coordinator of Housing and Advocacy, the Advocate provides direct services to participants and families served by StepStone. These services include but are not limited to assessment, goal development, case management, advocacy, parenting education, and facilitation of support groups for the families. Advocate participates in the intake process and may be called upon to make public presentations. All duties are performed in a manner consistent with Gospel values, the mission of the sponsoring congregations, and sound social service principles.

Major Duties:

• Collaborates with the Coordinator of Housing and Advocacy to assess applicants and potential participants with an intake interview.
• Interviews participants to assess needs; works collaboratively with client to develop short- and long-term goals toward achievement of self-sufficiency.
• Assists client in the development of a safety plan to maintain a safe living environment for the participant and their child (ren).
• Assists client in filing for victims of violence assistance.
• Provides life skills education in the areas of budgeting, parenting skills, and activities necessary to maintain a safe living environment for the participant and their child (ren).
• Provides guidance for participants in maintaining appropriate employment to support themselves and their family; this may include advocacy for participants with their employers.
• Develops and implements support group activities for the participants and their children.
• Coordinates a spectrum of community resources and refers participants to appropriate services, particularly those which serve victims/survivors of domestic violence.
• Represents StepStone to the public with formal presentations when necessary.
• Maintains professional contact with community resources and advocates for client’s needs.
• Provides outreach services to survivors eligible for StepStone program when there is no housing available.
• Provides follow up services to survivors and their families after they leave StepStone housing.
• Attends inter-agency meetings as an advocate for the participant as the situation demands; may be required to complete formal reports for other agencies.
• Completes necessary documentation including, but not limited to, assessment, client goals, progress notes, interim progress reviews, home visits, verification of client income, and utility payment.
• Gathers statistical information for periodic reports.
• Protects confidentiality of clients in all aspects of the program.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in social service field, social work preferred.
• Kansas Driver’s License, motor vehicle, and insurance required.
• LBSW/LMSW preferred.
• Three to five (5) years of experience in working with victims of domestic violence preferred.
• Detail oriented with a high degree of accuracy and thoroughness.
• Ability to encourage and build mutual trust, respect, and cooperation amongst team members.
• Ability to handle confidential information with integrity.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across all levels of the company.
• Ability to effectively communicate, present information and respond to questions, both in a written and verbal manner.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to stand, lift, carry, push, pull, balance, stoop, reach, handle, talk, hear, see, grasp, move head and neck and movement across mid-line.
• Ability to lift up to forty (40) pounds occasionally and up to ten (10) pounds of force frequently.
• Finger dexterity, manual dexterity, alertness, precision, motor coordination, auditory discrimination and tactile discrimination.
• Ability to climb multiple levels of stairs.
• Ability to frequently operate equipment requiring moderate ability.

Work Environment:

• Inside/indoor office environment which provides protection from weather condition, but not necessarily temperature changes.
• Interaction with staff and participants.

Additional Duties:
Additional duties and responsibilities may be added to this job description at any time. The job description does not state or imply that these are the only activities to be performed by the employee holding this position. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related responsibilities as requested by their supervisor.

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