JOB DESCRIPTION - SART Advocate

Position: SART Advocate 

Wage: $19.84/hour 

Reports to: Program Manager

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Temporary 

Location: Visalia, CA

Department: Rape Crisis Center

Language: English, Spanish

Summary: The SART Advocate provides direct services to survivors of sexual assault, offering emotional support, crisis intervention, and advocacy throughout the medical and legal processes. The advocate works collaboratively with medical personnel, law enforcement, and other community partners to ensure a coordinated and compassionate response to survivors. Assist survivors and significant others with applying for compensation benefits through the California Victim Compensation Board; provide community education and professional training with sexual assault. The SART Advocate(s) must be in the rotation for initial in-person response to calls for crisis intervention and/or accompaniment for sexual assault victims. Must be available on weekends. 

Key Responsibilities:

Immediate Response: 

• Provide immediate crisis intervention and emotional support to survivors of sexual assault during medical examinations and law enforcement interviews and their family members.
• Respond to sexual assault calls and accompany survivors to hospitals, police stations, and court proceedings as needed.

Advocacy and Support:

• Advocate for the rights and needs of sexual assault survivors, ensuring they receive respectful and compassionate care.
• Assist survivors in understanding and navigating the medical and legal systems.
• Provide information on victims’ rights, options, and available resources.

Coordination and Collaboration:

• Collaborate with SART members, including medical personnel, law enforcement, and prosecutors, to ensure a coordinated response.
• Participate in SART case reviews and multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Provide support and coordination for the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
• Maintain professional relationships with community partners to facilitate seamless service delivery.

Case Management:

• Conduct initial intake assessments and develop individualized support plans.
• Maintain accurate and confidential case files, documenting all services provided.
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills to manage a caseload of up to 100 clients.
• Follow up with survivors to offer ongoing support and referrals to additional services.

Education and Outreach:

• Conduct community outreach and education presentations on sexual assault awareness and prevention.
• Assist with the development and distribution of educational materials.
• Participate in community events to raise awareness about the organization’s services and sexual assault issues.

Training and Professional Development:

• Attend regular training sessions to stay current on best practices in sexual assault advocacy.
• Participate in staff meetings, supervision, and professional development opportunities.

On-Call Duties:

• Provide 24-hour on-call coverage on a rotating basis, responding to sexual assault calls as needed.
• Ensure timely and appropriate responses to crisis situations.

Other Responsibilities:

• Maintain records and submit statistical and narrative reports as required by CAL OES and Family Services.
• Maintain an adequate supply of appropriate forms, food, and clothing for the SART facility.
• Assist in the organization and implementation of Sexual Assault Awareness Month activities and other special events throughout the year.
• Maintain regular communication with the Program Manager regarding program needs and problems.
• Provide case management, court preparation, judicial advocacy, and court accompaniment services.
• Complete 40-hour Rape Crisis Counselor Training (provided as in-house and on-the-job training).
• Adherence to policies related to HIPAA, confidentiality, information sharing, and appropriate use of agency client database
• Actively participate in all staff meetings, training, community collaborative meetings, committees, and task forces as assigned
• Communicate ideas and concerns with the supervisor.
•  safely perform all tasks to avoid injury to self and co-workers.
• Other duties as assigned by leadership.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with emphasis in social work or 1 year of working/volunteer direct service experience and an Associate’s degree in social work or similar field. Three years of social service experience (working/volunteer) may be accepted in place of a degree.
• Experience:  Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, word-processing, databases, spreadsheets, and graphics required.  Six months experience with a human/social services provider.  Trauma-informed crisis counseling skills are preferred.  Knowledge of wide-ranging community resources.  Demonstrate effective communication skills.  Must demonstrate capacity to be highly organized and detail-oriented; to communicate clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing, in English. Must possess the ability to understand and appreciate diversity, and to be sensitive to different experiences and lifestyles.
• Transportation: Valid California driver license, availability of automobile for business use, and at least minimal auto liability insurance coverage as required by law.
• Must receive clearance from the Department of Justice Criminal Record Offender Information database.

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

• Work performed in office, medical, law enforcement, court, and community settings

• Travel between sites required

• Occasional exposure to noise, dust, fumes, and emotionally stressful or crisis situations

• Requires emotional intelligence, professionalism, and resilience

• Ability to work in office and field environments

• Prolonged sitting; occasional standing, walking, and climbing stairs

• Ability to operate standard office equipment (computer, keyboard, telephone)

• Vision sufficient to read screens and printed materials, with or without correction

• Hearing sufficient to communicate effectively in person and by phone, with or without correction

• Ability to solve practical problems and exercise sound judgment in varied situations

• Ability to interpret written, oral, and procedural instructions

• Strong organizational, administrative, and event coordination skills

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and communities with cultural sensitivity

Family Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity Agency.

The conditions described above must be met by an employee to successfully perform the job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and requirements, which may change from time to time based on business needs. When appropriate, reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue hardship to the agency may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.