Bilingual Domestic Violence Advocate

Working at Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) means doing work that matters every day because of the difference you will make in the lives of children and families in Northern Virginia. NVFS’ breadth, depth and scope of services offer the resources and support to ensure that everyone in need, at every stage of life, maximizes their potential and fully contributes to a thriving community. At NVFS, we value the diversity of backgrounds, experience, perspectives, and skillsets that we collectively provide to our community, clients and coworkers. We celebrate and thrive on our differences and welcome everyone’s unique contributions.

Join the NVFS Family: We are looking to hire a Bilingual (Spanish-speaking) Domestic Violence Advocate to join the NVFS Multicultural team! As the Domestic Violence Advocate, you will provide intensive clinical case management to low-income children and adults impacted by domestic and sexual abuse. As the Domestic Violence (DV) Advocate, you will work with an interdisciplinary team that supports the goal of moving clients towards trauma recovery and greater self-reliance. As the DV Advocate, you will also serve as an advocate and liaison on behalf of clients and is knowledgeable about issues impacting the lives of children exposed to DV and their non-abusive parents. As the DV Advocate, you will engage in community education and outreach, and represents the organization’s domestic violence services in partner meetings, coalitions, etc. As the DV Advocate, you will participate in the implementation and evaluation of an integrated services model.

Services will be provided at different locations, including the Falls Church Multicultural Center office and other locations in the community, including courts and other service programs.

Your Future Team:

The Multicultural Center provides multicultural mental health, intensive case management and immigration legal services to address the needs of low-income, English-limited immigrants, asylees, and refugees for whom existing services are inaccessible due to language and cultural barriers. Clients include individuals from all cultural and ethnic groups whose mental health and socio-economic stability is compromised as a result of trauma, poverty, chronic stress, and other challenges posed by the process of cultural adjustment. Trauma informed services are provided by bilingual, bicultural clinicians, case managers, advocates, and attorneys.

Your Future Team:

Client Service Delivery:

• Conduct comprehensive case management assessment to determine individual client strengths, needs, resources and support systems.
• Develop individual safety plans and danger assessments that allow for decision making and support system involvement as needed.
• Manage a caseload of approximately 50 client cases per year; manage development of a client-centered service plan based on information gathered during assessments, consultations, and evaluations.
• Serve as an advocate for and accompany clients to court related and other proceedings when/if needed, and ensure client’s access and clear understanding of the processes and implications, to ensure informed decision making.
• Research and coordinate internal and external resources and link client with community providers to provide collaborative services.
• Collaborate with other staff members in the co-facilitation of psycho-educational workshops and programs for adults and children.
• Coordinate service delivery with other providers according to the treatment plan (e.g. mental health services, shelter, interpretation).
• Perform quarterly evaluation of each assigned case to track progress and review treatment plan as needed.

Compliance and Reporting Requirements:

• Complete appropriate documentation of services provided (e.g. progress notes, outcomes) using NVFS-approved software.
• Assure confidentiality policies and procedures are followed to protect the rights of clients, that reports to authorities occur in the mandated time frames and that critical incident reviews related to these procedures are completed and filed.
• Maintain client files in accordance with program/grant/licensing/state and NVFS guidelines.
• Prepare statistical and narrative reports as required.

Meeting and Community Outreach/Resource Participation:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships in the community and engages diverse populations.
• Collaborates with partner programs and agencies to build partnerships.
• Participate effectively and positively in required Program and Agency meetings and trainings.
• Represent NVFS’ DV services in external meetings, trainings, taskforces and coalitions as needed.

a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences.

• Must have one of the following:
  • Bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited college or university plus three (3) years of professional social work experience; OR
  • Master's degree in Social Work or other human services field, plus one (1) year of professional social work experience.
• At least (1) year of experience advocating for survivors of domestic violence, immigrants, refugees and or/other trauma survivors required.
• Experience working with survivors of Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence.
• Comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence and its traumatic impact on individual and family functioning, and community impact
• Prior experience in developing and providing group-based trainings and workshops for client populations, community members, and/or professionals a plus.
• Oral and written fluency in English required; Spanish language fluency required. Additional language skills always welcome.
• Must be able to develop client relationships that facilitate effective assessment and delivery of services that support client self-sufficiency.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Trauma-Informed and Culturally Relevant approaches to service delivery required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required.

Must demonstrate the following:

• Cultural awareness to address complex needs of diverse populations.
• Ability to function independently and have flexibility
• Client service orientation and team player
• Strong organizational and communication skills, both verbal and written
• Personal integrity in handling ethical and confidential situations
• Ability to respond to stressful situations in a professional manner
• Ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action
• Initiative and flexibility to respond to dynamic client needs within agency parameters
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to work in a fast-paced environment
• Knowledge in entering and retrieving data using computer systems, systems applications, and other office equipment

Additional Requirements:

• Successful completion of background checks upon hire.
• TB screen
• May be called upon to work beyond normal working hours.