Community and Court Advocate-Newberry County

Position Summary:  

 The Community and Court Advocate for Newberry County provides trauma-informed services, advocates for domestic violence survivors and their children, and provide legal advocacy services for clients to assist them in proceeding through the legal system and safety from their abuser. This role focuses on assisting and supporting clients and connecting them with resources to promote their safety and wellbeing including items such as health-related screenings, medical services, health education, community medical referrals, and follow-up medical services through coordination efforts.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assess rural client needs for legal advocacy and serve as a liaison between the client and the law enforcement victim advocate.
• Provide written and verbal information to the clients regarding their legal options, rights and intimate partner violence abuse laws.   
• Accompany clients to court and provide legal advocacy and emotional support.
• Work cooperatively with family and criminal court personnel.
• Remain current on the status of intimate partner violence abuse laws, procedures and practices of the judicial and law enforcement systems.
• Advocate on behalf of victims of intimate partner violence with local DSS offices and human service agencies. Provide general information on services, referral sources, and full wraparound case management.
• Ensure that intimate partner violence survivors and their children receive health-related screenings, health education, community medical referrals, and follow-up medical services through coordination of services.
• Provide referrals and collaborate with outpatient and inpatient health care services and serve as the liaison between the company and health service providers.
• Work to expand access for survivors in rural areas by helping clients utilize mobile health units closer to where they work and live.
• Help survivors access local mobile health units to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and alleviate health disparities among vulnerable domestic violence survivors (homeless, displaced populations, immigrant communities, migrant workers, the under-insured, and children).
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or human services or equivalent in years of experience.
• Knowledge of intimate partner violence abuse laws and procedures, and practices of the judicial and law enforcement systems.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in direct services working with survivors. Experience working with survivors in crisis.
• Knowledge of community resources available to assist survivors.
• Skill in communicating effectively with intimate partner violence survivors. Understanding intimate partner violence and its effect on survivors and their children.
• Ability to relate in a non-judgmental manner with individuals with a wide range of challenges, work in a cooperative team effort, and handle emergency situations on an independent basis.
• Must have a valid South Carolina driver’s license and a vehicle to be used for work related travel and vehicle insurance.