Our Core Values Are: Respect. Diversity & Inclusion. Leadership & Accountability. Courage. Integrity.

Sojourner Advocate – Restraining Order

• Full Time (40 hours), Work schedule will be Monday-Friday 10:00am-6:00pm

Sojourner Family Peace Center (SFPC) employs dedicated, hardworking professionals who want to be of service to others and make a difference in Milwaukee and surrounding communities.

If you have a desire to help support survivors and work with passionate colleagues, whose personal and professional experience is as diverse as the clients we serve, this may be the position for you.

Responsibilities

The Advocate will work to help clients understand and navigate the civil and criminal court system processes, explore their options and rights when utilizing these systems, develop safety plans and access needed community resources.

Total Rewards Program We Provide

• Competitive Salary
• Generous 403B Retirement Plan with Match
• Generous PTO Policy
• Comprehensive Wellness Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Acupuncture services onsite
• Employee Assistance Program
• Voluntary Benefits through Colonial Life Insurance
• Professional Development Opportunities

What are the Job Responsibilities?

• Provide legal advocacy to victims of domestic abuse, harassment, juvenile harassment, individuals at risk and child abuse seeking temporary restraining orders and injunctions.
• Accompany clients to legal proceedings as requested or necessary. Become knowledgeable about basic proceedings in criminal, civil and family law in order to assist and support clients understanding and navigation of these systems.
• Provide services including follow-up telephone calls, information and referral to other services, preparation for the final injunction hearing, and accompanying victims to court. Document all contacts.
• Complete intakes with clients to help identify individual needs and assist with the development of a personal action plan built on formal/informal supports and community resources outlining goals and expectations. Utilize independent critical skills to identify additional challenges such as AODA and mental health issues that can present at varying levels of severity.
• Collaborate with all Sojourner Family Peace Center staff to assist clients and ensure all safety planning, community resource and legal assistance needs are met, among others. Make client referrals to agency and community resources as needed.
• Work with external partners such as the police, district attorney’s office and school systems among others, to maximize the effectiveness of restraining orders and injunctions for clients.
• Assess clients for emergency legal needs and refer them to the staff paralegal and attorneys at Legal Action Wisconsin or other legal resources.
• Assist non-English speaking clients by walking them through all the steps of the restraining order filing process. Ensure language accessibility and utilize professional interpretation services when appropriate.
• Remain informed about legislation, issues and concerns in court systems.
• Collect, maintain and report client data, computerized and hard copy files.Maintain client files, including outcome information. Assist with gathering and compiling advocacy statistics and assist with reports to funding sources.

What are we looking for?

• Respectful and accepting of the choices of others and ability to inform clients about choices without exercising undue influence in regards to their decisions.
• Professionals who can remain calm and helpful when others are in crisis.
• Caring personality with the ability to maintain positive work relationships with diverse groups of people.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or a combination of education and experience in criminal justice, social work, human services or relevant field.
• Knowledge of the domestic violence victim advocacy service system through direct work experience is preferred.
• Preferred one-two years of experience in advocacy, case management, human services or related field.
• Own vehicle to be able to drive to designated locations when needed (i.e. Family Peace Center, Milwaukee County Courthouse, etc.).
• Must possess basic knowledge of de-escalation techniques and utilize when necessary.
• Working knowledge and ability to perform Danger Assessment, LAP and other relevant screening tools preferred or ability to learn.

Bilingual applicants are encouraged to reply.

Apply using our online application system at www.familypeacecenter.org/careers. The review process will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. We do not access resumes posted in Indeed. Please apply and upload your resume directly to our web site.

Sojourner is an equal opportunity employer and will recruit, hire, promote and transfer qualified persons into all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or citizenship status, sex, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, disability, or military status.

Visit our Website at familypeacecenter.org