Job Title: Shelter Advocate
Department: Shelter Programs
Supervisor: Shelter Coordinator
Location: Talsunne Safe House
Hours: 5:30pm-12:00am shift and/or weekend day 9am-5pm-Approximately 15-30 hrs
Employment Status: non-exempt, hourly, $12.00 hour.
Benefits: This position does not offer PTO or Health Insurance benefits.
 
Summary: Work as an integral part of the Safe House team by providing oversight to the shelter and advocacy to the residents.
 
Responsibilities:

• Represent the mission, values and philosophy of Women’s Crisis Support Team to program participants, staff and to the general public.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Appropriately manage confidential information.
• Complete necessary program documentation, inputting daily statistics, logs, etc.
• Answer crisis line and respond to intervention calls for advocacy from law enforcement or the hospital; provide information and referrals; provide safety planning, crisis intervention and screening for the Safe House; and other WCST services.
• Orient new residents to the Safe House and WCST services and properly manage intake and exit processes. Provide advocacy, education and support for residents.
• Routine maintenance of the shelter facility
• Responsible for assuring the premises are clean and orderly by performing cleaning
• Sorting donations  during the shift
• Provide oversight during the shift and keep the shelter running smoothly.
• Provide transportation for shelter residents or off site victims.
• Attend meetings and trainings as assigned.

 
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge and ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and underserved communities.
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) and /or Bicultural preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence/sexual assault and the impact on adult and child survivors.
• Knowledge of community resources, agency networking and ability to offer peer counseling.
• Demonstrate ability to remain calm, make sound decisions, give clear direction and provide strong leadership in crisis situations.
• Experience working with survivors of domestic violence preferred.
• Experience in crisis intervention preferred.
• Must have excellent judgment and strong interpersonal skills.
• Must be well organized, creative, empathetic, and people oriented.
• Experience in word processing, email, and Microsoft Office, Microsoft Excel
• Must have transportation, current insurance coverage, and a valid driver’s license.
• Successful completion of WCST 40+ hour advocacy program (may be completed after hiring) and Advocate Certification
• A criminal background check will be conducted for all applicants considered for employment through the WCST.

 
 
The Women’s Crisis Support Team strives for a free and open hiring process, and does not discriminate on the basis of cultural affiliation, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, age, gender, physical ability, and national origin, religious or political belief.
 
To apply, please visit our website: www.wcstjoco.org to download the application.  Please submit a cover letter, resume and completed application to 560-A NE F St. #430 Grants Pass, OR 97526
 
No Phone Calls Please.
​

​Position Title:  Prevention Educator
 
Hours:                      40 Hrs a week Mon-Fri with occasional evenings or weekends
Supervisor:      Prevention Program Coordinator
Wage:             DOE + Benefits (Health, PTO, Life Insurance)  Exempt position
 
Position Summary: This position works primarily with young women and men in area high schools. The focus is men's engagement in violence prevention, mentorship of young men, and promotion of prevention strategies that encourage young men to take an active role in preventing violence. The Prevention Educator will be part of our Prevention Team whose primary duties will be the development, enhancement, and delivery of prevention curricula to area youth and promotion of community building strategies to suppress intimate partner violence. As a member of the Prevention Team, the Prevention Educator will also be responsible for organizing community outreach events in support of the WCST, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Finally, the member will assist in WCST volunteer outreach, public speaking engagements, development and maintenance of community partnerships, and trainings.
 
Essential Responsibilities (to include, but not limited to):

• Along with the Prevention Coordinator, will develop violence prevention and community building curriculum, deliver the curriculum to student groups, community groups and youth service programs, and mentor area youth as they experiment with violence prevention tools given to them in the groups
• Engage in community awareness activities regarding violence prevention, particularly gender based violence. As a member of the Prevention Team, the Prevention Educator will take a lead role in organizing community outreach activities for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (OCT) and Sexual Assault Awareness Month (APR)
• Schedule and conduct speaking engagements with community partners, social clubs and organizations, and faith based organizations regarding the prevention of domestic and sexual violence
• Prepare informational handouts, brochures, and flyers about WCST, domestic violence, sexual assault, and violence prevention, including participation in production of bi-annual WCST newsletter
• In conjunction with the rest of the WCST staff, participate in the WCST 30 hour trainings as presenter, mentor, and resource for volunteers in training. The member will raise awareness of WCST volunteer opportunities when engaged in public speaking and outreach
• Properly track and log all WCST prevention (and school-based intervention) activities and participation statistics. Additionally, the Prevention Educator will assist in development, administration, analysis, interpretation, and promotion of outcomes and results of WCST prevention activities. The Prevention Educator will attend all WCST required trainings and team meetings
• Complete general office duties related to Prevention Team efforts – mailings, filing, and answering phones
• Participate in bi-weekly staff meetings, gatherings, and teambuilding activities
• Professionally represent the WCST at community events, fundraisers, and social activities

Position Requirements:

• Commitment to ending violence, particularly gender based, domestic, and sexual violence
• Excellent group facilitation skills
• Excellent public speaking and community engagement skills
• Experience working with youth
• Cultural competency with regards to rural and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities
• Excellent record keeping, organization, and planning skills
• 21 years of age or older, at beginning of service term
• U.S. citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident
• Possession of high school diploma or equivalent
• Must successfully pass a criminal history background check provided by WCST
• Licensed and insured driver in possession of reliable, personal vehicle for transportation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Some level of post-secondary education
• Knowledge of the dynamics surrounding domestic and sexual violence
• Experience in youth prevention activities
• Experience in community organizing
• Teaching experience
• Experience working with community based non-profits

Service Conditions:

• The WCST provides a dynamic, supportive, collaborative, and creative working environment where individual talents are celebrated and personal and professional growth is fostered. While much of the Prevention Team activity requires daily work in area schools, the Violence Prevention Educator will have their own workspace in WCST’s public office with access to all the amenities and resources of a corporate office.

Physical/Intellectual Demands

• The member will work closely with other prevention professionals at WCST and within the Josephine County community in order to bring the highest level of violence prevention services to area schools. A significant portion of Prevention Team activities will involve direct service to area youth. The position requires professionalism, strong interpersonal skills, significant communications skills, patience, flexibility, understanding, compassion, empathy, and an understanding of ever evolving youth issues. The work demands significant personal and emotional investment and can be exhaustive. The Prevention Educator will be expected to participate in self-care and debriefing activities used by WCST staff.
• The Prevention Educator will remain relevant to our young clients, conducting research and analysis of current events, current youth culture, use of violence in society, and social and cultural pressures facing youth. Additionally, the Violence Prevention Educator will remain relevant in prevention education by connecting with current research, best practices, and participation in prevention trainings, webinars, and education activities.

Equipment Used:

• The Violence Prevention Educator position will require basic working knowledge of computer usage including the use of Microsoft Office components, e-mail, and internet technologies. Use of PowerPoint and presentation technologies, including projectors and sound equipment is encouraged.