Homicide Survivors, Inc. is currently accepting proposals for the position of Victim Advocate – Tucson. For consideration, please send a resume to vanessa.helms@azhomicidesurvivors.org. The position is open until filled.
Purpose:
Reporting to the Executive Director, utilizing appropriate and empathetic communication skills, provides support, advocacy and assistance to survivors of homicide victims to include normalization, validation and appropriate listening.
Job Responsibilities:
Provide Emotional Support:
- Provides information on the impact of the trauma and what to expect.
- Makes follow up contact & home visits as needed, extending support and advocacy beyond the initial crisis.
- Links survivors to other survivors/volunteers for support.
- Coordinates and attends monthly support group meetings.
Provide Financial Assistance:
- Assists survivors in obtaining financial assistance to include: applying for Victim Compensation and/or restitution as appropriate, making affordable funeral arrangements, locating discounted/donated service provision and providing financial advocacy with creditors, landlords, etc. as needed.
Provide Personal Advocacy:
- Assists survivors in obtaining emergency guardianship, custody, and other civil legal issues as needed.
- Makes appropriate referrals to community resources as needed.
- Contacts service providers on behalf of victims and follow-up on referrals for other services, e.g. counseling, housing, emergency assistance, etc. as needed.
- Assists survivors in dealing with the media to include intervention/facilitation as needed.
- Prepares and provides packets of written resource materials to survivors.
Provide Criminal Justice Advocacy:
- Acts as a liaison for survivors with OME, law enforcement, prosecution, courts and other government agencies facilitating information exchange.
- Acts as a liaison for survivors with Victim Services, 88-Crime and other victim service organizations, facilitating services and information exchange.
- Provides information and coordinates assistance to enable survivors to participate in the criminal justice process (including information on victim rights and assistance with victim impact statements)
- Provides court accompaniment to offer emotional support and information as needed.
Complete Other Duties as Assigned:
- Composes/prepares portions of newsletter and other written materials as needed.
- Assists with Homicide Survivors, Inc. program and survivor events and activities.
- Completes data entry in a timely fashion and maintain victim files per protocol.
- Follows case management and all other office policies and protocols to ensure adequate delivery of services to survivors.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice, psychology, sociology or a related field plus two years’ experience working with crime victims. An equivalent combination of education and experience that is determined to be directly related to the specific requirements may be substituted.
- Knowledge of the criminal justice system to include victim rights.
- Knowledge of community resources in Southern Arizona.
- General office/computer literacy.
- Able to work occasional evening and weekend hours.
Must have the ability to:
- Work collaboratively with others.
- Think critically regarding situations, problems and information.
- Work with individuals from various ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds
- Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
- Pay attention to detail while multi-tasking.
- Speak publicly for audiences of varying sizes.
Preferred Qualifications: (Meeting the preferred qualifications can result in a compensation differential)
- Master’s Degree in a related field
- Bi-lingual (fluent – read, write and speak)
- Bookkeeping/accounting experience
- Survivor of homicide victim
Working Conditions
- This position is mainly in office or courtroom settings with occasional home visits.
Physical Requirements
- This position may require sitting for long periods of time in office or courtroom settings. Minimal lifting may be required.