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Position:  Shelter Services Coordinator

Job Summary: The employee in this position will work with women and children who are residents of the DVIP shelter program, offering support, advocacy, peer counseling, crisis intervention, community referrals, and conflict resolution. This position is a direct services position.

Reports to: Director of Shelter and Youth Services

Hours:  – Full Time (varied)

Certified Domestic Abuse Advocate:  Victim Advocate training required after appointment to the position. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide crisis intervention support, brief solution-based support, community referrals, and resources to shelter residents and crisis line clients.
• Demonstrate conflict resolution and problem-solving skills to clients and co-workers.
• Document services provided as required.
• Coordinate follow-up services and activities for adult shelter residents, including organizing daily logging information related to client services, maintaining client files and organizing and/or completing client orientations.
• Assist with shelter office maintenance, including making copies of forms, cleaning office, straightening desk area, etc.
• Assist in general upkeep of the facility, including building upkeep, building and grounds, security, and distribution of program donations.
• Establish and maintain a working relationship with community agencies and systems for effective client advocacy.

Qualifications-Required:

• AA degree or equivalent combination of education and experience (Two years of experience as a family or domestic violence case manager in a major social service program may be substituted for one year of college education).
• Understanding of issues of cultural and socioeconomic diversity as applied to domestic violence intervention services.
• Experience in peer advocacy and crisis intervention work.
• Working knowledge of basic office functions, including word processing and email.
• Ability to provide confidential services in smaller, rural communities.
• Be organized and detail-oriented.
• Ability to work in an independent and self-directed manner.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
• Ability to pass an Iowa background, Child Abuse, and Sex Offender Registry check.
• Physically able to lift up to 50lbs.

Qualifications – Desired:

• Demonstrated knowledge of domestic violence and systems advocacy.
• Candidates with language skills and/or past experience working with survivors of domestic violence are preferred.
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Public speaking skill and ability to provide training within the scope of employment.
• Multilingual.

Related Duties:

• On-Call.
• Travel required, with day, weekend, and evenings

Please send letters of interest to elias@dvipiowa.org

Deadline: Until Filled

Position: Crisis Line Advocate

Reports to: Director of Client Advocacy Services
Hours: Non-Exempt, Varied

Job Summary: Supervised by the Director of Client Advocacy Services, the Crisis Line Advocate assists people who are victims/survivors of domestic violence via DVIP’s 24 hour hotline. The focus of this position is to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, legal advocacy (not legal advice), housing and economic advocacy, support groups, community education/prevention and other specific needs resulting from domestic violence through trauma-informed practice.
Certified Domestic Abuse Advocate: certification required after appointment to the position.
Qualifications – Required:
1. AA degree or equivalent combination of education and experience (Two years of experience as a family or domestic violence case manager in a major social service program may be substituted for one year of college education).
2. Demonstrated knowledge of domestic violence and systems advocacy.
3. Understanding of issues of cultural and socioeconomic diversity as applied to domestic violence intervention services.
4. Experience in peer advocacy and crisis intervention work.
5. Working knowledge of basic office functions, including word processing and email.
6. Ability to provide confidential services.
7. Be organized and detail-oriented.
8. Ability to work in an independent and self-directed manner.
9. Valid driver’s license, proof of auto insurance, and reliable transportation.
10. Ability to pass an Iowa background, Child Abuse, and Sex Offender Registry check.

Qualifications – Desired:
Candidates with language skills and/or past experience working with survivors of domestic violence are preferred.
Knowledge and understanding of civil and criminal law practice related to domestic violence, particularly housing issues, protection orders, immigration, and divorce.
Multilingual.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Responsible to fulfill the overall mission of the Domestic Violence Intervention Program in the provision of services to program participants.
Victim/survivor-focused activities to ensure the safety and security of the victim is primary.
Provide crisis intervention via phone contact including barriers to safety, providing emotional and other supports (information and referral) as requested.
Connecting survivors/victims to mainstream resources.
Client assessment: background history, including housing assessment; determining cultural, economic, ethnic, health and social factors involved; identifying special needs of victims, and gathering relevant information needed to develop a plan determined by and acceptable to the victim.
Work collaboratively with other regional victim service providers in order to best meet the needs of survivors in the program region, and provide appropriate referral and follow-up services.
Maintain working knowledge of the State of Iowa statutes and codes that have an impact upon our services to victims of domestic violence mandating the requisite reporting mechanisms.
Participate in continued training as required and other related duties as assigned.
Document services provided as required.
Assist with mentoring of new co-workers, volunteers, and interns, providing information about barriers faced by battered women, general operating procedures, crisis intervention, advocacy, and community referrals.

Related Duties:
1. On-Call.
2. Travel required, with day, weekend and evening work.
3. Other duties as assigned.

Please submit a letter of interest and resume to delaney@dvipiowa.org