Family Court Legal Advocate

The Family Court Legal Advocate is responsible for providing short and/or long-term advocacy and support to survivors of family/domestic violence, human trafficking and/or sexual assault who have open Child Protective Services cases that are being heard in the Travis County District Family Court. The Family Court Legal Advocate also provides consultation, upon request, on family court cases involving domestic violence to the Presiding and Associate Judges of the 126th District Court. The Family Court Legal Advocate will provide ongoing education and training to SAFE clients, court staff and other collaborating agencies, involved in the family court system, concerning the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence and the co-occurrence of family violence and child maltreatment.

About SAFE:

SAFE’s mission is our name: Stop Abuse For Everyone. We achieve our mission by acknowledging and responding to the intersection of child abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, and domestic violence.
The SAFE Alliance grew out of the courageous work of the Center for Battered Women, the Austin Rape Crisis Center, and the Austin Children’s Shelter, all respected, women-led human service agencies created by volunteers and informed by survivors who needed support, safety and justice.
With over 20 programs and 400 staff, we have been serving the Austin community and beyond for over 30 years.
The SAFE Alliance strongly encourages members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including people of color, LGBTQ+ identified people, gender-nonconforming people, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people who speak a language in addition to English.

About this position:

We need you to fill the role of SAFE Family Court Legal Advocate. This is a FULL TIME, EXEMPT position to be located at our Grove Boulevard campus. During COVID-19 pandemic, this position will primarily work remotely, until the agency establishes plans for staff reentry to physical locations. We will pay you an annual salary of $35,000-$36,000.

Key Duties:

Serve as a resource providing advocacy and case management support to survivors of violence who have open Child Protective Services (CPS) case, which is being heard in the Travis County District Family Court.
Ensure that advocacy, education and case management services are cooperatively planned, implemented and evaluated.
Provide quality decision making which is client focused when working within Agency/Child Protective Services/Family Court Systems.
Conducts ongoing training for SAFE clients related to protective parenting, domestic violence, safety planning, and understanding CPS involvement and requirements.
Maintains accurate documentation and program statistics/evaluations to meet requirements of both the agency and grant reporting requirements. Complies with timelines with monthly statistical reports for all relevant parties.
Communicate effectively, instills trust and displays a high level of resilience when coordinating with all stakeholders: Travis County Family Court Judges and staff, Child Protective Services staff, Survivors of violence and their children, as well as other involved collaborating agencies.
Provide consultation, upon request, on family court cases involving domestic violence to the Presiding and Associate Judges of the 126th District Court. Assists with other tasks in the family court related to domestic and sexual violence as requested by the Presiding and Associate Judges of the 126th District Court.
Provide presentations/trainings to court staff, stakeholders, and/or clients, involved in the family court system, concerning the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence, the co-occurrence of family violence and child maltreatment, Trauma informed services and available community resources.
Participate professionally on internal and external workgroups and task forces which coincide with issues surrounding the co-occurrence of domestic violence and child abuse/neglect, in support of positive systems change and to advocate for survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their children.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or other related field required. Master’s degree in Social Work preferred; four years of experience in social services may be substituted for education.
Two years’ experience, required

in the field of Family Violence caused by Domestic Violence, Sexual Abuse & Exploitation, Human Trafficking and/or Child abuse and the intersection of the Child Protective Services system and/or the legal system
in the coordination and/or delivery of social service programs, victim advocacy, conflict resolution, guidance counseling

One year of professional and client training or community education experience, preferred.
One year experience, preferred
- in civil or criminal legal services related to Family Court or Family Protective Services
- providing one-on-one advocacy to domestic violence survivors
Demonstrate appropriate skill level and capability in the operation of computers and general Microsoft office software programs, including outlook email, word, excel spread-sheet, power point and database software.
Pass all required criminal history background checks (including an FBI fingerprint check), as well as submit to a pre-employment drug screen and TB test.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

About our benefits:

Full-time employees receive employer paid health insurance, short-term disability, and life insurance. *
Optional dental, vision and pet insurance. *
403(b) retirement plan with an employer match, and 15 days of Paid Time Off (PTO), 4 Personal Holidays, 6 Paid holidays, and more*
We’ll provide you with an amazing work environment where you’ll get to make a difference every day.

*Benefits are prorated based on date of hire and hours worked. Eligibility is dependent upon FTE, status, etc.

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I acknowledge that I have read and understand the above statements and hereby grant permission to confirm the information supplied on this questionnaire by me. I authorize The SAFE Alliance to check the references provided, including my former employers, supervisors and schools. I authorize these individuals, companies and institutions to furnish The SAFE Alliance with any information they have about me, and I release and hold them and The SAFE Alliance harmless from any liability or damage whatsoever with respect to the release or use of this information.* I acknowledge that I have read and understand the above statements and hereby grant permission to confirm the information supplied in this application, profile and questionnaire by me.I do not grant permission to confirm the information supplied in this application, profile and questionnaire and wish to be removed from consideration for this position.

To qualify for this position, you must have two years’ experience in the following areas:
o in the field of Family Violence caused by Domestic Violence, Sexual Abuse & Exploitation, Human Trafficking and/or Child abuse and the intersection of the Child Protective Services system and/or the legal system
o in the coordination of social service programs, victim advocacy, conflict resolution, guidance counseling
Please describe your professional experience in these areas below.*

Please list 3 professional references, including at least 1 supervisor reference (first and last name, job title/professional relationship, phone number, and email address.)*

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