Application deadline: June 30, 2019
Employer: New Horizons Shelter & Outreach Centers
Location: La Crosse, WI 54601
Under the direct supervision of the Assistant Director, the Anti-Human Trafficking
Advocate provides comprehensive trauma informed care and services to domestic minor and adult victims of all types of trafficking. The Anti-Human Trafficking Advocate acts as a program liaison between collaborative community partners.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Maintains strict confidentiality regarding all trafficking victims
2. Ensures that the victim’s immediate needs are met, including safe temporary housing, clothing, food, medical care and mental health care
3. Develops a safety plan and a service plan in coordination with victims
4. Provides trafficked victims with crisis intervention; supportive and active listening; supportive individual counseling using a trauma informed approach; educational counseling related to human trafficking; resources and referrals to social service agencies; Crime Victim Compensation information; assessment of individual needs
5. Acts as a liaison and advocate for victims of human trafficking with other agencies and systems; responds to and maintains a network of communication and cooperation between child protective services, law enforcement, medical facilities, the district attorney’s office, and other victim serving agencies/organizations; actively participates in the Task Force to Eradicate Modern Slavery and others related to domestic and sexual abuse
6. Establishes and maintains a strong working relationship and communications with child protective services personnel
7. Works with victim family members to provide support, resources, education and
information
8. Continuously develops self-knowledge of issues of human trafficking, laws, policies and case histories
9. Provides community education and access information regarding services to targeted at-risk populations
10.Assures appropriate and timely record keeping including but not limited to entering daily data (includes computer and paper forms)
11.Communicates concerns of the organization and client needs with co-workers and management daily to assure efficient operation of the organization. Includes but is not limited to personal care items for the client, program needs, office supplies and maintenance needs
12.Attends and participates in meetings within the organization as assigned by supervisor. Includes but is not limited to Full Team meetings, Direct Service meetings, and Outreach meetings
A Bachelor’s Degree in Victimology, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Human Development OR related field employment and/or life experience is preferred.
Experience with crisis intervention and knowledge of community resources is preferred. Experience and knowledge in the field of anti-trafficking is preferred. Bilingual abilities are a plus. Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Office Publisher, a competency for using the internet to research and find available resources or information, keyboarding skills and the ability to learn
new computer programs (including but not limited to data entry) with training is a must.
The ability to be adaptable and utilize time management skills is needed.
The ability to maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and community in a manner that promotes honesty, integrity and cooperation with clients, co-workers, manage and the general public is needed.
New Horizons Shelter and Outreach Centers is the only shelter within a 65-mile radius of the City of La Crosse. It’s a shelter for individuals and families who have experienced domestic and sexual abuse, was organized in 1978 through the cooperative efforts of an informal group of citizens in the La Crosse area who recognized the need for services to victims of domestic abuse. The organization and mission has grown substantially since that time, now reaching out to victims of sexual abuse, human-trafficking, and more. New Horizons is on the front lines advocating for and helping victims with many issues that some people may think do not exist in our community. August of 2018 marked 40 years of serving the community!
New Horizons provides shelter and services to a seven county (population 238,236) area in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
New Horizons Shelter is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to provide emergency shelter and food to victims of domestic violence and their children.
The shelter’s Crisis Advocates provide support and advocacy for victims and children through their shelter stay. Often, when victims come into shelter, they are forced to flee their homes quickly and under great stress, leaving most of their belongings. Through community donations, New Horizons is able to provide families with clothing and personal care items.
In addition to providing the essentials of food and shelter to ensure the physical safety of individuals and families who have experienced abuse, New Horizons conducts various programs and services, all of which are confidential and complimentary.
Additionally as part of the above services and supports, New Horizons also works hand in hand with the law enforcement on a joint program called DART (Domestic Abuse Reduction Team). DART is a specialized enforcement unit of the La Crosse Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies that work with New Horizons to prevent repeat episodes of domestic violence in families that are at risk. DART pairs up police officers with victim advocates from New Horizons who visit victims to offer resource information and support. Together the team works to reduce domestic violence through a united effort with the goal of making La Crosse a safer place for families and officers.
In working with victims of domestic or sexual abuse, New Horizons advocates also help victims with Safety Planning. Simply put, Safety Planning is developing a quick plan of action for help and escape in time of danger for the victim. New Horizons often provides recycled cellphones that can only dial 911 which victims keep charged and hidden in a safe place.
Thanks to financial support in 2018, we…
The following application materials are needed for consideration:
Incomplete applications, or applications submitted without a cover letter and resume will NOT be considered.
Completed applications may be submitted via email as an attachment to: business@nhagainstabuse.org, or by U.S. Mail to New Horizons Shelter & Outreach Centers, Attn: Amanda Patton, 1223 Main St La Crosse, WI 54601.
Applications will be accepted until this position has been filled or the application deadline has passed.
Application deadline: June 30, 2019
Sorry, we are no longer accepting applications for this position.