Description:
YWCA Seattle King Snohomish, one of the region’s largest non-profits focused on supporting women, girls, and families, is seeking a GBV Community Advocate to join its team in South King County, WA. This role is dedicated to providing culturally relevant services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) while ensuring trauma-informed advocacy and support.
As a GBV Community Advocate, you will play a key role in helping survivors navigate critical systems, including legal, housing, and social services, while fostering empowerment and safety.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide trauma-informed advocacy to adult survivors, including assistance with protection orders, family law, CPS, housing navigation, safety planning, employment, and life skills.
- Assist clients in navigating institutions such as housing programs, safety planning, support groups, and trauma-informed advocacy.
- Conduct intakes for new clients, screening for eligibility and essential needs.
- Perform housing assessments for new move-ins at emergency shelters.
- Offer crisis intervention advocacy.
- Maintain and submit required reports and statistical data.
- Develop relationships with community partners and attend relevant meetings.
- Facilitate and lead support groups and healing circles.
- Engage in community outreach to enhance access to services for survivors, particularly Black and African American individuals.
- Complete 20 hours of continued education on advocacy-based domestic violence support.
- Actively participate in YWCA’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) to promote equitable outcomes.
Required Qualifications:
- Strong understanding of legal, housing, and social service systems, including municipal and superior courts, law enforcement, and advocacy groups.
- At least one year of direct social service experience or relevant lived experience.
- Experience working with marginalized communities, particularly African American survivors.
- Knowledge of gender-based violence issues, including domestic violence, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Calendar, Teams, Excel) and virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom.
- Valid Driver’s License and ability to travel independently between multiple work locations.
- Willingness to complete 20 hours of initial basic training, covering advocacy-based counseling, safety planning, crisis intervention, and the history of domestic violence.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Salary: $3,680 - $4,000 per month (DOE)
- Hours: 40 hours per week
- Benefits:
- Medical insurance
- Retirement plan (Fidelity 403b, with YWCA Retirement Fund eligibility after two years)
- Generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave plans
Work Environment & Mental Health Considerations:
- Employees interact with clients experiencing trauma, including racial trauma, domestic violence, sexual violence, homelessness, and financial hardship, which may lead to secondary trauma.
- YWCA encourages self-care and seeking support both inside and outside the workplace.