Sexual Assault Prevention Response Victim Advocate
Location: Patuxent River, MD
Announcement Number: 24-12256842
Salary: $78,592 - $89,069
Closing Date: January 1, 2024
This position serves as a Sexual Assault Prevention & Response (SAPR) Victim Advocate (VA) within Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), Fleet & Family Readiness Department (N9), Family Readiness Division (N91), Fleet & Family Support Program (FFSP). The primary purpose is to serve as the primary initial point of contact for victims of sexual assault & sexual harassment & work closely with the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) to ensure comprehensive care for victims.
Duties
Victim Advocacy/Support (75%)
Serve as a SAPR VA, facilitating care and providing non-clinical support to adult victims of a sexual assault and sexual harassment. Serve on the 24/7 SAPR watch bill, providing 24/7 support for victims' immediate needs. Inform the victim that speaking with the SAPR VA is voluntary. Assess safety concerns, inform victims of available reporting options and resources, encourage self advocacy, assist with navigating the processes to obtain care and services needed, establish short and long-term goals for sexual assault recovery, and facilitate referrals. Assess the safety of sexual harassment complainants who wish to confer with a victim advocate. Assist victims reporting sexual harassment to address any immediate safety needs, understand their sexual assault reporting options (as applicable), and identify any behavioral health or other services that may be helpful. Assist victims of sexual harassment in their effort towards the process of recovery, through advocacy and resource information. Serve as an advocate for the expressed interests of victims with all intervening agencies to include law enforcement, medical, and legal.
Explain the restricted and unrestricted reporting options available to a victim, including the exceptions and/or limitations for victims' privileges under Military Rules of Evidence 514, and their rights and responsibilities as a victim. Explain all available SAPR services to the victim and conduct a warm hand-off to the equal opportunity office for official reporting of sexual harassment. Safeguard documents in their possession and all information pertaining to victims' sexual harassment, always mindful of the victims' right to confidentiality. Conduct risk assessments of victims to determine their immediate needs, and evaluate safety concerns and levels of risk. Provide crisis intervention in the aftermath of sexual assault and develop and implement an appropriate plan of action based on initial and ongoing risk assessments. Provide a wide range of essential support and advocacy services, liaison services, and care to victims of sexual harassment. Inform victims of available legal assistance/counsel and, if needed, provide a warm handoff to the appropriate military and civilian legal offices for personal legal advice and information specific to their circumstance or case, including filing civilian or military protective orders. Accompany victims to appointments, investigator interviews, and civilian and military court proceedings, as appropriate and when requested by the victim. Ensure victims of sexual harassment receive guidance and support during administrative, medical, investigative, and legal procedures and victims understand the processes involved. Assist victims in prioritizing actions and establishing short- and long-term goals related to the recovery from sexual harassment. Maintain support and follow-up contact with sexual harassment victims throughout the lifecycle of the case.
Immediately notify the SARC of sexual assault incidents, providing the necessary demographic and/or incident detail for their thorough documentation in the Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database (DSAID) and to fulfill multiple reporting requirements outlined in policy (e.g., Notification to Command and Annual Report to Congress). Notify the SARC of sexual harassment advocacy provided to complainants for the SARC's thorough documentation of the SAPR Related Inquiry
(SRI) module in DSAID. Attend sexual assault Case Management Group (CMG) meetings for victims to ensure their needs are met. Report victim's support services and response information to the SARC and consult with the SARC on an ongoing basis to ensure comprehensive care for victims throughout the reporting process. Adhere to the D-SAACP Professional Code of Ethics.
Program Support/Training (25%)
Collaborate with the SARC on interfacing with military and civilian agencies to identify and promote relevant resources and appropriate support services. Establish liaisons with local victim support agencies in order to gain support and cooperation in achieving support for victims of sexual harassment and to promote the enhancement of sexual harassment services. Maintain a resource binder with current forms, information and referral resource lists. Collaborate with the SARC on
developing and coordinating SAPR public awareness campaigns and local events, and on implementing primary prevention initiatives to aid in eliminating sexual assault incidents before they occur. Verify SAPR program marketing materials with 24/7 contact information is prominently displayed across the installation.
Assist the installation SARC in the development and delivery of comprehensive sexual harassment training.
Perform other duties as assigned.
