FAP Victim Advocate & Educator
Location: Annapolis, MD
Announcement Number: 24-12262972
Salary: $77,602 - $84,879
Closing Date: January 12, 2024
Assigned to the Fleet & Family Support Center (FFSC). FFSC is the Navy's primary agency for the delivery of an array of human services programs intended to enhance the stability and self-sufficiency of individuals and families, resulting in increased operational readiness. Primary purpose of this position is to provide family advocacy services for victims of spouse/partner abuse and child abuse, community outreach, and education and training for the serviced population.
Duties
- Serves as Victim Advocate for the Family Advocacy Program (FAP), providing comprehensive assistance to and liaison for victims of spouse/intimate partner abuse and non-offending parents or caregivers of victims of child abuse.
- Screens victims of domestic abuse, evaluates their needs, and provides them with information about domestic violence, safe and confidential ways to seek assistance, their rights, and the resources and services available to them.
- Services for victims of spouse/intimate partner abuse and their families may include: crisis intervention; assistance in securing medical treatment for injuries; information on legal rights and resources available through both military and civilian programs; education, transportation; pretrial, trial, and post-trial support; and follow-up.
- Coordinates with FAP case manager in developing appropriate plan of assistance/intervention, which provides for the safety of the victim and their family members. Evaluates needs, establishes with the victim a detailed, individualized safety plan, reviews, and revises the plan with the victim as necessary.
- Ensures that FAP case manager is fully aware of victim's situation at all times. When FAP case managers are not on duty, this may involve working with law enforcement and/or sponsoring command. This involves decisions affecting a wide range of problems and services, some difficult/complex.
- Maintains current information on resources and services, and advises victims before disclosure of the limited confidentiality rule.
- Provides advocacy services to non-offending parents or caregivers of identified victims of child abuse to include safety planning, identifying supportive resources, working with civilian authorities, and creating an environment that makes it easy for the non-offending parent or caregiver to support the child.
- Advocates for the expressed interests and safety of the victim when providing information to military and civilian courts; the Clinical Case Staff Meeting; and, when accompanying victims to legal appointments and investigative interviews.
- Reports all suspected child abuse or neglect cases to proper state child protective service authorities in coordination with the Family Advocacy Representative (FAR) for investigation. Reports incidents to Military Police and NCIS as appropriate.
- Provides input to FAP Manager in the establishment and implementation of local policies and directives pertaining to the Family Advocacy Victim Advocate Program.
- Serves as the main liaison between community and command partners and FAP to ensure all parties are aware of and efficiently use all available resources for victims of domestic violence.
- Maintains a cooperative working relationship with all action agencies to include: Medical Treatment Facility (MTF), Military Police, NCIS, and Unit Commanders. Networks with civilian resources such as court appointed victim advocates, shelters and other civilian resources that provide services to victims of domestic violence and/parents of child abuse victims.
- Works closely with community organizations that provide important services for victims, including emergency shelter, nutritional support and childcare. Determines how the FFSC and the organization can work together to benefit Navy families.
- Effectively communicates with commands and command leadership to garner their support, convey the importance of the Navy's stance on domestic abuse and ensure that their Sailors and families are aware of the FAP VA program.
- Conducts overall outreach activities on and off the installation that raise awareness, including monthly campaigns and ensuring information is widely available and easily accessible to victims.
- Serves as the primary source for FAP education and training. Educates commands, installation personnel and community partners on domestic abuse and victim advocate services.
- Briefs active-duty personnel, military spouses and DoD civilians who are eligible to receive victim-advocacy services. Provides training for military first responders, including law enforcement, military treatment facility (MTF) personnel, commands and chaplains. Assists in training civilian service providers about military victim issues, resources and services. Conducts education classes for Family Support Groups, ombudsmen and the community on the prevention of domestic abuse.
- Conducts briefings on FAP policies, dynamics of domestic abuse, availability of treatment services, procedural requirements for handling both on and off installation domestic abuse cases, state laws, and other pertinent information about family violence.
- Ensures efficient and effective service delivery and use of resources. Responsible for the smooth planning and coordination of all scheduled workshops, programs, and courses presented at the FFSC or by FFSC staff at other locations. Acts as the liaison for command training POCs in order to coordinate and support the training needs of the command.
