Domestic Violence Advocate
AGENCY BACKGROUND:
Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC) is a community-based, not-for-profit organization founded in 1979 that has grown into a leading multi-service agency with over 100 staff serving New York City with a focus on upper Manhattan and the Bronx. Our mission is to serve as a catalyst for positive change in the lives of the people in our community on their paths to secure and prosperous futures. Integration is the cornerstone of NMIC’s programs, and our staff can identify and address a broad array of immediate needs through comprehensive crisis intervention services. With their crises resolved, clients move seamlessly to capacity building services through our holistic programs designed to transition individuals and families to self-sufficiency.
Our Legal Services, Social Services, and Weatherization programs meet community members’ basic needs including housing, income, nutrition, and health.
Our Community Organizing program empowers groups of residents to collectively secure longer term and larger scale improvements to their own basic needs.
Our Education & Career Services program imparts individual community members with the practical tools necessary to build secure and prosperous futures.
Job Title: Domestic Violence Advocate
Department: Legal, Organizing & Advocacy
Unit: Immigration & Domestic Violence Project
Reports to: Managing Social Worker
Location: Main Office, 45 Wadsworth Avenue, New York, NY 10033
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Model: Hybrid, averaging 3 days per week in person
SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Domestic Violence Advocate will be an integral member of the NMIC’s holistic Domestic Violence Project (DVP) by providing safety planning, counseling, crisis intervention, self-sufficiency services and advocacy to primarily immigrant domestic violence survivors. The Advocate will work closely with members of DVP and other NMIC staff to coordinate services.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provide one on one trauma informed and advocacy-based counseling to enhance survivors' coping skills, self-esteem, understanding of healthy relationships, healing and wellness.
Develop short and long term, client driven and trauma informed strategies to meet survivors' needs in the areas of housing, public benefits, employment, financial management, and healing, paying particular attention to the needs of immigrant survivors of domestic violence.
Identify needs and provide advocacy on issues such as criminal/civil justice remedies. Provide advocacy (including letters of support and/or affidavits of support) for criminal, family, and immigration cases and interact with law enforcement where necessary.
Provide psychoeducation and information to enhance survivors' understanding around trauma-related effects, legal systems, immigration, and other systems especially as they relate to domestic violence.
Provide support, education, referrals, safety planning and advocacy related to parenting in the context of domestic violence including educational settings, custody/visitation matters, the effects of DV on children, etc.
Participate in supervision, case planning conferences, statistical and narrative documentation, agency orientation, trainings and staff meetings.
Collaborate with NMIC staff in the areas of family law, immigration, housing, benefits, education, employment to provide holistic services to survivors.
QUALIFICATIONS:
SALARY/BENEFITS:
NMIC offers a competitive salary based on experience and education as well as a comprehensive and generous benefits package: medical, dental, life, and disability insurance are included; paid time off, including 20 vacation days, 15 sick days, 5 personal days, and 12 agency holidays, plus the week off from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day; a 401k with agency contribution; and other benefits.
The salary range for this position is $62,000 to $65,000.
NMIC IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
NMIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively encourages candidates of diverse backgrounds to apply for employment. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements in terms of qualifications.? An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered unless specifically stated otherwise.?
