Open Positions

Legal Advocate 

[updated: 11/08/2024]

• DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Provide coordination of the Rural Legal grant program, including screening of applicants for entry to the program and record keeping. Ensure effective communication with partners, including MOA partner Alaska Legal Services Corporation.
  • Provide advocacy and support to survivors in civil legal matters. Assess needs and create a care plan with each survivor.  Make appropriate referrals, using the “warm hand-off” method.
  • Facilitate direct and positive communication between attorneys and survivors as they work through protection order and divorce/custody matters.
  • Coordinate and administer to legal services for AWARE program participants with the Legal Advocacy Project’s Pro Bono Program, Alaska Legal Services, AWARE/ALS Legal Clinic, LAP Hotline and Alaska Immigration Project
  • Assess the need for and assist in preparation of civil protection orders, divorce and custody. Accompany participants to state and tribal court.  Prepare for and accompany petitioners for long-term protection orders. 
  • Provide training on legal advocacy issues and processes to shelter staff and volunteers. Maintain current legal advocacy training materials for staff and volunteers.
  • Provide assessment of program participants’ immediate safety needs; develop safety plans with survivors.
  • Provide assessment of program participant’s long-term needs and maintain follow-up contact with program participants to answer questions, provide referrals and assist with upcoming hearings.
  • Maintain self-care practices to manage stress, compassion fatigue and prevent burnout.
  • Ensure documentation comports with grant requirements, complete timely grant reports.

   OTHER STAFF TASKS:

  • Meet regularly with supervisor for supervision and support.
  • Provide advocacy, answer crisis line, and assist with program participant service delivery when necessary and as needed.
  • Provide program participants with basic information on domestic violence and sexual assault including: dynamics of battering, sexual assault, chemical dependency, lethality and safety planning.
  • Perform record-keeping activities associated with program participant contact or as required for data collection or inter-staff communication.
  • Attend all staff meetings and staff trainings as scheduled.
  • Report cases of suspected abuse or neglect of children or vulnerable adults to the Alaska Office of Children’s Services or Adult Protective Services, and the Juneau Police Department as required.
  • Comply with AWARE Personnel and Administrative Policies.

  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Must pass AWARE background check.
  • Must have high school diploma/GED
  • Must have or acquire CPR and First Aid Certifications.

   REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

  • Must have a thorough understanding of domestic violence, sexual assault, and the needs of victims or the willingness to learn.
  • Must have the ability to remain objective and perform under stressful conditions.
  • Must feel comfortable working with individuals and families of diverse backgrounds.
  • Must maintain confidentiality.
  • Must have experience with family civil law and the criminal court system or the willingness to learn.
  • Must support AWARE’s mission and philosophy

SALARY AND HOURS:

$28/hr DOE; 40 hrs/wk

APPLY: send resume and cover letter to jobs@awareak.org

Relief Shelter Advocate

[updated: 5/8/2024]

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• • Demonstrate familiarity with AWARE’s helping values and practices.
  • Have working knowledge of DV/SA including: dynamics of battering, sexual assault, chemical dependency, lethality and safety planning.
  • Be able to quickly assess and respond to crisis/emergency situation or person. Be able to use de-escalation strategies such as isolation. Work with lead advocate and/or director to ensure appropriate response including request Law Enforcement assistance and be able to provide critical information to Law Enforcement. Follow all directives pertaining to the situation including notifying the shelter supervisor.
  • Practice positive role modeling that promotes strengthening/supporting parent-child relationship in ES. Support parent to ensure children are able to comply with safety and confidentiality for all ES residents/participants.
  • Complete assessment to determine participant’s immediate safety needs and assist with developing a response to the safety issues.
  • Provide trauma-informed victim advocacy, this includes: crisis intervention, answer 24-hour Crisis Line, assist with service delivery.
  • Be able to provide victim services to individual with active substance misuse and/or mental health crisis.
  • Screen participants for admittance to the shelter and complete ES program enrollment as appropriate. Provide new residents with an orientation to ES. Refer all individuals not meeting our admittance criteria to the proper community agency.
  • Perform security checks of the shelter facility at least once each shift. Report security/ safety issues to manager.
  • Provide a verbal account of shift activities at shift change, this includes security alert and maintenance issues. Ensure all required record-keeping duties are completed prior to end of shift.
  • Perform general administrative functions such as log communication with participants and other record keeping activities associated with program participant contact; or as required for data collection and inter staff communication.
  • Participate in the performance of other tasks essential to program and household operation and maintenance.

OTHER STAFF TASKS:

• • Request law enforcement officers to perform welfare checks on participants we suspect to be in immediate danger, as appropriate.
  • Report cases of suspected abuse or neglect of children or vulnerable adults to the Alaska Office of Children’s Services or Adult Protective Services, and the Juneau Police Department as required. ∙ Meet regularly with supervisor for supervision and support.
  • Required to attend a minimum of one advocacy meeting per month.
  • Required to work a minimum of one shift per month.
  • Attend a minimum of one all-staff training per year & meet continuing education requirements.
  • Comply with AWARE Personnel and Administrative Policies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• • Must pass AWARE background check.
  • Must have high school diploma/GED
  • Must have or acquire CPR and First Aid Certifications.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• • Must have a thorough understanding of domestic violence, sexual assault and the needs of victims or the willingness to learn and listen.
  • Must have the ability to remain calm and objective and to perform under stressful conditions.
  • Must have the ability to understand and communicate with people of different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
  • Must have basic computer skills or the ability to learn.
  • Must maintain confidentiality.
  • Must support AWARE’s mission and philosophy

SALARY:  $21.38/hour DOE; schedule as needed

APPLY: send resume and cover letter to jobs@awareak.org

Shelter Advocate

[updated: 5/7/2024]

Shelter advocates are responsible for 24/7 coverage of our emergency safe shelter. Together, they form a strong team who work together to ensure continuation of services for our residents through all shifts. Shelter advocates perform shift work, are responsible for responding to crisis calls, working with folks on safety plans, completing intakes and assessing needs of individual residents. Shelter advocates work with survivors to help participants meet identified needs, both internal to AWARE and externally in work with community partners. Shelter advocates are responsible to each other; sharing information is critical in ensuring clarity and ease for our participants, who are often experiencing great difficulties.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• • • Maintain positive relationships with community partners, including collaborative work on accommodating eligible referrals.
    • Agreement with and adherence to AWARE’s foundational practices of service and welcome for survivors. This includes our “screen in, not out” practice as well as non-discrimination for any survivor in a protected class and/or experiencing behavioral health issues.
    • Acquire basic knowledge of DV/SA-related criminal and civil laws, rights of victims etc. and be able to communicate that information to participants. Provide referrals for participants seeking civil/criminal legal assistance.
    • Acquire basic knowledge of common mental health issues and substance use disorders, and be able to communicate that information to participants. Provide referrals for participants seeking more intensive behavioral health assistance.
    • Demonstrate trauma-informed service readiness, including recognition of common trauma responses and their presentation (behaviors, words, tone of voice, etc.), and respond appropriately.
    • Recognize emergencies and act to ensure participant and staff safety. Use de-escalation techniques to defuse tense situations. If needed, request law enforcement assistance and be able to provide critical information to law enforcement. Ensure notification of the manager on call and documentation for staff.
    • Demonstrate an ability to self-regulate and an awareness of internal reactions to trauma. Practice regular self and community care to mitigate secondary trauma.
    • Complete assessment of participant’s safety needs that includes immediate as well as long-term risk factors in order to develop a comprehensive safety plan. Provide follow-up as requested. This includes safety checks with survivors/partners of men participating in JCAP.
    • Coordinate with AWARE legal team to ensure participants receive wrap around legal services. Be able to provide safety planning that addresses issues around petitioning/granting/serving of a protection order, as well as the violations of the PO. On an emergency basis, assist participants in the preparation of the protection order petition, accompany the participant as requested, and refer to legal advocate for long term preparation.
    • Provide assistance/accompaniment for families working with the Office of Children’s Services. Prioritize referrals from OCS for safety planning and trauma-informed interventions.
    • Coordinate with Children’s Program staff to ensure wrap around services are provided to parents and children accessing AWARE services.
    • Assist in the training of new relief, permanent or volunteer advocates on policies and procedures as requested.
    • Understand and practice safety-planning around current and historic incidents of sexual assault.
    • Facilitate shelter upkeep and hygiene, including room checks and regular maintenance of common spaces. Provide motivational support to residents to increase willingness and completion of communal chores.
    • Perform specialized administrative functions and record-keeping activities associated with tracking participant services or as required for data collection and inter-staff communication.
    • Provide appropriate referrals, and necessary supports to the participant in order to connect with community partner agencies.
    • Assist participant with applications for housing, benefits, social services, etc.
    • Maintain clear and direct communication in client files and with advocacy staff as to status of referrals, supports, applications, etc., to ensure follow-through and successful teamwork.
    • Perform other duties and projects as assigned.

OTHER STAFF TASKS:

• • • Meet regularly with supervisor for supervision and support.
    • Attend meetings and staff trainings.
    • Report cases of suspected abuse or neglect of children or vulnerable adults to the AK Office of Children’s Services or Adult Protective Services, and law enforcement as required.
    • Comply with AWARE Personnel and Administrative Policies

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• • • Must have or acquire CPR and First Aid Certification.
    • Must pass an AWARE background check.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• • • Must have a thorough understanding of domestic violence, sexual assault and the needs of victims or the willingness to learn. 
    • Must have excellent written communication skills.
    • Must have the ability to remain objective and kind under stressful conditions.
    • Must have the ability to represent AWARE professionally with community partners.
    • Must have the ability to understand and communicate with people of different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
    • Must maintain confidentiality.
    • Must support AWARE’s mission and philosophy

SALARY AND HOUR: $23.76/hour DOE plus benefits, 40 hours per week

APPLY: send resume and cover letter to jobs@awareak.org

* AWARE provides equal employment opportunity and provides services for all qualified persons, and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, national ancestry, age, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or disability status. AWARE promotes the full realization of equal employment and service provision through a positive and continuing effort.