SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION & RESPONSE SPECIALIST (VICT ADV) - TITLE 5 - Army National Guard Units

Summary THIS IS A NATIONAL GUARD TITLE 5 EXCEPTED SERVICE POSITION. This National Guard position is for a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Specialist (Victim Advocate), Position Description Number T5555P01 and is part of the 78th Troop Command, National Guard. Area of Consideration: All Current Federal Employees. This is a full-time, Excepted Permanent, position which does not require Georgia Army National Guard Membership. Responsibilities As a GS-0101-11, SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE SPECIALIST (VICTIM ADVOCATE), you will: Assists victims of sexual assault and domestic violence towards the process of recovery, through advocacy and resource information. For SAPR sexual cases, the victim advocate will operate under the supervision of the State SAPR performing duties which include, but are not limited to, crisis intervention, safety planning, referral, ongoing non-clinical support, and serves as a resource on available options to assist victims in making informed decisions regarding reporting options and care. For Domestic Violence cases, the Victim Advocate will operate under the guidance and direction of the Director of Psychological Health (DPH)/Behavioral Health Officer (BHO) developing an appropriate plan of assistance and intervention which provides for the safety of the victim and their family members. Cases are assigned from a variety of sources to include self-sought services and referrals from SAPR hotlines, local domestic violence agencies, training classes, Wing/BDE/JFHQ-State identification, investigator identification, and medical or mental health provider identification. Provides continuity of care and ensures coordination with all applicable National Guard functions, State SAPR and DPH. During medical and investigation procedures court/administrative proceedings, and related processes. Conducts risk assessments of individuals to determine immediate needs and evaluates safety and levels of risks; provides emotional support and guidance to victims in crisis while addressing the individual's needs and desires. Provides crisis intervention in the immediate aftermath of sexual assault or domestic violence/abuse and develops safety plans based on initial and ongoing risk assessments. Provide restricted and unrestricted reporting options addressing confidential disclosure and privacy to the victim. Provides referral services at the Wing/BDE/JFHQ-State as well as the surrounding communities. During imminent risk of serious harm or death, notify the DPH and law enforcement and provide physical support by being present until the DPH can coordinate the appropriate next steps. Direct the victim to DPH, or civilian authorities if DPH is unavailable, when a sexual assault or domestic violence case involves child abuse or a victim under the age of 18.Under guidance and direction of DPH/Behavioral Health Officer the incumbent provides direct services to identified families experiencing domestic abuse utilizing an early intervention model designed to stop the abuse, promote healthy family interactions, and reduce incidences of initial and recurrent family maltreatment among military families of more complex cases. Conducts assessments, to identify risk factors and assist clients to formulate safety plans; and designs and implements goals and objectives for service plans. Analyzes and evaluates assessment data gathered to provide initial planning and provide follow-up interventions with clients regarding identified risk factors. Serves on the Wing/BDE/JFHQ-State sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) Case Management team and ensures State SAPR is kept abreast of victim's status/case. For SAPR cases, consults regularly with the State SAPR on ongoing cases. For domestic abuse cases, consults regularly with the DPH on ongoing cases. The victim advocate ensures the DPH is aware of victim's situation and makes written entries in the victim's Family Advocacy Program (FAP) client case record. Facilitates or assists in the planning, scheduling, and delivery of sexual assault prevention and response and interpersonal violence prevention training for all Wing/BDE/JFHQ-State personnel, leadership, deploying personnel, volunteer or collateral duty Victim Advocates, and other key functional stakeholders to include annual refresher SAPR training. Coordinates guest speakers, arranges announcements and marketing, and coordinates logistics for the various training activities. Promotes awareness of sexual assault and interpersonal violence prevention in the community by performing outreach activities in the preparation for and implementation of the Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month campaigns. Plans and coordinates prevention and awareness for other programs. Serves as liaison with community agencies and resource providers to implement programs and services regarding advocacy for victims, child behavior management/developmental strategies, communication and family cohesiveness and sexual assault. Maintains a program data referral collection log reflecting program transactions and activity for the FAP. Provides public relations and marketing promoting victim services to Wing/BDE/JFHQ-State and community personnel to include family members. Performs other duties as assigned. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. To qualify based on your experience, your resume must describe at least one year of experience which prepared you to do the work in this job. Specialized experience is defined as: Providing 24/7 in-person and telephonic response, the incumbent under the supervision of the Sexual Assault Response Officer (State SAPR). The incumbent serves as the Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate (DAVA) providing assistance and advocacy for victims of spousal/intimate partner abuse, non-offensive parents/caregivers and victims of child abuse. This position will serve as facilitator to Wing/BDE/JFHQ-State personnel regarding victim of domestic violence and child abuse appropriate responses. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-12). OR Education: Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Organizational Development, Human Resource Management or Business Administration (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages. (Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must include months, years and hours per week worked to receive credit for your work and/or volunteer experience. One year of specialized experience is equivalent to 12 months at 40 hours per week. Part-time hours are prorated. Education To qualify based on education, you must submit a legible copy of transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Transcripts do not need to be official, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet qualification requirements, you must show that your education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. Additional Information If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency (https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).