Lead Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate at Chenega Corporation

Overview

CHENEGA PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, LLC

Telework

The Lead Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate (LD) shall help the AF Treatment Program Manager (TPM) oversee and direct a comprehensive DAVA program to support effective implementation, utilization, and utilization improvements of DAVA Support Services. The Department of the Air Force (DAF) Family Advocacy Program (FAP) is designed to identify, prevent, provide treatment to families, couples, and/or intimate partners impacted by domestic abuse (DA). FAP offers the support of Domestic Abuse Victim Advocates (DAVA) to provide DAF personnel, their family members, or intimate partners who are victims of DA (sometimes referred to as domestic violence) non-clinical emergent and urgent service whenever requested. With the exception of mandatory state, federal, and military reporting requirements (i.e., domestic violence, child abuse, and duty to warn situations) the DAVA provides a private and confidential service to encourage victims in seeking assistance.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight for all contract DAVAs and the services they provide to ensure compliance with all provisions of the contract.
• Conduct overall management coordination with Chenega Pro’s PM (PM) and shall be a point of contact for performance of DAVA work under the contract to include but not limited to:
• Coordinate with the PM to remedy any Customer Complaint Records and assist in responding to Customer Complaint Records and review for adequacy, acceptability, and timeliness.
• Notify the PM of all performance issues.
• Ensure the DAVAs provide 24 hour/7 days a week response to victims alleging domestic abuse by publishing and maintaining an emergency contact number.
• Support the AF FAP TPM in procedural guidance and establishing standardized DAVA procedures applicable to FAP offices where DAVAs are assigned.
• Provide expertise and advice on DAVA process efficiencies, procedures, and programmatic issues. Assist in the development and implementation of AF guidance by recommending and coordinating DAVA FAP Standards and other guidance.
• Work with DAVAs to provide subject matter expert on Fatality Review Board and various working groups and committees.
• Monitor DAVA data submissions to ensure compliance with established requirements and duties. Assist the DAVAs to provide technical support to ensure contract DAVAs understand how to use the FAPNet for data collection. Perform quality management on data collected from DAVAs. Identify missing data and contact the installation DAVA to provide it.
• Manage all contract DAVAs under this contract ensuring they perform assigned duties per the PWS.
• Work with PM and government POC to address any personnel issues such as duty hours, time off, and poor performance.
• Collect DATA and information needed to submit monthly reports and deliverables assigned by government. Coordinate collection and accuracy of each DAVA’s timesheet and work with PM to approve timesheets at the end of each pay period and assist PM in gathering information for invoicing.
• LD shall work with PM on other administrative and contractual requirements as assigned.
• Provide 24 hour/7 days a week response to victims alleging DA by publishing and maintaining an emergency contact number via cell phone provided by vendor.
• Establish a Victim’s Safety Plan on a case-by-case basis.
• Partner with the Family Advocacy Treatment Manager (FATM) and Family Advocacy Intervention Specialist (FAIS) or mental health on-call provider if the treatment or case manager is unavailable, to establish safety plans. The victims’ safety is the DAVA’s top responsibility and priority.
• Review the safety plan during each victim contact.
• Develop safety plans based on initial and ongoing risk assessments. If imminent risk of serious harm or death is established, notify the FAO, law enforcement, and Command. If children are involved, the process also includes child physical safety and emotional well-being; refer involved children to the treatment or case manager for follow-on care.
• Immediately report any changes in the victim’s circumstances that changes or impacts the safety plan to the FAP treatment/case manager or mental health on-call provider if the treatment/case manager is unavailable. When determining whether a victim is at imminent risk of serious harm or death, the DAVA will assess the following risk factors:
  • Victimization patterns have increased in severity or frequency.
  • Alleged offender threatened or attempted to kill the victim or his/her children.
  • Alleged offender threatened or attempted suicide.
  • Alleged offender strangled the victim.
  • Alleged offender used or threatened to use a weapon against the victim.
  • Victim sustained serious injury during the abusive incidents.
  • Prior police contact with the alleged offender regarding DA.
  • Victim has a restraining or protection order against the alleged offender.
  • Victim is estranged, separated or attempting to separate from the alleged offender.
  • Alleged offender stalked the victim.
  • Alleged offender abuses alcohol or drugs.
  • Alleged offender forced sex on the victim.
  • Alleged offender abused victim during current pregnancy.
  • Victim expresses fear of imminent serious harm or death.
  • Alleged offender has active psychosis or mania.
  • Alleged offender is using psychoactive drugs, such as amphetamines or cocaine.
  • Alleged offender exhibits obsessive behavior, extreme jealousy, or extreme dominance.
• Advise each victim at the initial contact that:
  • DAVA services are voluntary.
  • DAVA have limited confidentiality IAW AF policy.
  • Medical examination and documentation of victim’s injuries is highly recommended.
  • Victims may choose to make a restricted or unrestricted report of DA (those options are fully explained by the DAVA)
• Advise victims of the military or civil actions available to promote safety (e.g., military order of protection, restraining order, and injunction).
• Offer victims information regarding their identified needs (e.g., emergency shelter, housing, childcare, legal services, clinical resources, medical services, transitional compensation).
• Offer follow-up DAVA services to each victim:
  • Empower the victim to advocate for the needs of self and children.
  • Support the victim in decision-making by exploring options.
  • Assist the victim with prioritizing actions and establishing short/long-term goals.
  • Provide information and referral on military and civilian resources.
• Advise victims of the impact of domestic violence on children and supports victim’s efforts to have children assessed and treated, as needed.
• Accompany the victim to appointments or court proceedings when requested by the victim.
• Assist with transportation is typically not provided to victims, however, after consultation with the FAO and when no other reasonable means exist the DAVA may transport the victim to important appointments (i.e.: medical, court, protective actions). The DAVA cannot transport minor children unless accompanied by the parent or legal guardian and has the appropriate safety restraints in the vehicle. The government will not be responsible for any costs or liabilities if the DAVA elects to provide transportation for victims except as identified in the contract.
• Collaborate with the FAP treatment/case manager to support the victim and promote safety for the victim and children in the home.
• Briefs the treatment/case manager prior to the Clinical Case Staffing (CCS) so that the CCS team has the most current information on the victim and children for staffing. (Note: The DAVA does not have access to information containing Personal Health Information (PHI) and does not attend the CCS).
• Establish a contact file for each victim served that contains minimal information about the allegations or nature of the incident. The primary purpose of the DAVA contact file is to maintain victim’s name and contact information as well as a log of the victim contacts and nature of the contacts or service provided by the DAVA. Information in the DAVA contact file will assist the DAVA in maintaining contact with the victim and will provide continuity of care in the event of DAVA position turnover.
• Place the safety plan, Victim Impact Statement and Victim Preference Statement in the DAVA contact file. Provide a copy of items to the treatment/case manager for the FAP Record.
• Maintain DAVA contact files in the FAP office under a double lock system and/or DAVA database.
• The contact file will be clearly marked as either “Open” or “Closed” indicating whether the victim is currently receiving DAVA services.
• Submit Victim Impact Statement when the victim asks the DAVA to inform the alleged offender’s commander, the FAP treatment/case manager, or the FAO (for presentation to the Central Registry Board) of the impact the maltreatment has had on the victim and/or children. (Note: This form is only required when the victim requests the DAVA share the impact information on the victim’s behalf
• Enter victim contact information and perform other activities monthly IAW DAF FAP guidance.
• Develop process to keep the FAO and designated POC (e.g., on-call mental health provider, emergency room.) informed of DAVA’s location and timelines when providing DAVA victim services. This process will include purpose, location, arrival, and departure notification.
• Support the Family Advocacy Intervention Specialist (FAIS) to develop System Advocacy, Education and Public Awareness, promoting a coordinated community response to DA. As a system advocate, the DAVA shall:
  • Continually evaluate the quality of the installation’s coordinated community response and collaborate with base agencies to improve the system response to victims.
  • Empower victims to be involved in plans or decisions about the safety of self and children.
  • Collaborate and establish protocols with Security Forces Squadron (SFS) and Office of Special Investigations (OSI) confirming:
    • 24-hour notification of the DAVA in all incidents of suspected DA
    • Collaboration on safety planning
    • Training of SFS and OSI personnel on the DAVA role
• Collaborate and establishes protocols with the MTF confirming:
  • • 24-hour notification of the DAVA in all incidents of suspected DA
    • Training of MTF personnel on the DAVA role
• Establish liaisons and partner with civilian DA resources.
• Is a member of the installation Family Advocacy Committee (FAC) and reports to the FAO. The DAVA participates in the development, implementation, and evaluation of installation DA policies and protocols (e.g., Installation Supplement to AFI 40-301- Family Advocacy, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with local victim shelters, Inter-Service Support Agreements).
• Support the FAP Secondary Prevention and Client Engagement (SPaCE) and New Parent Support Program (NPSP) prevention activities. The DAVA will actively participate in all resiliency initiatives designed to prevent DA.
• Partner with the Family Advocacy Nurse (FAN) when the FAN is involved in open partner maltreatment cases.
• Promptly communicates with the treatment/case manager and the FAN any information that may impact the victim’s current safety plan.
• Refer victim for direct service from the FAN through the FAO.
• Share victim information with the FAN at least monthly to ensure continuity of care between the FAN and DAVA services.
• Partner with the FAIS to promote education about and prevention of DA. Such activities may include outreach programs designed to increase awareness, educational briefings (e.g., restricted reporting option), skill-building classes, and the development of marketing tools and strategies.
• An invited member of the Outreach Prevention Management (OPMT), the DAVA shall make every effort to attend OPMT meetings to promote the DAVA-FAIS partnership and the DAVA involvement in DA prevention activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in any of the following disciplines: Social Work; Psychology; Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling; Counseling or Behavioral Science; Criminal Justice, or related field.

OR

• Minimum ten (10) years of experience assisting and providing advocacy services to victims of DA or sexual assault.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to clearly read, understand, speak and write English.
• Ability to upon hire, or within six-months of hiring, obtain the Basic Advocate credential with designation of Comprehensive Intervention Specialist as approved and offered by the National Advocate Credentialing Program, which is overseen by the National Organization for Victims Assistance.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification thru either the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.

Physical Demands (The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee may use repeated motions that include the arms, wrists, hands and/or fingers. The employee is occasionally required to walk, stand, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

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