Advocate

Organization Overview

The mission of Family Tree is to partner with all people to prevent and overcome the interconnected issues of child abuse, domestic violence and homelessness to promote safety, healing and stability across generations. As a long standing non-profit human services agency, we are committed to empowering change and transforming the lives of vulnerable populations in our community. We aim to recruit and retain high-quality and diverse team members who share in our commitment and vision to empower people and transform our community through innovative and integrated services. We are also committed to investing in our team i.e., strive to pay a fair wages, offer competitive benefits, provide generous sick and vacation time, offer staff development along with believing each employee’s unique qualities and experiences are the core of the organization. Family Tree strives to value and uplift diverse and marginalized voices, to recognize and address the ways in which oppression impacts the communities with which we work, and to promote inclusion and equity.

Roots of Courage is a 24/7 confidential emergency shelter for people fleeing domestic violence. Provide advocacy, safety, crisis intervention, non-therapeutic counseling for adult clients and/or children and operate a 24/7 crisis line in an emergency shelter. 

Program Purpose 

Provide emergency, safe shelter for individuals and those with children who are actively fleeing Domestic Violence (Intimate Partner Violence, specifically). Roots of Courage offers a safe location with emphasis in a confidential location. Roots of Courage uses a framework of trauma informed care that provides education on how to live without fear, violence, abuse, and/or oppression. 

Position Purpose 

Roots of Courage Domestic Violence Advocates are trained to navigate crisis intervention and safety planning to provide advocacy and case management for individuals and those with children. Domestic Violence Advocates are expected to operate a 24/7 crisis line and the supportive services of emergency, safe shelter. 

Essential Duties/Responsibilities 

• Roots of Courage Advocates are skilled in providing case management, trauma-informed support and advocacy, crisis intervention, and conflict resolution, to clients in an emergency shelter setting 

• Assists with crisis line coverage to screen in new clients who are fleeing domestic violence and seeking confidential shelter, provide over-the-phone safety planning, and resources/referrals 

• Roots of Courage Advocates maintain confidentiality of shelter, employees, and client information per Family Tree policies, as well as Colorado State and U.S. Federal laws protecting survivors of Domestic Violence 

• Basic knowledge of Domestic Violence and the impact on survivors and/or children  

• Assist clients with housing navigation, benefits acquisition, educational/vocational referrals, financial empowerment, behavioral/health referrals, goal setting, life skills, and the establishment of a personal support network 

• Promptly enter documentation and information into the Salesforce database and other respective tracking systems as required 

• Maintain documentation and data needed for monthly grant reporting 

• Complete documentation for client interactions in a timely and accurate manner 

• Follow up with applications for services and complete intakes of new clients 

• Communicate with partner agencies and other professionals on a case when necessary to better service our clients

Required Skills/Competencies 

• Critical Thinking: Demonstrate the ability to think clearly and rationally when a situation demands it. Ability to analyze facts objectively 

• Problem Solving: Demonstrate abilities to carry out self-directed tasks with limited supervision. Demonstrate abilities to identify and define a problem; determine the cause of the problem; identify, prioritize, and select alternatives for a solution; implement a solution; and evaluate the results 

• Fostering Teamwork and Collaboration: Demonstrate abilities to collaborate with team members, Family Tree Leadership, and partnering agencies to help our program goals and outcomes.  Demonstrate abilities to listen to ideas and communicate ideas and disagreements timely and constructively 

• Flexibility and Adaptability: Comfortable navigating the unknown and able to make decisions with limited information. Can easily transition from one task to the next and work in a fast-paced environment that changes frequently 

• Communication: Ability to explain complex and diverse ideas to audiences in written and oral formats. Ability to provide direction, information, or instructions effectively. Demonstrate abilities to report factual interactions 

• Collaboration: Willingness to collaborate with internal departments and community partners, to deliver comprehensive support services for adult and child survivors in shelter settings. 

• Professionalism and Work Ethic: Demonstrate abilities to manage their time adequately and be accountable. Demonstrate abilities to focus on client's needs, applying trauma-informed practices, cultural competency, and inclusiveness 

• Initiative: Able to work in a self-directed manner while also communicating well within a team; able to perform tasks with strong attention to detail, critical thinking, and excellent organizational skills 

Preferred Skills/Competencies 

• Relationship Management: possess the skills to build healthy and effective working relationships with Family Tree team members. Skills gained from lived experience and professional experience working with vulnerable populations and marginalized communities.  

• Previous knowledge of and experience in safety planning with individuals and those with children experiencing Intimate Partner Violence 

• Previous experience working in an emergency shelter and/or residential setting 

• Knowledge of the Power and Control Wheel  

• Decision Making: skilled in gathering information, evaluating options, and presenting solutions or courses of action.  

• Organizational Competency: Can prioritize and manage workload, manage their time, and demonstrate strong attention to detail.  

• Digital Literacy: Ability to find, evaluate and communicate information by utilizing typing and digital media platforms like Microsoft Suite Programs and search engines. 

• Resourcefulness: Knowledge of and ability to navigate Metro Denver area community resources; an understanding of voucher administration and Medicaid billing processes.  

Working Environment 

• This is a full-time, in-office position only  

• Must have access to reliable transportation to attend scheduled shifts  

• Our Shelter Program is staffed and operates 24/7/365 days a year 

• Schedule: We are hiring for two evening schedules. (Sunday-Wednesday 11am-9pm OR (Wednesday-Saturday; 11am-9pm)

Physical Activities 

• Sitting/standing for long periods 

• Talking, hearing (ordinary conversation)  

• Seeing (reading the paperwork, computer screen work, etc.)  

• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate computers and telephones