Sexual Assault Center of Northwest Georgia, Inc. 

Victim Advocate for Underserved Populations (VAUP) 

Position Overview:

As a completely new role to the SACNWGA team, the Victim Advocate for Underserved Populations (VAUP), specializing in underserved special populations, plays a crucial role in providing support, assistance, and advocacy to survivors of sexual assault. This position requires a strong commitment to empowering and serving individuals within special populations, who may face unique challenges and barriers. The VAUP will be responsible for delivering critical crisis intervention, SART response, follow-up support services, and community outreach to ensure accessibility and inclusivity. As this position is grant-funded, it is full-time contingent on funding availability. Reports directly to the Victim Services Coordinator and Executive Director. The underserved populations within groups and communities who can identify with one or more of the following: limited-English speaking, rural and impoverished, LGBTQ+, male, elderly, veteran, neuro-divergent, Deaf, faith-based, and other identities that face unique challenges with obtaining resources. 

Key Responsibilities:

Outreach and Engagement

- In coordination with the VSC, develop and implement specific outreach strategies to identify and connect with survivors within various underserved populations. 

- Foster trusting relationships with community organizations, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders to facilitate referrals and information sharing.

Advocacy and Support

- Provide empathetic, trauma-informed support through direct victim advocacy services to survivors. 

- Apply appropriate knowledge, perspective, and understanding within the services provided to meet unique needs, respect cultural sensitivities, and provide equitable victim services for all. 

- Advocate for survivors' rights, needs, and choices in a variety of settings, including legal, medical, and social services.

- Take part in the facilitation and coordination of the advocacy support groups for clients. 

Crisis Intervention and Counseling

- Offer immediate crisis intervention services, both in person and over the phone, to survivors and their families.

- Provide emotional support and counseling to empower survivors in their healing process.

Specialized Training

- Maintain up-to-date training on best practices based on research related to sexual assault within underserved populations.

- Develop and deliver training programs for community members, service providers, and law enforcement to increase awareness and understanding.

- Provide feedback and training for team members related to improving victim services overall. 

On-Call Advocacy + Availability

- Be on-call to respond to emergencies and provide support outside of regular office hours, ensuring survivors receive timely assistance.

- Must commit to a minimum of five (5) 24-hour shifts (or the equivalent) each month. This may include weekdays, weekends, and holidays. 

Case Management and Follow-up

- Work closely with survivors to assess and identify the specific needs of individual clients. 

- Provide support through follow-up services and correspondence. 

- Maintain ongoing contact with survivors to provide ongoing support and resource connections.

Interagency Collaboration 

- Work to develop relationships with community agencies and stakeholders invested in providing equitable victim services to all. 

- Attend multi-disciplinary team meetings as needed for maintaining on-going communication and updates with partners. 

- Work collaboratively and respectfully with various agencies involved in the response to a disclosure of sexual abuse. 

Other 

- Within the work of any victim services non-profit agency, team members where many different hats. Other duties may be assigned based on needs of the organization. 

Qualifications:

- Fluency in Spanish and English. 

- Bachelor's degree in a related field (Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or similar) preferred.

- Experience working with underserved or special populations, including cultural competence and sensitivity.

- Knowledge of sexual assault dynamics, trauma-informed care, and victim advocacy principles.

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

- Must be able to work independently. 

- Must maintain a positive team player mentality.

- Strong discernment, organizational, and time management skills.

- Willingness to work on-call and outside of regular business hours.

- Must have a positive attitude, excellent communication, and interpersonal skills. 

- Must be willing to travel between five-county service area. 

- Must have reliable transportation. 

Salary and Benefits:

The salary for this position is contingent on grant funding and may vary. 

Paid time off (Vacation) 

Positive work environment 

How to Apply: 

Interested candidates should submit their resume, cover letter, and references to admin@sacnwga.org. The Sexual Assault Center of Northwest Georgia, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.