Bsmart Coordinator/Criminal Court Advocate

BSMART Coordinator/Criminal Court Advocate

Reports to: County Supervisor (Beltrami, Hubbard, Clearwater)

Pay: $18.00 per hour

Office Location: Primary workspace is located in Bemidji, MN.

Areas of Responsibility

1. Ethical & Professional Behavior

• Represent the agency’s mission and values with those you interact with in your professional role.
• Maintain a respectful, non-judgmental demeanor towards employees, clients, and community members.
• Maintain client confidentiality when client/case requires sharing of client/case information, obtain and continually monitor appropriate signed releases for each patient.
• Provide compassionate and empathetic services while maintaining clear professional relationship boundaries.
• Comply with mandatory reporting and client confidentiality criteria as defined by law.
• Participate in goal setting for the agency and exhibit open communication and teamwork with other staff members.
• Attend all relevant staff meetings, administrative meetings, case consultations, and strategic planning sessions, and participate in group decision-making. Attend board meetings and other meetings as requested.
• Maintain accurate records of client contacts and presentation forms and complete the necessary paperwork promptly.
• Share in & support other staff in general office duties as needed, such as answering phones, filing, photocopying, clean-up, etc.
• Participate in projects and special assignments as approved by the Executive Director/Supervisor.

1. Primary Responsibility

• Provide crisis intervention and direct services to primary and secondary victims/survivors of sexual violence, including support, information, referrals, systems advocacy, transportation, and emergency services.
• Provide criminal court/legal advocacy services, including assisting with filing OFP/HROs, attending court hearings with clients, and supporting clients during law enforcement interviews.
• Documenting and entering data in Cap60 (Program Reporting Tool)
• Assist in coordinating sexual violence client services with staff advocates and volunteers, including coordinating schedules and staff crisis line coverage to ensure client access to services.
• Inform the County Supervisor of programming issues, trends, needs, and concerns related to the agency’s overall functioning in the county.
• Ensure that statistics/reports are maintained and completed promptly for monthly board meetings, quarterly, mid-year, and annual reports for grant writing.
• Take crisis line/backup responsibilities on a rotating basis.
• Coordinate with staff to ensure agency participation in special events, such as county/health fairs, Mexican Fiesta, Walk A Mile In Her Shoes, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, National Night Out, Community Connect, Crime Victim Rights Week, etc.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director/County Supervisor.

1. Community Relations

• Network with the various systems with which advocacy takes place and represent SWR at various interagency meetings.
• Coordinate and assist with adult community education and professional training, including distributing posters, brochures, cards, and other publicity as needed (monthly).
• Network with community agencies to inform them of services and to encourage referrals.
• Complete speaking engagements and assist with evaluating the agency’s educational series.
• Attend statewide networking meetings as appropriate.

1. Professional Development

• Stay current with legislative changes and policies affecting agency service areas.
• Continuing education – maintain a minimum of 10 hours per year. Up to 5 hours per year can be by personal education (videos, books, and consultations).
• Participate in staff in-services – annual training update and special topics as relevant.

1. SMART Program Component Duties

Objective: To coordinate/facilitate the Beltrami County Sexual Assault Multi-disciplinary Action Response Team (BSMART) as it monitors implementation and evaluation. The Site Coordinator will facilitate ongoing communication between SMART members by maintaining a formal planning process and working with SVJI/MNCASA for ongoing technical assistance.

• Coordinate monthly meetings/annual planning retreats (facilitate meetings, develop agendas, take minutes, & disseminate materials to team members, etc.). Must hold a minimum of 10 sessions per year.
• Build rapport and momentum with the team.
• Assist Executive Director/ County Supervisor in setting yearly project budget, as necessary.
• Micro Grant writing/report writing.
• Develop a county awareness plan for assigned service areas related to victim services programs, brochures, posters, public service announcements, etc.
• Communicate with and facilitate communication between team members.
• Attend sub-committee meetings.
• Work to ensure participation and representation from critical agencies (prosecution, law enforcement, probation, hospitals, etc.) and specific populations. Invite/recruit primary and secondary members as necessary.
• Develop materials and provide orientation for new team members.
• Facilitate overall project development and planning, including ongoing monitoring of mission statement and project goals.
• Problem-solve issues and mediate problems between participants/agencies.
• Work to build cultural competency within the team.
• Administer and implement the eight-step protocol model in concert with the team.
• Network with agencies, systems, and community members to gather input on improving response to victims of sexual assault in Beltrami County.
• Gather, compile, disseminate and maintain statistical data and records for the project (i.e., client/team evaluations, community needs assessments, etc.).
• Prepare and submit all necessary project reports and updates for the project.
• Attend other multi-disciplinary meetings as necessary.
• Participate in quarterly SWR WE-SMART Meetings.
• Coordinate with Sexual Violence Justice Institute (SVJI)
• Participate in monthly Site Coordinator meetings
• Consult with SVJI staff regarding ICSAIC progress.
• Provide copies of project documents to SVJI staff for review.

1. Criminal Court Component Duties:

Purpose: Empowering those impacted by sexual violence through navigating the complex criminal legal system with advocacy, support, information, options, referrals, and networking with criminal justice professionals on behalf of clients’ needs and rights.

• Attend adult/juvenile criminal court hearings on SWR cases, track cases, report information to appropriate staff, and build rapport with prosecutors.

• Train staff and volunteers related to criminal court advocacy in the following areas:

• Provide support to crime victims and make appropriate referrals to SWR programs and other community resources.

• Assist in crime victims’ understanding and knowledge of the adult criminal and juvenile process through developing program materials and working individually with victims and family members to ensure they understand each step of the process.

• Maintain open communication with the attorneys handling criminal sexual misconduct cases through in-person/over-the-phone conversations, email, and case notes.

• Be familiar with client confidentiality and case data privacy practices. Obtain appropriate signed releases for each case with the County Attorney’s office, the investigating law enforcement agency, and the probation agency.

• Maintained client files with specific up-to-date case information/progress, victims’ concerns, and communication with all parties. In addition, utilize Victim Information Notification Everyday (VINE) in cases where the offender is in jail.

• Comply with statutorily mandated victims’ rights such as notification, participation, reparations, and restitution.

• Assist prosecuting Attorney in processing victim and witness data relevant to legal actions: court accompaniment, case monitoring, informing victims of the plea agreement and sentencing, restitution filing assistance, reparation filing assistance, victim impact statement, and compliance with other victims’ rights statutes.

• Make personal or telephone contact with the victim before the defendant’s first appearance in court and discuss issues relating to arrest, bail/conditions of release, and court schedule.

• Make personal contact with the attorney before all court appearances by the defendant and update the attorney regarding victim information.

• Be present at all court appearances and provide all case-relevant information to the victim, including the assigned prosecutor, charged, bail/conditions of release, court scheduling, nature/purpose of present and future court appearances, prosecutor correspondence, and referrals regarding civil remedies or available services.

• Facilitate and be present at meetings between victim and assigned prosecutor.

• Assist the victim in reporting new memories to investigate the officer.

• Provide the date, time, and location of all court hearings; provide timely notice to the victim; and accompany victims to the hearings when requested.

• Provide the victim notice of the outcomes from all court hearings within twenty-four hours of the work or as soon as practicable after that.

• Create and maintain procedural case notes that document all contacts with the victim, and provide those case reports to the Victim Assistance Coordinator by email within two days of the victim contact – with an appropriate signed release.

• Explain the plea offer and the advantages/disadvantages of a possible plea agreement.

• Take such further action as may be mutually agreed to by the parties. Provide support to crime victims and make appropriate referrals to SWR programs and other community resources.

1. Position Qualifications

• Prefer B.A. in psychology, human services, medical, criminal justice, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience totaling four years may be substituted. Minimum required A.A. in psychology, human services, medical, criminal justice, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience totaling two years may be substituted.
• Must demonstrate competency in the completion of the above-noted job responsibilities.
• Comprehensive knowledge base and comfortable working with issues related to sexual violence on an individual and community level.
• A philosophy of non-violence and non-discrimination. The ability to deal with people of different economic and cultural backgrounds; respect for and sensitivity to the needs and rights of others, including those with differing cultural, racial, religious, age, ability, and affectional differences between people.
• The ability to follow strict guidelines to maintain client confidentiality.
• Strong advocacy skills, including:
• The ability to identify the client’s strengths and needs.
• The ability to connect the client to appropriate community resources.
• The ability to respond to women and children in crisis with appropriate interpersonal communication and intervention skills.
• Knowledge of and skills with legal &medical advocacy.
• Being assertive while maintaining ethical & professional behavior when advocating for victims’ rights.

The ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Economical and careful with property, resources, supplies, and time use. Ability to react calmly and efficiently to new or stressful situations. Demonstrates understanding and support of management by communicating information to management and showcasing support of management to staff, clients, and the community: public speaking and group facilitation skills. Successfully passed a background check. The ability to work effectively with the team, volunteers, board, community agencies, and media, utilizing teamwork where appropriate. The ability to work independently with minimal supervision, to seek care as needed, and to work as a team member. Good organizational skills amidst stressful situations. The ability to work flexible hours and be on-call as required by the position. Must possess a valid Minnesota driver’s license and own a working vehicle. Must have and maintain a clean driving record. Proficient computer skills, especially in word processing and spreadsheets. Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of SWR.

Support Within Reach is an equal opportunity employer. SWR does not practice nor tolerate discrimination in the workplace, regardless of a person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information. This policy shall apply to all applicants, employees, and all phases of full-time, part-time, and temporary employment.