Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Youth (CSEY) Advocate

As a CSEY Advocate on our team, you will play an essential role in providing intensive emotional support, advocacy, and case management for survivors so they may be diverted from "the life" and improve their chances of recovery

The Advocate will serve as an intensive support system for youth victims of sex trafficking. The advocate will work within a continuum of care model, alongside the TRIAD Home Safe Care Coordinator and professionals from law enforcement, the juvenile justice and child welfare systems and other community service providers.

Responsibilities:

• Work to respond to calls from the Care Coordinator on a 24/7 rotating basis.
• Respond to call out location (i.e. law enforcement scenes, hospitals, shelters) within 90 minutes to provide emotional support, basic needs, comforts, advocacy, and safety planning for the youth.
• Provide intensive support for youth during the first 72 hours.
• Follow required minimum contact protocol with youth survivor throughout service period.
• Maintain a caseload of minimum 13 cases.
• Participate in Rapid Response Team (RRT) to participate in emergency placement and follow-up service planning
• Participate in Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings for long-term planning for youth.
• Maintain supportive contact with survivor and appropriate parent/guardian, on an intensive basis, throughout the service delivery period.
• Create referrals to other providers for additional services.
• Accompany survivors to necessary meetings and/or appointments (i.e. court, medical, law enforcement interviews).
• Maintain accurate documentation and enter applicable information into web-based data management system.
• Participate bi-weekly supervision meetings with CSEY Program Coordinator.
• Advocate will provide or arrange transportation when necessary to facilitate client services.

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in YMCA's All Staff Meetings, airport pickups and food distributions when assigned.
• Completion of required trainings per YMCA of Greater Houston policy.
• Participate in and cover for all other YMCA International rotating duties.

Requirements:

• Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Criminal Justice, or Social Sciences (or related field).
• 1 year experience working with victims of crimes.
• English speaker with proficiency in Spanish (preferred but not required).
• Ability to work a flexible schedule (some weekends and evenings), which include responding to call outs on a rotating basis 24/7.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to maintain caseload of 10-16 clients while meeting deadlines.
• Valid driver's license; clean driving record; reliable vehicle, and applicable auto insurance.
• Ability to work with culturally diverse population, to include individuals with disabilities, substance abuse, and those who identify as LGLBTQ,
• Proficient in computer applications and programs, such as Word, Microsoft Excel, and the utilization of the internet and social media in performing job duties.
• Team player.
• Ability to manage time and resources.
• Able to collaborate and work effectively with YMCA staff and community stakeholders.
• Must have reliable transportation and a clean driving record.
• Report suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
• Follow mandated abuse and incident reporting requirements.
• Meet timelines and deadlines related to supporting systems and employee compliance.

Training Requirements:

Complete additional trainings as identified by supervisor. Motivational Interviewing, Commercial Sexual Exploitation Identification Tool training, Crime Victims Compensation Training, Mandatory Reporting training, Trauma Informed Care Training, and any other trainings identified by supervisor.

Hours of Business: 8:30am-5:00pm. Some evenings and weekends will be required.

The YMCA of Greater Houston provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.