Victim Advocate

**Lao Family Community Development, Inc. (LFCD)** is a community development non-profit agency established in the City of Richmond in Contra Costa County in 1980. Today Lao Family has expanded its operations and service footprint to two additional counties including Alameda and Sacramento. LFCD’s headquarters office is in Oakland, CA. It delivers programs and services from 7 locations in 35 languages. The agency provides both community development real estate facilities and a diverse array of workforce, education, and human services that directly support predominantly low-income US-born high-barrier families and individuals, refugees, immigrants, transitional age youth, seniors, and other special populations such as individuals with disabilities. **Job Summary:**Under the direction of the Site Supervisor, the Victim Advocate will assist victims of crime by providing a full range of services, including assistance with compensation claims, crisis intervention, court support, case status updates, community referrals, and community awareness; and perform related duties as required. **Roles and Responsibilities:** - Serve as an advocate and case manager for victims to ensure their needs are addressed within the community and criminal justice system. Advise victims of case progress and upcoming court procedures. - Carefully prepare documented correspondence, assessment reports, case records, program information, and related documents to ensure program activities comply with program requirements. - Develop a strong liaison with law enforcement and human service agencies to provide effective service to victims. Confer with law enforcement officials and prosecutors on the status of the cases and serve as a liaison between victims and witnesses and Deputy District Attorneys or law enforcement officers including coordinating the time and place of interviews. - Answer questions from the public regarding information about the program, reporting, investigative process, and Marsy's Law. - Provide crisis intervention and emergency assistance in person and/or over the phone through the LFCD crisis hotline; during and after business hours; to victims of domestic violence requiring emergency shelter and housing. - Assist victims in completing a variety of claims documents including reimbursement of medical expenses, lost income or wages, funeral costs, and job rehabilitation. - Provide emotional support and encouragement to victims and witnesses as the case moves through the criminal justice system, including providing support during court proceedings, if requested. - Assist with the preparation of restraining orders and other processes designed to protect the rights of victims. - Conduct on-site visitations with victims to assess the physical needs of the victim. - Participate in the development of outreach programs and materials for the public and service providers to educate attendees and help them identify the physical and physiological signs of abuse. - Participate in an ad hoc committee to help the organization accomplish and maintain short-term and long-term goals from the organization’s strategic plan. - Assist in weekly food distribution for underserved community members, including tasks such as picking up food, setting up and cleaning up after distribution events, and reporting distribution numbers. **Requirements and Qualifications:** - A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in social work, psychology, criminal justice, or a related field AND 1 year of experience preferred OR at least 2 years of experience in a related field providing case management to sensitive populations (e.g. Domestic violence survivors). - ***Bilingual in Spanish is highly preferred*.** - Ability to work and/or take phone calls after business hours including late nights and weekends. - Self-starter, ability to work with minimal supervision; excellent communication, community relations, networking, and public speaking skills. - Demonstrated ability to work with famil…