Children's Advocate
The Children’s Advocate is tasked with creating a supportive, child friendly environment at the DVSC for mothers and children of domestic violence, by providing crisis support, information and access to community resources.
Job duties include, but are not limited to:
Client Contact: Accurately and efficiently completes all child intake forms and develops service plans with mothers. Provides appropriate counseling and services according to program standards to children and mothers. Coaches and counsels children and mothers sensitively about non-violent conflict resolution and offers assistance as needed. Assists mothers in developing and strengthening positive parenting skills.
Advocacy: Serves as a liaison to area school district and the Intermediate Unit, assisting mothers with enrollment and other school-related needs. Maintains on-going communication with other agencies and community resources on behalf of child clients.
Program Development: Plans and carries out structured activities, children’s support groups, parenting groups, daily programming, and outings. Also develops curriculums and obtains approvals for new programming. Follows and maintains established program curriculums. Develops and maintains a relationship with the Child Advocacy Network of PCADV.
This position offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.
Counselor Advocate
Counselor Advocates are responsible for providing safety, counseling and other related services to Emergency Shelter and Bridge Housing clients; and crisis and supportive counseling services to Hotline victims of domestic violence.
Job duties include, but are not limited to:
Client Contact (Domestic Violence Program): Delivers Emergency Shelter and Hotline services for Carbon and Luzerne Counties, i.e., crisis intervention, intake, supportive options counseling, safety planning, information and referral, advocacy with other community resources, referral to emergency shelter and transportation arrangements, if needed. Facilitates regular house meetings and support groups for Shelter guests.
Client Contact (Bridge Housing Program): Schedules and conducts interviews to gather necessary information and review program requirements and guidelines with clients; checks references prior to intake acceptance. Conducts in-person intake interviews with new residents and eases their adjustment to communal living by orienting them to the building and to house rules and residents’ guidelines. Helps residents to set and achieve personal goals by providing information and referral to available resources and services. Assist clients in achieving their established goals. Provides counseling & facilitates behavior on life-skills, social relationships and conflict resolution. Facilitates house meetings, house activities planning, house rules implementation, skill-building activities planning and implementation. Foster the enhancement of self-esteem and self-sufficiency through life skills counseling and education and encourage resident participation in skill building activities.
Client Contact (Post-Residential Program): In addition to Domestic Violence and Bridge Housing Services, Counselor/Advocates who are assigned to work in the post-residential program provide home visits, case management, advocacy, support group services, etc., to women who are at particular risk of revictimization and/or homelessness.
This position offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.
Supervising Staff
The Supervising Staff Attorney effectively supervises the daily operations and staff of the Civil Legal Representation project to provide legal information, consultation, and representation to victims who are program participants of Domestic Violence Service Center (DVSC) or Victims Resource Center. Duties and responsibilities may be carried out in Luzerne, Carbon, or Wyoming Counties.
Job duties include, but are not limited to: Ensure Attorneys operate under the attorney-client privilege. Directs and coordinates the legal representation of program participants in child custody, child support, spousal support, housing, public benefits. divorce, victims’ compensation, immigration law, and, when possible, other petitions related to civil representation. Minimal representation of program participants in petitioning/filing for a Protection from Abuse order. Representation may include, but not be limited to, interviews, filings, court appearances, trials, and all necessary subsequent litigation such as contempt petitions and appeals. Represent and advocate for petitioners in civil and criminal contempt cases. Refer program participants to community-based services as needed. Coordinate CLRP with DVSC counselor/advocates the advocacy and crisis intervention services to meet the legal and domestic violence related needs of the program participant. Provide consultation to Legal Advocates, and other DVSC staff.
Pay / Hourly Rate
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Needed
We’re looking for employees who are or have…
- A minimum of an associate’s degree in child development or related field is required; a Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
- At least 1 year experience in social service provision, child development, and/or child care.
- Experience delivering effective learning activities will be an advantage.
- Must have the ability to maintain strict confidentiality at all times.
- Clearances: PA Child Abuse Clearance, PA Criminal History Background Clearance, FBI Criminal Background Check.
- A valid PA Driver’s license, access to a motor vehicle and adequate auto insurance.
Company Bio
We are here for you 24-hours a day, every day of the year. When you call we will not ask your name, but we will offer you the help you need at no cost. Depending on your personal situation, the trained staff at the Domestic Violence Service Center can support you in many ways. Our services are free and confidential.
For those who are being physically or emotionally abused, we are able to provide you with a safe and comfortable place where you can go immediately. Our confidential and secure shelter will allow you to escape and protect yourself and your children from further abuse.
DVSC can also help by providing 24-hour hotlines, safety planning, options counseling that provides information and support to help you decide what you want to do, support groups, and assistance in filing Protection from Abuse Orders. DVSC offers victims and their children a place where they can be safe, a respite from abuse, a place where they can heal, a place where they can put their lives back in order and plan for a brighter and violence-free future. We want victims of domestic violence to know they are not alone. At DVSC, there is always someone you can talk to.
We serve the counties of Luzerne and Carbon without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, handicap, mental health/intellectual disability or religion. Our mission is to work toward the elimination of domestic violence.
DVSC is your path to safety and a shelter from abuse.
In 1976, a group of volunteers came together with a vision that would give battered women and their children hope of a violence-free future. The passionate and dedicated group established a task force which resulted in the founding of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The actions of the volunteers made Pennsylvania the first state in the U.S. to have such a coalition. In 1978, the same task force established the first shelter in Northeast Pennsylvania for battered women and their children. Within a week, the shelter was filled to capacity.
Celebrating 40 years of service, DVSC now serves Luzerne and Carbon Counties. DVSC offers emergency shelter and direct services to battered women and their children. DVSC’s Bridge Housing Program provides transitional housing for battered and homeless women and their children.
In addition to emergency shelter and transitional housing, DVSC offers a wide range of free and confidential services including a 24-hour hotline for information and referral, crisis intervention, supportive counseling, or a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. Other free services include supportive options counseling, individual and group counseling for residents and non-residents, advocacy, court advocacy and accompaniment related to Protection From Abuse Orders, community outreach and education, life skills and parenting training, medical and mental health advocacy and trainings for professionals.
The mission of DVSC is to work toward the elimination of domestic violence. As we carry on our mission for a violence-free tomorrow, DVSC strives to continue to provide safety, empowerment and self-sufficiency to the victims whose lives have been so tragically altered by violence.
DVSC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, ancestry, color, religion, sex, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, medical condition, disability, veteran status, gender identity, or any other basis protected by law.