Community Advocate - Commercial Sexual Exploitation, Onsite in Seattle, WA

Organization Overview

For over 130 years, YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish has dedicated itself to combating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity. As a leading nonprofit in the region, it offers services including housing, gender-based violence support, economic advancement, health and safety initiatives, and advocacy, assisting thousands annually to build safer and more stable lives.

Role Summary

We are seeking a committed, skilled Community Advocate to join our Gender-Based Violence Services team. This role focuses on providing trauma-informed and comprehensive support to adult survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, domestic violence, and sexual assault. The advocate will work closely with survivors to enhance safety, stability, and autonomy by guiding them through complex systems and connecting them with vital community resources. This position demands exceptional interpersonal skills, sound judgment, cultural humility, and a survivor-centered, strengths-based methodology. It requires regular travel within South King County and is fully on-site.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver trauma-informed crisis intervention, advocacy, and ongoing case management to adult survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, domestic violence, and sexual assault.
• Conduct detailed client intakes, assess both immediate and future needs, and determine program eligibility.
• Create individualized service and safety plans fostering safety, stability, and self-determination.
• Link clients to essential housing, healthcare, behavioral health, employment, financial aid, and other community supports.
• Carry out housing assessments and coordinate emergency shelter placements as needed.
• Assist survivors in navigating legal and community systems including protection orders, family law, lease terminations, child protective services, relocation aid, and law enforcement interactions.
• Advocate alongside clients to remove obstacles and enhance service access.
• Respond promptly to crisis referrals and assistance requests as per program standards.
• Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with community organizations, healthcare providers, legal professionals, law enforcement, and other key stakeholders.
• Represent the organization at community forums, multidisciplinary teams, and outreach events.
• Plan and lead presentations and training sessions to raise awareness of services.
• Engage in outreach targeting survivors facing the greatest barriers, particularly within Black and African American communities.
• Maintain accurate and timely client records, case notes, and all required documentation.
• Complete grant reports, statistical data submissions, and program narratives ensuring compliance with agency policies and confidentiality standards.
• Complete mandatory domestic violence advocacy training and a minimum of 20 annual continuing education hours.
• Participate in organizational diversity and equity initiatives to foster an inclusive workplace.
• Perform additional duties supporting the program and agency mission as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum one year of direct social services experience or equivalent lived experience in place of a formal social services degree.
• Familiarity and comfort navigating multiple systems such as municipal and superior courts, legal frameworks, and law enforcement.
• Experience working with gender-based violence survivors, especially from marginalized groups such as African American communities.
• Broad knowledge of gender-based violence issues including sexual assault, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Calendar, Teams, Excel) and virtual meeting tools like Zoom.
• Valid driver’s license with the ability to independently travel between multiple work locations daily.
• Commitment to complete at least 20 hours of foundational training covering advocacy counseling, domestic violence history, safety planning, and crisis intervention.

Physical and Work Environment

• Exposure to clients who have experienced trauma such as domestic violence, sexual assault, homelessness, and financial hardship, with awareness of secondary trauma risks.
• Frequent communication via listening and speaking with clients, coworkers, and community representatives.
• Physical activities include standing, walking, sitting, climbing within workspaces and community settings.
• Regular use of office equipment such as telephones, computers, and fax machines.
• Occasional access to personal living areas within multi-level apartments.
• Travel by personal vehicle up to 50% of the time.

Compensation and Benefits

• The position offers an hourly wage of $28.00, classified as non-exempt.
• Extensive benefits package including medical insurance, retirement plans, and generous paid vacation, holiday, and sick leave.
• Opportunity to enroll voluntarily in the Fidelity 403b Plan at hire; eligibility for YWCA Retirement Fund with 14% employer contribution typically after two years of service.