Program Overview

Journey to Safety (JTS), a program of Jewish Family & Children's Service (JF&CS), offers comprehensive domestic abuse services to people of all backgrounds, genders, religions, or ethnicities, while providing culturally and religiously-informed services to both Jewish and Russian-speaking survivors.  Guided by a deep commitment to centering survivors' voices, our program works to provide high quality direct services and also to raise awareness about the reality of abuse -- and available resources -- in both the Jewish and Russian-speaking communities.

Across JF&CS, staff work to lower barriers created by societal inequities such as income inequality, individual and institutional racism, and other sources of discrimination and injustice (many of which have been amplified during the pandemic).  As a JTS staff member, you will be using your skills to not only assist survivors and their families, but to create real social change with a deep and lasting impact.

Position Overview

• As the domestic abuse advocate, you will use a survivor-centered, trauma-informed approach in working with a diverse cross-section of people from communities across Greater Boston and beyond. You also will provide a Jewish response when appropriate, addressing the culturally and/or religiously-specific circumstances of those survivors who identify as Jewish and want to incorporate this Jewish lens into their work with us. Specific training is provided for this aspect of the job.
• You will provide a continuum of services including crisis intervention, safety planning, case management and advocacy to survivors of domestic abuse.
• You will take time to understand each survivor's needs and current resources in order to best support them in achieving their goals (which often include increased safety and economic stability).  
• You will offer consultation to staff from other JF&CS programs, local human services organizations, clergy, community professionals and family/friends/community members who are themselves supporting survivors in their professional or personal life.

Position Details

• This is a Monday-Friday full-time position (36.25 hours/week) with the possibility of very occasional evening work.
• You will receive weekly supervision, attend relevant and required training, and participate both in JTS staff meetings and multi-program Case Coordination Team meetings.

• Under non-pandemic circumstances, you generally will meet with people in-person either out in the community or at our Waltham office. JF&CS is currently following public health recommendations and is guided by a deep commitment to keeping employees, volunteers and people receiving services safe. Agency protocols are being updated as new information becomes available.  We are happy to share the current protocols with applicants throughout the hiring process. 

Responsibilities

• Providing direct services that promote survivor-centered empowerment and support.  These services include: crisis response, safety planning, advocacy, individual counseling, group facilitation, ongoing case management; accompaniment to court and attorney meetings, and other relevant support for each person's specific circumstances.   
• Responding to intake calls.
• Assisting in obtaining legal representation for family law cases and restraining orders.
• Consulting with colleagues across JF&CS, the Jewish community, and beyond.
• Participating in community outreach, education and training.
• Learning about community resources and facilitating referrals for program participants.
• Reflecting on your work and survivor interactions during weekly clinical supervision.
• Coordinating financial assistance requests.
• Entering information into our Salesforce client data system and helping with reports for government funders.
• Possibly partnering with our Clinical Supervisor to co-supervise our MSW Intern.
• Other tasks as they arise.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• A passion for working with all kinds of people to create change and build a more just and equitable community
• Two to three years of experience working with domestic abuse survivors using an empowerment-based, survivor-centered, and trauma-informed approach
• Master's degree in Social Work preferred 
• Experience interfacing with child protection and criminal justice agencies
• Excellent communication skills (writing, speaking and listening)
• Familiarity with Jewish culture and practice
• Flexibility, creativity and determination
• Ability to meet challenging situations with energy, hope and compassion
• Ability to work independently and as part of an inspiring and highly collaborative team
• Clear understanding of appropriate professional boundaries
• Strong commitment to maintaining strict client confidentiality and privacy
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) and willingness to learn and use our agency database
  • Experience with Salesforce, or any data tracking system, is a plus
• Willingness to learn and use new communication tools (such as Zoom) as the need arises
• Reliable access to transportation (once pandemic restrictions are relaxed, you will be out in the community frequently for various reasons)
• Desire to have fun with colleagues – also, a self-care practice is a bonus

JF&CS is an equal opportunity employer who serves and employs people of all cultures and faith traditions and highly values diversity, equity and inclusion. Employment opportunities are available to all without regard for race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability.