Job description

Child Trafficking Advocate

Into the Light, a faith-based, anti-sex trafficking organization is hiring!

About us:

ITL was established in 2015 as a 501(c)3, organization focused on ending child sex trafficking and bringing hope to victims in Arkansas. Currently, ITL employs 6 full time Child Advocates, 1 Program Director, 1 part time Adult Advocate, a Full Time Development Director, 1 full time Development Assistant and 1 Executive Director.

All ITL staff have completed Saving Innocence’s Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children’s Advocacy Course. Saving Innocence is a national leader and trainer of providing services to this population. Advocates are also trained facilitators for the Ending the Game(ETG) curriculum. ETG is designed to educate and empower survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking by providing a structure and framework to uncover harmful psychological coercion (a.k.a. “The Game”) that victims may have been subjected to during their exploitation experience. Multiple times a year our staff attends national and state-based training for further understanding on best practices and services needed for victims of sex trafficking and exploitation.

ITL advocates are also trained and equipped to share our Enlightened prevention program with youth. Enlightened focuses on educating vulnerable children on the strategies and grooming techniques exploiters and traffickers will often use to connect and lure their victims. For the past 7 years, our prevention program has been consistently shared in juvenile detention centers and with juvenile court referrals from North Central and North West Arkansas. After viewing Enlightened, children will often self-identify and share indicators that they are a victim. Additionally, ITL also takes every given opportunity to share our prevention program with children in public and private schools and community groups. We partner with the juvenile justice system, Department of Child and Family Services, and law enforcement to report instances of identified and suspected sex trafficking and exploitation. This collaboration has led to arrests and convictions of human sex traffickers.

Victims of sex trafficking and exploitation have a vast array of physical, social, educational, spiritual, legal, and mental health needs.

Into the Light is committed to ending sex trafficking and bringing hope to survivors. We accomplish this by seeking justice, providing unconditional love to those we serve and humbly walking with God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Job Description:

CSEC Advocates will be socially-conscious individuals who are passionate about and committed to ending sex trafficking and exploitation through holistic, trauma-responsive services such as education, prevention, court advocacy, and holistic advocacy. Advocates shall adhere to Into the Light’s mission and statement of faith.

All ITL staff have completed Saving Innocence’s Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children’s Advocacy Course. Saving Innocence is a national leader and trainer of providing services to this population. Advocates are also trained facilitators for the Ending the Game(ETG) curriculum. ETG is designed to educate and empower survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking by providing a structure and framework to uncover harmful psychological coercion (a.k.a. “The Game”) that victims may have been subjected to during their exploitation experience. Multiple times a year our staff attends national and state-based training for further understanding on best practices and services needed for victims of sex trafficking and exploitation.

ITL advocates are also trained and equipped to share our Enlightened prevention program with youth. Enlightened focuses on educating vulnerable children on the strategies and grooming techniques exploiters and traffickers will often use to connect and lure their victims. For the past 7 years, our prevention program has been consistently shared in juvenile detention centers and with juvenile court referrals from North Central Arkansas. After viewing Enlightened, children will often self-identify and share indicators that they are a victim. Additionally, ITL also takes every given opportunity to share our prevention program with children in public and private schools and community groups. We partner with the juvenile justice system, Department of Human Services, and law enforcement to report instances of identified and suspected sex trafficking and exploitation. This collaboration has led to arrests and convictions of human sex traffickers.

Victims of child sex trafficking and exploitation are referred to our advocacy program where they receive long term mentorship, crisis intervention, case management, life skills and connection to vital support and resources. Referrals are received from Juvenile Judges in the 4th, 14th, 16th, and 19th Judicial Districts, Benton, Carroll, Washington, Madison, Boone, Marion, and Newton County Juvenile Services, Department of Human Services, Child Advocacy Centers, Parents and Guardians, mental health professionals, and the Arkansas FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. In 2022, our ITL advocates served over 170 youth. Our offices in Mountain Home and Springdale receive referrals weekly to provide mentorship and relationship-directed advocacy to victims of sex trafficking and/or exploitation.

Victims of sex trafficking and exploitation have a vast array of physical, social, educational, spiritual, legal, and mental health needs.

Into the Light is committed to ending sex trafficking and bringing hope to survivors. We accomplish this by seeking justice, providing unconditional love to those we serve and humbly walking with God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Job Description:

CSEC Advocates will be socially-conscious individuals who are passionate about and committed to ending sex trafficking and exploitation through holistic, trauma-responsive services such as education, prevention, court advocacy, and holistic advocacy. Advocates shall adhere to Into the Light’s Guiding Principles.

This is a full-time position with nontraditional hours dependent upon clients’ needs, agency meetings or trainings. These hours will vary from week-to-week and flexibility is both required and given to ensure clients are properly served and CSEC Advocates are supported. Travel will be necessary. This is a grant-funded position.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide crisis intervention services for immediate and extended emotional support for the victim. This includes: Accompaniment to all initial exams, interviews and ongoing meetings regarding victimization, court hearings, legal services and ensuring ongoing services.
• Work positively alongside law enforcement, DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services), Juvenile Services, and all community partners to provide emergency and long-term support for client.
• Advocates will be expected to be culturally competent to communicate effectively with law enforcement, community agencies, and diverse populations.
• Work with, and establish relationships with, other NGO’s and service-providers to provide wraparound services for client.
• Responsible for all grant-related reporting of activities and time
• Responsible for accurate input of all client data and services provided, into database on a daily basis and in a timely manner.
• Participation in a 24/7 on-call rotation, including evenings, weekends, and holidays is mandatory for Advocates.
• Provide 24-hour immediate response, when necessary, to identified victims of human sex trafficking
• Provide crisis response services to survivors and caregivers (non-offending), under supervision of Program Manager.
• Provide trauma-informed crisis intervention when responding to hotline calls and conduct assessments of victims’ immediate threat of harm
• Initiate the creation and implementation of a safety plan with survivors and caregivers, when applicable
• Provide and participate in outreach activities to schools, churches, detention centers, and other community agencies focused on prevention, victim identification and linkage to services
• Conduct continual comprehensive assessments regarding the safety and well- being of youth and caregivers on case load
• Link clients to additional services as needed, collaborating with outside agencies to meet specific needs of clients.
• Provide ongoing services and planning with clients for future success.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director and/or Program Manger
• Facilitate and attend training on CSEC as needed.
• Develop a keen understanding of all aspects of Into the Light’s programs.
• Provide supportive and preventative services and education to youth identified as high- risk for CSEC as needed.
• Respond to emergency and non-emergency referrals within 30 minutes.
• Complete face-to-face contact with an identified victim within 4 hours of identification. And then a minimum of 2-3 times per month or more, if necessary, to provide emotional support and ensure that immediate primary needs (safety, clothing, food, housing, placement...) are met.
• Transport clients and/or arrange transportation to meetings and appointments, when needed, according to program protocol and with parental consent
• Participate in weekly supervision with Program Director
• Maintain confidentiality in all areas of the service population and program operations

Skills

• Display Fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
• Knowledge or willing to learn about human trafficking and those involved in the commercial sex industry
• Knowledge about youth services, child welfare system, and juvenile services preferred
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Self-motivated and proactive
• Teachability and openness to receiving constructive criticism
• Ability to work collaboratively with other service providers
• Ability to remain calm and handle multiple crisis simultaneously
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries
• Possess organizational, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Effective time management skills
• Relate well to clients in a caring non-judgmental manner and possess compassion for those going through difficult circumstances
• Ability to work with diverse and challenging populations and to respond sensitively and competently to the service population’s cultural and socio- economic characteristics
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining emotional control and professional composure

Qualifications:

• Two years + experience working in victim advocacy, social services, or related field required
• Bachelor's degree in related field preferred
• Spanish speaking preferred
• Experience with supporting high-risk adolescents
• Able to work with difficult and troubled adolescents
• Enjoys working with adolescents
• Have compassion and empathy with firm boundaries
• Ability to learn and navigate organization's client case management system
• Computer skills in: Windows operating system, Microsoft Office, G Suite, Excel, & Google Spreadsheets
• Dependable transportation
• Ability to travel in vehicle long hours
• Ability to work well independently and as a reliable team member
• Provide copy of a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance
• Ability to work evenings, weekends and holidays, as needed
• Survivor of sexual exploitation/trafficking with a minimum of 3-5 years recovery encouraged to apply
• Background check
• Must provide three references. Two professional and one personal

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $36,000.00 - $38,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• On call
• Weekend availability

Work Location: In person

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