Bilingual Spanish-English SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) Specialist

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Location: Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, 751 South Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128

Purpose: To provide victims/survivors of sexual assault, including Spanish-speaking individuals, with the opportunity to exercise their legal rights under Penal Code 679.04 by providing accompaniment, support, and advocacy services during Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) examinations.

Major Responsibilities:

• Accompany victims/survivors who are 12 years and older, and their support person(s), if requested, through SART medical and forensic examinations at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, and provide support and advocacy services at the hospital and with law enforcement.
• Pediatric SARTs: Accompany victims/survivors who are under the age of 12 years, and their parent(s)/guardian(s), if requested, through SART medical and forensic examinations at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, and provide support and advocacy services at the hospital and with law enforcement.
• Submit all required documentation to YWCA staff within the requested timeframe.
• Engage in respectful and active listening. Provide victims/survivors with support and information, and validate their experiences.
• Interact with sensitivity to the needs of individuals affected by trauma.
• Ask open ended questions, and take the time to understand the victim’s/survivor’s needs beyond what is first expressed.
• Provide victims/survivors with information on YWCA/community services and personnel, and connect as appropriate.
• Contact the Supervisor for support, guidance and direction as needed.
• Work in compliance with all legal requirements, and organizational and departmental policies, procedures and standards.
• Maintain Counselor/Victim Privilege of Confidentiality as legally required under California Evidence Codes.
• Mandatory: Immediately report to a supervising employee, the Supervisor, and/or the Director, any known or suspected instance of child abuse/neglect, elder abuse, and dependent adult abuse.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Fluent Spanish-English speaking, writing, and reading skills. Knowledge and understanding of diverse Latino/a cultures.
• Ability to travel to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center within 30 minutes of receiving notification.
• Interest in, and a commitment to, continuous learning about sexual assault and the needs of victims/survivors.
• Ability to listen actively and respectfully, and respond with warmth, compassion and empathy.
• Ability to work as a member of a team, be open to feedback, and seek guidance, direction and input from others.
• Ability to connect and develop rapport with children in unfamiliar/intimidating situations, and provide parents/guardians with information and support, if requested.
• Ability to practice cultural humility, i.e. maintain an interpersonal approach that is other-oriented in relation to aspects of cultural identity that are most important to the person. Ability to work with/support individuals from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Commitment to developing knowledge, skills and abilities to better connect with individuals and communities, and to gaining more insight into personal biases and identities. This includes, and is not limited to, treating all people with respect and dignity, recognizing and appreciating cultural differences, and working to interact with greater cultural sensitivity.
• Ability to empower victims/survivors by providing emotional support, resources, tools, and options based on what the victim/survivor is requesting, avoiding words and actions based on personal perspectives, judgments, and bias.
• Ability to be non-judgmental, open, honest and calm, and maintain professional boundaries.

Training & Other Requirements:

• Completion of the CA State-mandated Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Counselor 65hr Training (hosted by the YWCA).
• Completion of additional training /orientation sessions to develop personal comfort level providing accompaniment, support and advocacy services, including at least one Adult SART observation session and one Pediatric SART observation session.
• Required: SART Specialist Component Training (2.5 hours)
• Clearance on a background check, including DOJ & FBI fingerprinting.
• Completion of all policies and procedures documentation.
• Required for accompaniment/advocacy at Pediatric SARTs only: Submitted documentation that confirms an absence of active Tuberculosis.
• Maintain Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Counselor Certification by completing 8 hours of Mandatory Continuing Education and Training (MCET) within each 12month period from the date of completion of the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Counselor 65hr training.

Time Commitment: Minimum of 200 hours of service (post-training).

Volunteer 6 hours or more each week, on a mutually convenient schedule, from the following options:

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and/or Sundays, during the daytime, 8:00am to 2:00pm and/or 2:00pm to 8:00pm and/or overnight, 8:00pm to 2:00am and/or 2:00am to 8:00am.

AND two 24-hour weekend shifts, on a mutually convenient schedule, beginning 9:00am Saturday to 9:00am Sunday, or 9:00am Sunday to 9:00 a.m. Monday.

YWCA Silicon Valley is an equal opportunity provider and does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender/gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, immigration status, socio-economic status, familial/marital status, veteran status, medical status, being differently-able, or any other basis prohibited by law.

January 2017.