Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Spanish-English Legal Services Volunteer

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Location:

YWCA Silicon Valley, Linda Haskell Empowerment Center, 375 South Third Street, San Jose, CA 95112,
and/or North County Family Justice Center, 298 South Sunnyvale Avenue, Suite 105, Sunnyvale, CA 94087,
and/or one or more of the Santa Clara County Court locations, including but not limited to: Family Court in San Jose and Santa Clara County Superior Court in San Jose and Palo Alto,
and/or Juvenile Delinquency Court in San Jose.

Purpose: To provide victims/survivors of sexual assault 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:

• Engage in active and respectful listening, and interact with warmth, compassion and empathy.
• Work in compliance with all legal requirements, and organizational and departmental policies, procedures and standards. Complete all required documentation within requested time frames.
• 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.

COURT SUPPORT:

• Working with the Legal Services Coordinator, arrange to meet victims/survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault at court and accompany them to their Family, Criminal, Civil and/or Juvenile Court appointment. In some cases, it may be necessary to meet with the victim/survivor prior to the court date for court preparation and safety planning.
• Provide victims/survivors with one-on-one support to assist them through the unfamiliar court environment and complex court processes. Provide details, as required, about the when, where, what and how of the court system.
• Assist victims/survivors explore their options by providing legal information, and information on YWCA/community services and personnel, and connect as appropriate. Do not give legal advice; this is not legally permitted.
• As necessary, advocate for victims/survivors with the District Attorney, Court Bailiff and other court personnel.
• Do not speak on behalf of the victim/survivor when in the presence of the Judge; this is not legally permitted.

AND/OR

COURT RESOURCE:

• To provide outreach and crisis-intervention services to individuals who are identified as parties, petitioners/respondents, in motions for Restraining Orders, Child Custody, and Child Support Orders.
• Respond to the Presiding Judge’s request to interview petitioners or respondents in motions to vacate or modify restraining orders who appear to have no support, or seem to be so significantly affected by their crises that they have difficulty functioning in the confusing and intimidating court environment.
• Identify and locate appropriate Certified Interpreters as required.
• Assist victims/survivors explore their options by providing legal information, and information on YWCA/community services and personnel, and connect as appropriate. Do not give legal advice; this is not legally permitted.
• If requested, assist Court personnel in administration procedures, for example, take notes, provide resource materials, and transfer files.

AND/OR

IN-OFFICE LEGAL SERVICES:

• Assist victims/survivors with the preparation and filing of Temporary Restraining Order documentation, including Declarations, and the modification of Criminal Protective Orders.
• Assist victims/survivors explore their options by providing legal information, and information on YWCA/community services and personnel, and connect as appropriate. Do not give legal advice; this is not legally permitted.
• Provide immigrant victims/survivors with immigration-related legal services, information, and referrals. Assist with immigration-related legal documentation and processes. Connect with community services and personnel as appropriate.
• Arrange to meet with victims/survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault to provide assistance in preparing for court experiences.

Required Qualifications:

• Fluent Spanish-English speaking, writing, and reading skills. Knowledge and understanding of diverse Latino/a cultures.
• Interest in, and a commitment to, continuous learning about domestic violence and sexual assault, and empowering victims/survivors to exercise their legal rights.
• Ability to listen to victims/survivors 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 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 they are 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.
• Ability to connect victims/survivors whose needs are outside YWCA’s domestic violence/sexual assault legal services with other YWCA/community services and personnel.

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, including observation sessions, to develop personal comfort level with Court Support and/or Court Resource and/or In-Office Legal Services activities and responsibilities.
• Clearance on a background check, including DOJ & FBI fingerprinting.
• Completion of all policies and procedures documentation.
• 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 100 hours of service (post-training).
Volunteer one shift or more each week, on a mutually convenient schedule, from the following options:

• Court Support: 8:30am - 12:00pm; Mondays, and/or Tuesdays, and/or Wednesdays.
• Court Support: 1:00pm - 5:00pm; Mondays, and/or Tuesdays, and/or Wednesdays.
• Court Resource: 9:00am - 12:00pm; Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and/or Fridays.
• Court Resource: 1:30pm - 4:30pm; Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and/or Fridays.
• In-Office Legal Services: Appointments are randomly scheduled daytimes, Mondays through Fridays, based on victim/survivor need.

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.

November 2016