Peer Advocate

JOB DESCRIPTION

Peer Advocate
Full-Time, Non-Exempt, located in Boston

The EVA Center is a comprehensive, survivor led exit program for women who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation (prostitution, trafficking). Since 2006, the EVA Center has worked with hundreds of women who needed assistance and worked to challenge public perceptions and awareness of the many socio-economic and situational factors contributing to women’s entry into the sex trade.

Survivor advocates are a vital component of our program and essential in developing needed policies combatting trafficking and all forms of sexual exploitation. We work to develop survivors as leaders, experts in their lives and in the movement to end commercial sexual exploitation. We are looking for survivors with knowledge and experience in advocacy work to become part of our team with a focus on court involved women. Survivor advocates will be responsible for working directly with women, providing peer support and assisting them in developing their own exit plans, ensuring that women have access to safety, resources and options. This position will be based out of the Center, located within the Family Justice Center, 989 Commonwealth Ave, Boston MA but requires local travel and some evenings and weekends.

The EVA Center is currently working to merge with Casa Myrna, Boston’s foremost provider of solutions to end domestic and dating violence, to expand supports and create needed housing options for women exiting out of commercial sexual exploitation. Once merged, the EVA Center will be a program of Casa Myrna. The Peer Advocate is an employee of Casa Myrna but reports to and with the Director of the EVA Center.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for providing holistic and comprehensive trauma informed resource coordination to participants, with a focus on court involved women.
• Creates and maintains a partnership with each participant assisting each person in developing their own exit plans.
• Conducts follow-up with referrals, monitoring progress and addressing the unique needs of each person with an emphasis on housing, education, employment development, job placement, health and wellness.
• Networks and communicates with referral sources to ensure participants needs and goals are met.
• Works collaboratively with law enforcement to ensure women have access to safety and ability to assist in a prosecution when appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with Boston area court probation, and various referral agencies as well as Casa Myrna/EVA Center staff.
• Assists participants in applying for Victims Compensation and other public benefits for which they may be eligible.
• Keeps accurate and complete records of all services and activities as required, including but not limited to: data entry into the Casa Myrna database, maintaining weekly progress notes, and maintaining complete and current participant files.
• Accompanies participants to appointments as needed (i.e. court, state agency offices, children’s services and various other appointments).
• Develops relationships with community providers and serves as a spokesperson on issues of commercial sexual exploitation.
• Performs support functions such as filing and answering phones at the Family Justice Center location in Boston.
• Attends professional development trainings both within Casa Myrna and in the community.
• Other related duties as assigned by supervisor and agency.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Personal history as a survivor of commercial sexual exploitation as an adolescent or adult. This may include exploitation through prostitution, stripping or pornography. Must have significant time out of the commercial sex industry.
• Comprehensive and knowledge of women’s issues such as sexual violence, prostitution/sex trafficking and addiction.
• Ability to work with a diverse population of women, ability to be flexible and able to manage multiple projects and complex situations.
• Associate or BA degree preferred and/or minimum of two years of related work experience.
• Must have valid driver’s license, car and or ability to travel throughout the Boston area preferred.
• Promote an atmosphere of respect and cooperation; maintain confidentiality as per EVA Center/CMV policies.
• Maintains confidentiality regarding program participants and shelter locations.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee regularly sits for up to two hours at a time. The employee regularly is required to stand, walk, bend, crouch, climb several flights of stairs, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Location: Family Justice Center of Boston
The EVA Center and Casa Myrna are equal opportunity employers committed to workforce diversity.

To apply please send a resume and cover letter explaining your interest in the Peer Advocate position to cherie@evacenter.org at the EVA Center.