Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate

CHENEGA PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, LLC

Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) Family Advocacy Program (FAP) is designed to identify, prevent, provide treatment to families, couples, and / or intimate partners impacted by domestic abuse (DA). FAP offers the support of Domestic Abuse Victim Advocates (DAVA) to provide DAF personnel, their family members, or intimate partners who are victims of DA (sometimes referred to as domestic violence) non-clinical emergent and urgent service whenever requested. With the exception of mandatory state, federal, and military reporting requirements (i.e., domestic violence, child abuse, and duty to warn situations) the DAVA provides a private and confidential service to encourage victims in seeking assistance.

Responsibilities

• Provides 24 hour / 7 days a week response to victims alleging DA by publishing and maintaining an emergency contact number via cell phone provided by vendor.
• Establish a Victim s Safety Plan on a case-by-case basis.
• Partners with the Family Advocacy Treatment Manager (FATM) and Family Advocacy Intervention Specialist (FAIS) or mental health on-call provider if the treatment or case manager is unavailable, to establish safety plans. The victims safety is the DAVA s top responsibility and priority.
• Review the safety plan during each victim contact.
• Develops safety plans based on initial and ongoing risk assessments. If imminent risk of serious harm or death is established, notify the FAO, law enforcement, and Command. If children are involved, the process also includes child physical safety and emotional well-being; refer involved children to the treatment or case manager for follow-on care.
• Immediately reports any changes in the victim s circumstances that changes or impacts the safety plan to the FAP treatment / case manager or mental health on-call provider if the treatment / case manager is unavailable. When determining whether a victim is at imminent risk of serious harm or death, the DAVA will assess the following risk factors :

Victimization patterns have increased in severity or frequency.

DAVA services are voluntary.

Continually evaluate the quality of the installation s coordinated community response and collaborate with base agencies to improve the system response to victims.

24-hour notification of the DAVA in all incidents of suspected DA

24-hour notification of the DAVA in all incidents of suspected DA