Advocate (CSEY) at Unbound Now in Houston, TX

Unbound Now is ending human trafficking by identifying victims, supporting survivors, seeking justice, and leading system change. We are motivated by our faith in Jesus and work each day as individuals driven by hope, oriented towards service, and committed to excellence. To learn more about our values, please read our Statement of Faith.

Job Title: Advocate

Job Status: Full-time, Exempt, Grant-supported (1 year, but plan to apply for continuance)

Job Location: Unbound Now Local Office, on-site

Job Summary: The primary function of the CSEY Advocate is to provide individualized crisis response and ongoing case management and support for youth survivors of sex trafficking, using sound professional judgment and best practices to ensure high-quality services and maintain compliance with established program, state, and federal standards.

Compensation: Annual Salary

Benefits:

Unbound Now is proud to offer a premier benefits package that prioritizes the health and financial security of our team members and their families:

• 100% Employer-Paid Health Insurance: We cover 100% of medical premiums for both the employee and their family. (For a single employee, this is a $8,267+ annual value added to your base salary).
• Employer-Paid Life Insurance: Fully covered for the employee at no cost.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with a 3% salary match (eligible after 90 days; 1-year vesting).
• Dental & Vision: Comprehensive plans available at the employee’s expense.
• Voluntary Benefits: Access to supplemental Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital, and Disability insurance

Schedule/Availability: 40-50 hrs/wk. Evening, weekend, and holiday calls required. Scheduling flexibility is needed.

Travel: This position requires frequent travel within the immediate area and occasional travel in or out of state for client transportation or training.

Working conditions: Some work is performed in a normal office environment, other service-provider conditions, or other professional environments. Some work within the community, in high-vulnerability locations.

Job Responsibilities:

• Respond to calls from law enforcement, CST care coordinators, and other referral sources when on call; arrive at the victim’s location within the required time frame.

• Meet immediate physical needs of youth - clothes, food, toiletries, etc.

• Provide ongoing field-based advocacy, case management, and emotional support.

• Independently coordinate referrals, service planning, and documentation of services for assigned caseload.

• Conduct comprehensive assessments, develop service plans, and make independent decisions in the field regarding the safety and well-being of assigned youth.

• Provide transportation with parent or guardian permission to appointments and services as needed and as feasible.

• Meet with each assigned survivor every other week if in town; meet with survivors placed out-of-town monthly; maintain communication through other means in between weekly meetings.

• In coordination with the MDT, help create and update safety plans for survivors.

• Attend CPS case staffings and MDT emergency response meetings, and schedule staffings.

• Document all interactions with survivors, their families, and partner agencies within 72 hours.

• Build and maintain good relationships with organizations that provide services relevant to trafficking survivors.

• Alert the supervisor when difficult situations arise

• Recognize red flag behavior and report to the supervisor

• When not otherwise available, provide an appropriate level of support to non-offending family members of victims in order to help create a good home environment to which the victim can return while maintaining needed boundaries.

• Convey a service-oriented approach:

  • Communicate an eagerness to be helpful, starting with every referral, initial contact, and/or initial engagement and continuing through service delivery, with all stakeholders.
  • Provide those seeking assistance with help, even when they are ineligible for advocate services or are seeking something outside Unbound Now’s scope.
  • When referring someone, offer a warm handoff to others whenever possible.
  • Balance the limitations of the advocate role with being resourceful, including seeking help from others as needed.
  • Be consistent, reliable, and flexible. Collaborate actively in support of partners’ objectives.

• Ensure case management in collaboration with ongoing system and service- or investigation-based case management, continuing case management beyond others’ eligibility parameters. Ensure that case management is carried out in a manner that is relationship-based, trauma-responsive, and survivor-centered.

• Commit to in-person meetings with your supervisor every other week. Telephonic supervision may occur once every 30 days.

• Participate in Unbound Now’s advocate resilience group

• Apply specialized training and use professional judgment in determining the best way to serve youth during crisis and on an ongoing basis

• Complete DFPS monthly and quarterly reports accurately and promptly

• Participate in weekly advocacy team meetings/case staffings

• Submit expense documentation properly and within required time frames per the company expense policy, and follow all Ramp Monthly Closeout Instructions and Process

• Submit travel reimbursements daily, adhering to all travel guidelines

• Submit timesheet hours/grant allocations daily, adhering to grant guidelines (if applicable)

• Complete all Unbound Now required training on time

Working Relationships:

Supervisor: Director of Survivor Advocacy

Works with: Unbound Now local office team, CST care coordinators, MDT partners, and other Unbound Now survivor advocacy teams

Experience and Education

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field
• Experience working with victims of human trafficking, victims of child abuse and neglect, or youth experiencing homelessness and/or addiction
• Lived experience of trafficking or exploitation preferred
• Preferred 2-3 years of case management and/or crisis intervention experience
• Trained in trauma-informed care
• Trained in the stages of change model and the use of motivational interviewing

Job Requirements:

• Mature Christian faith, as evidenced by participation in a local Christian church
• Three references (supervisor, professional, personal)
• Agree to and pass all required criminal background checks, including the DFPS criminal history check and the abuse and neglect registry check.
• Pass employment eligibility verification.
• Complete Unbound Now’s pre-service training for specialized CSEY advocates
• Fulfill Unbound Now’s annual and ongoing training requirements for specialized CSEY advocates
• Abide by all Unbound Now policies and procedures and MDT protocols at all times, including Unbound Now’s Abuse Prevention and Response Policy
• Willingness to serve in rotation for a 24-hour on-call response, including evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Willingness to use personal vehicle for work travel; valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, with valid car insurance
• At least 23 years of age or older
• Submit expense documentation properly and within required time frames per the company expense policy, and follow all Ramp Monthly Closeout Instructions and Process.
• Submit travel reimbursements daily, adhering to all travel guidelines
• Submit time-sheet hours/grant allocations daily, adhering to grant guidelines (if applicable)
• Complete all Unbound Now required training on time

Critical Qualities

• Excellent relational, communication, and interpersonal skills

• Good organizational and administrative abilities

• Ability and willingness to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information

• Ability to build trust and good working relationships with others

• Appreciation of the need for cultural competency

• High level of emotional maturity and responsibility

• Ability to exercise discretion in caring for youth in crisis and providing long-term support

• Strong work ethic and an Innovative problem solver

• Ability to adapt immediately to changes in the field

• Commitment to excellence and professionalism in services provided

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and maintain emotional control and professional composure at all times

• Ability to work effectively and without intensive supervision, both independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team

• Commitment to self-care and wellness

Physical and Driving Requirements

• Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to operate a personal or company vehicle as needed for work-related travel.
• Demands the ability to respond on scene during all hours of the night.
• Occasional physical demands may require the ability to lift or carry loads up to 50 pounds.
• Frequent demands require close visual attention to detail and prolonged periods of mental concentration.