Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) Coordinator

Description

The Shelter for Help in Emergency (SHE) is seeking a Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) Coordinator to oversee partnerships with local law enforcement and support the identification of high-risk survivors of intimate partner violence. The LAP Coordinator will manage SHE’s LAP collaborations across Charlottesville, Albemarle, Louisa, Fluvanna, and the University of Virginia, strengthening relationships with existing law enforcement partners and preparing new partners through training and coordination. Exceptional candidates will demonstrate ability to respond to survivors of intimate partner violence with empathy and a trauma informed approach while simultaneously being able to assert command presence in front of law enforcement officers to effectively train sworn officers.

The role involves providing regular training to officers on shelter services and the Lethality Assessment protocol. Additionally, the LAP Coordinator will offer legal advocacy and court accompaniment for LAP clients involved in criminal, protective order, custody, and support cases, ensuring survivors understand their legal options and receive necessary support. This includes collaborating with community partners such as Victim Witness Assistance Programs, Commonwealth’s Attorneys, and Legal Aid.

The LAP Coordinator will track and document all client services, maintain accurate records, and collect data on LAP outcomes, including assessments, high-danger screenings, and shelter services received. This data will be used to monitor trends, identify areas for improvement, and assess the training needs of partner agencies.

Job Duties

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

A. Consistently embody the values of the Shelter for Help in Emergency when interacting with human begins

● Practice and promote antiracist, trauma-informed, person-centered, and strengths-based, and harm-reductive responses to human beings
● Communicate assertively, clearly, thoroughly, and with solutions in mind
● Foster a culture of collaboration, mutual support and respect, creativity, and excellence
● Maintains impeccable confidentiality of client identities and facility location
● Promotes nonviolent speech and behavior
● Demonstrate ability and willingness to disagree constructively while options are being considered, and to then fully commit to the ultimate decision, even if it isn’t the decision is not one you would have made
● Provides feedback to team members that is truthful, timely, specific, and non- judgmental and receives feedback with curiosity, respect, and a commitment to continuous growth and professional development

B. Legal advocacy services for LAP-identified clients

● Oversee the provision of legal information and support to LAP-identified survivors, ensuring they understand their legal options and receive appropriate guidance.
● Advocate for survivors in court settings, providing accompaniment and explanations of court proceedings while ensuring their rights and needs are prioritized.
● Collaborate with community partners such as Victim Witness Assistance Programs, Commonwealth’s Attorneys, and Legal Aid in support of survivor’s goals and needs.
● Connect LAP-identified clients to Shelter For Help in Emergency case management services when they have support needs outside the realm of legal advocacy.
● Attend weekly Client Services Team meetings.

C. Manage Shelter For Help in Emergency Relationships with LAP Law Enforcement Partners

● Provide regular training to law enforcement officers on Shelter services and the Lethality Assessment protocol in order to best identify and assist high-danger survivors of intimate partner violence.
● Strengthening relationships with existing law enforcement partners
● Recruit and prepare new law enforcement partners through training and coordination.
● Identify trends in how each LAP partner agency is performing to inform and adjust training and advocacy strategies

D. Record Keeping and Data Collection

● Complete database training and maintain up to date database skills
● Collect data on LAP outcomes, including assessments, high-danger screenings, and shelter services received
● Update all client documentation within 48 hours of each interaction in organizational database and VADATA portal
● Maintain accurate client records according to confidentiality standards and in accordance with the Shetler’s Standards of Practice
● Upload and track all client documents in accordance with the Shelter’s Standards of Practice

E. Departmental Collaboration

● Provide regular updates and client reports to supervisor, including weekly check-ins
● Contribute to the development and refinement of agency legal advocacy procedures and protocols
● Regularly attend team meetings

F. Interdepartmental Collaboration

● Serve as member of Client Services Team, regularly attending and actively participating in weekly Client Services Team meetings
● Regularly attend and actively participate in monthly Shelter Manager Team meetings
● Regularly attend and actively participate in monthly staff meetings
● Assist Community Engagement Coordinator in training and supervising direct service volunteers
● Coordinate with Administrative Team on grant reporting/applications

G. Interagency Collaboration
● Serve as agency’s primary point of contact with the Commonwealth Attorney General’s office
● Attend the Statewide LAP Meeting run by the Statewide LAP Coordinator at Virginia’s Office of the Attorney General
● Maintain updated legal advocacy services referral list for client, staff, and volunteer use
● Stay up to date on community partner programs
● Conduct ongoing outreach to community partners to establish and foster a network of resources, supports, and services relevant to clients

H. Participate in and pursue professional development opportunities

● Seek out professional development opportunities relevant to role and responsibilities, as well as to The Shelter for Help in Emergency’s mission
● Attend training assigned by supervisor
● Stay up to date on best practices and trends (harm reduction, trauma-informed care, etc.)

Skills Required

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
● Compassion for all people, especially those in crisis
● Naturally resourceful and curious
● Experience working with humans of diverse racial, linguistic, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds
● Ability to constructively provide and receive feedback
● Ability to maintain perspective and exercise wise decision making in novel situations
● Understanding of boundaries and self-care practices and ability to consistently implement them
● Ability to improvise and adapt to changing circumstances
● Comfortable with computers and able to learn new software programs including databases
● Reliable, punctual, detail-oriented, and organized
● Access to reliable transportation

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
● Advocacy experience, especially with and for humans in crisis (in either a paid or volunteer capacity)
● Understanding of the power and control dynamics of intimate partner violence
● Experience work in, or adjacent to, Virginia’s criminal legal system

Work Schedule

SCHEDULE: full time, 40 hours, Monday through Friday.

Additional Info

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: This role requires one week of 24/7 on-call service approximately once every six weeks that is compensated at $150 per on-call week (in addition to the regular salary). This role also requires the willingness to transport clients either via your personal vehicle or a taxi or ridesharing service. Milage or cost reimbursement for all travel is provided. Additionally, all Shelter for Help in Emergency Staff are required to pass the organization’s Suitability to Work with Minors Policy which requires fingerprinting and criminal background checks.

LOCATION: Onsite at Outreach Center (1415 Sachem Place, Charlottesville VA 22901); onsite at Residential Facility (undisclosed location within Charlottesville area); and travel within Planning District Ten (City of Charlottesville and Counties of Albemarle, Greene, Louisa, Nelson, and Fluvanna)

VISIT WEBSITE HERE: www.shelterforhelpinemergency.org