Position Summary

All Covenant House Alaska program staff work as advocates and allies for youth experiencing homelessness and human trafficking.

The Anti-Trafficking Specialist provides expertise, external representation, and implementation of Covenant House Alaska’s human trafficking prevention and intervention (TPI) programming throughout the agency. This position develops best practices, protocols, policies, and procedures that promote a collaborative multi-disciplinary model to identify, disrupt, and prevent trafficking amongst youth at CHA. The Anti-Trafficking Specialist will serve as the key subject matter expert and trainer for all CHA staff members in TPI responses.  

The Anti-Trafficking Specialist will have substantive programmatic experience and in-depth knowledge of human trafficking and/or other relevant social and rights-based issues such as gender-based violence. The Anti-Trafficking Specialist will also participate in advocacy work and represent CHA at various anti-trafficking committees and coalitions, as assigned, ensuring that CHA’s profile and reputation is enhanced within the statewide and national anti-human trafficking community. 

Essential Functions

• Understand, practice, and promote the vision, mission, and five principles of Covenant House Alaska.
• Work in collaboration with direct service staff and all levels of leadership to identify organizational training needs as it pertains to prevention and intervention in human trafficking. 
• In partnership with CHA leadership, develop policies, procedures and protocols around human trafficking response based on subject matter expertise and continued research of best practices. 
• Monitor data entry and trends in all required data systems to help CHA communicate the impact of trafficking on the youth we serve and inform programmatic decisions.
• Help staff learn to navigate community resources pertaining to physical and mental health, education, employment, and others needed to achieve well-being and stability to positively impact the experience of trafficking victims. 
• Utilize a client-centered approach that emphasizes client choice while recognizing the innate resiliency and unique strengths and abilities of every young person. 
• Develop strong working relationships, through active outreach, with a wide range of service providers and related stakeholders such as trafficking specific agencies, law enforcement, service providers, etc. 
• Participate in various workgroups, committees, and/or task forces around anti-trafficking efforts locally and nationally.
• Manage or support grant reporting and grant outcomes as assigned by supervisor.  
• Maintain a positive and professional working relationship with the public and community partners. 
• Complete special projects and other projects/duties as identified by CHA leadership. 
• Participate in staff meetings, development activities, and attend conferences as requested by supervisor. 
• Demonstrate an enthusiastic commitment to the job and the Agency.  
• Ensure the safety of youth seen by CHA at all times by demonstrating appropriate boundaries and establishing competencies around working in a space serving vulnerable youth. 
• Understand and adhere to mandatory reporting requirements. 
• Maintain a high level of ethical standards. 
• Keep supervisor fully informed at all times. 
• Exercise independent and sound judgment at all times. 
• Keep work and living spaces clean for young people and staff as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in human services, Social Work, Psychology or a related field is preferred. Experience may be substituted for education on a year for year basis. 

Experience

Experience working with adolescent or disadvantaged populations, including trafficking victims, is preferred; life, volunteer, and internship experience will be considered.  Lived Experience considered an asset. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required

• Substantive programmatic experience and in-depth knowledge of human trafficking and/or other relevant social and rights-based issues such as gender-based violence.
• Understand and comply with all Agency policies and procedures, including Child Protection Policies.
• Understand and embrace the tenets of Housing First, Trauma-Informed Care, Harm Reduction, and Positive Youth Development in all work with youth.   
• Is approachable, relatable, builds rapport well, and practices active listening with individuals of varied cultural backgrounds, who have suffered from complex trauma, embracing differences in behavior and lifestyle choices.
• Strong knowledge of the factors that contribute to youth vulnerability to trafficking, experience working with victims, and awareness of their specific needs. 
• Knowledge of community social service resources to assist youth with needs related to safety and security, healing, housing, employment, education, and well-being. 
• Can maintain confidentiality while understanding and complying with requirements of mandated reporting, duty to warn, HIPAA, and other limits to confidentiality. 
• Willingness to utilize training opportunities in support of personal and professional growth, competence development, and to increase overall capacity to serve. 
• Well-developed verbal and written communication skills. 
• Experience with multidisciplinary taskforces or work groups and ability to represent the agency with highest standards. 
• Proficient with standard computer operating systems.   
• Willingness and ability to work outside of normal business hours as well as Holidays and weekends as needed. 
• Willingness and ability to attain a CPR/First Aid Certification. 
• Possess a current and valid Driver’s License and have a good driving record. 
• Pass federal, state, and local background check investigations. 

Working Conditions

• Position works in a variety of Program environments (Commercial and Residential)
• Noise level is mild to moderate, consistent with office and residential environments.
• Must have the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.
• Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Must have the ability to observe details within close range.
• Must be able to remain in stationary position for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to move within the office to access files and office equipment.
• Consistently operates a computer and related office machinery.
• Must be able to ascend/descend stairways within a wide variety of facilities with and possibly without the assistance of an elevator.
• Occasionally moves items up to 40 pounds while ascending/descending stairways.

Covenant House is an Equal Opportunity Employer