YWCA Seattle King Snohomish·Seattle, Washington
The advocate will provide trauma-informed, culturally relevant advocacy to children and youth aged 6-18 impacted by gender-based violence in various settings, focusing on building safety, confidence, and connection. Responsibilities also include conducting intakes, offering crisis intervention, supporting families with safety planning, and facilitating educational workshops and curriculum implementation.
Why work with YWCA Seattle King Snohomish?
YWCA SKS is the region’s largest non-profit organization with a 120+ year legacy, focused on the needs of women, with programs serving 7,000 people each year. When you work with YWCA, you make a difference.
We’re women and BIPOC-led, family-centered, and supportive of employees. As a full-time YWCA employee (30+ hours), you’ll enjoy a benefits package including medical insurance, generous vacation, holiday, sick leave plans, and an outstanding retirement plan. Put your passion for racial equity and social justice to work – apply today!
YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish is seeking a Children and Youth Gender-Based Violence Community Advocate who is passionate about supporting Black and African American youth and families impacted by gender-based violence. At YWCA, this work is grounded in our long-standing commitment to racial justice, survivor advocacy, and community-centered care. We believe meaningful change happens when people are supported with dignity, consistency, and respect and when staff are supported just as intentionally.
In this role, you’ll work directly with children and youth ages 6–18, providing trauma-informed, culturally relevant advocacy in schools, community spaces, and family settings. You’ll help young people build safety, confidence, and connection while strengthening family stability and community partnerships. This is hands-on, relationship-based work with room for creativity, leadership, and growth.
You won’t be doing this work alone. You’ll be part of a collaborative, values-driven team that recognizes lived experience, invests in staff development, and understands the importance of sustainable, supportive workplaces.
Note: This position is fully onsite and includes regular presence in YWCA offices, schools, and community
settings across Seattle and South King County.
This position has a social justice component allowing for critical thinking around how the external systems impact the work that we are doing through the lens of racism and intersections with poverty.
As an equal opportunity employer, we highly encourage people of color to apply.
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Family and Youth Advocacy
Provide culturally relevant advocacy with trauma informed approach to the children and youth (ages 6+) of survivors of gender-based violence, fleeing imminent danger.
Conduct initial intakes to evaluate the needs of survivors and children/youth.
Offer crisis intervention, grounding, and coping strategies in shelter, community, school, and office-based settings.
Serve as a positive role model for children and youth by demonstrating healthy communication, boundaries, problem-solving, and respectful relationships, while encouraging self-esteem, resilience, and personal growth.
Work alongside YWCA’s Housing Advocates to ensure children have access to available and appropriate youth services (i.e., high school personnel, McKinney Vento and Department of Children Youth and families (DCYF) and Child Protective Services (CPS) counseling and community
based youth programs)
Support parents and youth in learning strategies for staying safe and developing individualized, age-appropriate safety plans related to home, school, online spaces, and relationships.
Provide education to children and youth on healthy relationships, boundaries, consent, and personal safety.
Partner with GBVSS Housing Advocates to identify families and address the needs of children.
Implement YWCA GBVSS 8-week children/youths’ curriculum; that assists in the healing process.
Develop and maintain an ongoing network of resources for children with coordinated referrals to link children and families.
Attend DCYF and CPS case meetings for relevant families.
Provide wrap around services not limited to emergency basic needs, direct resources to increase economic self-sufficiency, promote health, mental wellness, etc.
Co-facilitate parenting classes though independent contracted licensed clinician.
Maintain accurate and confidential client files/spreadsheet, complete HMIS, timely data collection and monthly reporting including narrative writing.
Community and School Outreach
Manage relationships for the McKinney-Vento liaison program with select Public Schools
Support relocated families with new student school enrollment support.
Facilitate workshops and activities that engage Black/African American and youth of color in developing a deeper understanding of the interplay between race, gender, and violence.
Facilitate and hold space for meaningful peer connections and collective learning, healing, and action.
Required Experience and Knowledge
Demonstrated understanding of the intersection of racism, poverty, and social justice, with a strong commitment to advocacy for communities furthest from opportunity, particularly Black and African American women, children, and youth.
Knowledge of the dynamics of gender-based violence, including power and control, coercion, trauma impacts, and survivor-centered, trauma-informed best practices.
Experience working with survivors of domestic violence and or sexual assault in an advocacy, support, or community-based setting.
Minimum of (2) years of experience working or volunteering with children and youth ages 6–18.
Experience providing crisis intervention, education, and support to children, youth, and families in one-on-one and group settings.
Strong understanding of confidentiality and professional boundaries when working with vulnerable populations.
Ability to navigate and coordinate across multiple systems, including human services, education, and child welfare.
Education and Training
Some college coursework in child or youth development, social services, or a related field, or equivalent lived or professional experience in lieu of a degree.
Commitment to complete a minimum of 30 hours of advocacy-based domestic violence training within the first three (3) months of employment and annually ongoing training thereafter.
Youth and Community Engagement Skills
Experience facilitating or co-facilitating peer support groups for children or youth.
Familiarity with how cultural dynamics, including racism and gender, shape the experiences and responses of Black and African American youth impacted by domestic violence.
Knowledge of community resources within Seattle and South King County, or the ability to quickly build and maintain those connections.
Professional Skills and Work Style
Strong advocacy orientation with the ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
Proficiency with basic office technology, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and mobile communication tools.
Ability to manage documentation, data entry, and reporting in a timely and organized manner.
Logistics and Availability
Access to a reliable vehicle, a valid Washington State driver’s license, and the ability to travel independently between multiple work sites during the workday.
Hours, Rate, and Benefits •
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. In performing this position, the employee:
All positions at YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish are exposed to clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma in various forms including but not limited to domestic violence, sexual violence, homelessness, unemployment, financial hardship, etc. As a result, staff are at risk of secondary trauma. Employees are encouraged to seek external support and maintain self-care when working indirectly or directly with clients.
Frequently sitting, standing, and walking for extended periods during meetings, school activities, workshops, and group facilitation.
Frequently traveling independently between multiple work sites, including schools and community locations.
Repetitive use of hands, wrists, and fingers for computer work, documentation, phone communication, and program coordination.
Frequent reaching, handling, and grasping of office and program materials.
Occasional bending, kneeling, pushing, and pulling to access files, supplies, or materials.
Occasional lifting and carrying of program materials, files, or supplies, generally up to 25 pounds.
Ability to work in environments that may be emotionally demanding due to the nature of advocacy and trauma-informed work.
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YWCA encourages applicants with a variety of experiences to apply!
At YWCA, we recognize that lived expertise is a powerful asset. This refers to the insights, knowledge, and skills developed by those who have navigated systems and experienced inequity.
Valuing lived expertise helps build trust with program participants, develop culturally responsive programs, and break down barriers to equity. It enriches our collective understanding and enhances our ability to serve communities that are furthest from opportunity.
All employees of the YWCA interact with clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma in various forms, including but not limited to, racial trauma, domestic violence, sexual violence, homelessness, unemployment, and financial hardship. As a result, employees are at risk of secondary trauma. [https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/bph/wp-content/uploads/sites/161/2021/10/Trauma-Fact-Sheets-October-2021.pdf] We encourage employees to seek support inside and outside the workplace and maintain self-care routines.
YWCA Seattle King Snohomish is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To read more about this, view the EEO is the Law [http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf] Poster and this EEO is the Law Poster Supplement [http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf].
For more information
Contact us at careers@ywcaworks.org [http://mailto:careers@ywcaworks.org]with any questions or if you need accommodation for your application.
Successful candidates must demonstrate a strong understanding of the intersection of racism, poverty, and social justice, along with knowledge of gender-based violence dynamics and trauma-informed best practices. A minimum of two years of experience working with children aged 6-18 and experience in crisis intervention are required, alongside some college coursework or equivalent professional experience.
Maintain consistent follow-through and positive working relationships with key school administrators, counselors, and decision-makers.
Leverage effective communication skills to navigate through the relevant educational systems.
Provide civic participation to ensure youth engagement and preparation through school.
Work in partnership with DCYF, Community Centers, and Local public schools within Seattle and King County.
Attend all required external and internal programming, community and provider meetings.
Market context
In Washington, children and youth advocacy roles that address gender-based violence often draw candidates with trauma-informed practice experience, familiarity with social justice issues, and direct work with ages 6–18. Competitive applicants usually show they can support young people affected by racism, poverty, and violence while working within community-based services. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then tailor your application to highlight relevant youth, advocacy, and trauma-informed experience.
