- BA in a related field (social work, criminal justice, etc I'd assume. Likewise, I assume my math degree does not apply).
- 2 years of experience as a case worker.
- Knowledge of resources available for DV victims
- Experience, ability and willingness to work as a team with diversified staff, volunteers and constituents.
- Experience working with adults and children living with domestic violence.
- Knowledge of domestic violence, physical, sexual and emotional abuse and its effects on the victims including safety planning, crisis intervention and advocacy.
- Excellent presentation and training skills.
Seems like you kinda gotta know what you're doing when you walk in the door. And what do they repay you for this work, knowledge & experience, helping domestic violence victims for 32-40 hours a week? $14.50 an hour. That's just a hair over $30,000. Apparently, there's no money to be made in helping out the weakest among us.
I got to thinking about that 4 year degree requirement. Look here:
Date Disbursed Type In-School Rate Repayment Rate 7/2010-6/2012 Stafford 6.80% 6.80% PLUS 7.90% 7.90% 7/2006-6/2010 Stafford 6.80% 6.80% PLUS (FFEL) 8.50%
(DL) 7.90%(FFEL) 8.50%
(DL) 7.90%7/1998-6/2006 Stafford 1.79% 2.39% PLUS 3.19% 3.19% 7/1995-6/1998 Stafford 2.59% 3.19% PLUS 3.39% 3.39% 7/1994-6/1995 Stafford 3.19% 3.19% PLUS 3.39% 3.39% 10/1992-6/1994 Stafford 3.19% 3.19% PLUS 3.39% 3.39%
Do you see that??? Just a few years after I graduated from college in 2002, the interest rate on college loans SKYROCKETED. I confess myself ashamed that I was unaware of how badly students now are saddled with debt... I've never felt burdened with my own measly $80.73 a month payment (cheapo public school for me, thanks!) but I had always attributed the difference to the increase in tuition.
According to this random site I found, the average cost of a Bachelor's Degree is $6,585 per year at an in state, public university. The least expensive universities are about $3,000 per year. And according to this site, the average 4 year loan burden is between $14,000 and $17,000 (depending on if you went public or private).
So tell me, how is Pat Q Advocate-to-Be supposed to be able to feed him or herself, plus their family, plus pay bills, plus pay off student loan debt on barely $30,000 a year? Oh right... get a loan from mom and dad... I thought building up debt was supposed to be a BAD thing?
This is a job that I would love to get started in.... But I do not have the money to go back to school now, nor can I afford to get another loan. I am not qualified to care for these women, and I cannot afford to get the training I would need to take care of them, because the salary is insufficient to repay the training. I would do it out of the goodness of my heart, but I can't afford to do so just yet.... still need to earn my living. This is why I've said "When I grow up, I want to be a philanthropist" (I think I stole that from my dear friend Click....)
