Bilingual Community Advocate

Job Description

Job DescriptionDescription:

Bilingual Community Advocate

REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, Inc.

About REACH Beyond Domestic Violence:

REACH Beyond Domestic Violence is a non-profit organization providing safety and empowerment to survivors of abuse. We believe that everyone deserves to live free from fear and violence, and that centering survivor voices is one of the best ways to create healthier, more informed communities. Our work is inclusive of all survivors including women, men, children, and the LGBTQ community and has no income or other requirements to access services, apart from being a survivor of domestic violence. Resources that we offer include a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, support groups, legal advocacy, specialized children’s and family's services, community-based survivor advocacy programs and prevention programs including community education and training.

At REACH, we strive every day to lead by example. The trust our survivor clients place in us is built off the trust we place in each other. We support each other through collaboration, accountability, and a shared belief that lasting change is possible. Together, we challenge harmful norms, embrace diversity and inclusion, and educate both individuals and communities so we can prevent, and ultimately end, domestic violence.

Bilingual Community Advocate

Bilingual Community Advocates work in our main office in Waltham with survivors from the Metro West Boston communities. This position provides support to survivors in Spanish and English. The Advocate role includes a combination of case management, emotional support & advocacy services to adult survivors of domestic violence within an agency framework that is trauma-informed, strength-based, relational, and empowering.

Key Responsibilities:

• Direct Service/Advocacy?Responsibilities:??
• Serve as advocate?for community members, including advocacy work around?issues such as housing, benefits, employment, childcare, medical and dental care, education, legal?matters, immigration, mental health, and substance abuse??
• Work with other REACH staff?to address survivors’ needs and concerns??
• Support the intake process including conducting intakes with survivors new to REACH’s program
• Assist survivors with contacting community resources, setting up appointments, and transportation to and from appointments??
• Attending and providing emotional support to survivors at court hearings.?
• Collaborating with community partners and providers to ensure survivors have access to services.?
• Attend any meetings or appointments that will assist in providing?quality advocacy to survivors??
• Work with?the?Director of Children, Family and Group Services to address children’s needs, including school registration, daycare, after school programs, and summer camps??
• Co-facilitate assigned support groups??
• Maintain survivors’ records including service delivery records, advocacy plans, and other documentation in accordance?with confidentiality guidelines??
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor or leadership.

• Systems Advocacy?Responsibilities:??
• Develop and maintain relationships with housing authorities, DTA and?DCF?offices, employment agencies, medical, immigration, legal, substance abuse and other community resources??
• Support legislative advocacy priorities through REACH including survivor engagement
• Track changes in availability and eligibility requirements for housing subsidies, welfare, and other benefits??
• Inform other programs and institutions on domestic violence and our programs. Assist representatives in making information available to all members of their organization/institution??
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor or leadership.

All staff at REACH commit to:

• Working to ensure that REACH’s values are demonstrated in the policies and procedures of the organization, every day.
• Working in collaboration with colleagues in other programs at the organization, participating with internal committees, and engaging with external and coalition work related to the role and/or the organization.
• Participating in staff meetings, weekly professional supervision, and weekly clinical supervision.

Work Schedule

• This is an hourly, non-exempt position.
• The hours for this position are 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday with one remote day on Friday.
• Some evenings may be required to attend community events or to facilitate support groups.
• This position reports to the Director of Community Advocacy.

Requirements:

Requirements

• We believe that successful candidates will demonstrate the following characteristics:?
• Work from a philosophy that sees people, not problems?
• Eagerness to engage with people of all ages?
• Knowledge of the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence and the impact of trauma?
• Commitment to a social justice framework?
• Strong interpersonal and crisis intervention skills?
• Understanding of different cultural backgrounds and the ability to provide services that respect these differences.?
• Strong ability to support and empower individuals who have experienced trauma?
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for client interaction and documentation.?
• Ability to manage multiple cases simultaneously and maintain detailed records.?
• Understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence, legal protections, and available resources?
• Flexible, adaptable, patient, proactive approach when working with survivors?
• Model and uphold appropriate boundaries at work with survivors?

• Qualifications:
• Commitment to the philosophy and mission of REACH?
• Strong communication, empathetic and active listening skills, and analytical skills.?
• Fluency in Spanish is required including written, verbal and reading.?
• Model and uphold appropriate boundaries at work with survivors.?
• Knowledge of Metro West Boston area resources.?
• Ability to work in crisis situations and manage a diverse caseload with varying needs.?
• Candidates will be asked to submit periodic background checks.?
• This position requires frequent, local travel. Candidates must have a valid driver’s license and a car and be willing to drive for appointments. REACH provides mileage reimbursement at the IRS rate.

Benefits

This is a full-time, hourly, non-exempt position. The compensation for this position ranges from $25.48 - $26.92 per hour, approximately $53,000 to $56,000 per year depending upon skills and experience.

Comprehensive benefits package options including:

• Robust benefits including health, dental, vision, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), Dependent Care Account (DCA), employer paid Long Term Disability, employer paid Employee Assistance Program, employer paid life Insurance, and retirement plan with employer matching up to 3% of salary contributed.
• 20 Days (4 weeks) of Paid Vacation Time, 25 Days (5 weeks) after 3 years of employment
• A 4-week paid sabbatical, in addition to vacation time, is available to full-time employees after 7 years of employment
• 12 Days Paid Sick Time and 11 Paid Federal Holidays

REACH is an equal opportunity employer and provides an inclusive work environment.

To apply, please visit REACH’s Careers page at https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/All/f39a8716-a35a-4bb3…