Community Advocate - Bilingual

Bilingual (English / Spanish) Required.

As a YWCA employee, you’ll enjoy knowing that every day you make a difference in the lives of people who seek our services. You’ll be an integral part of a culture that celebrates individual contributions and values meaningful work and authentic connections.

YWCA’s dedication to our mission is only equal to our dedication to our employees.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive benefit program including employer-paid medical and dental.
• 16 paid holidays.
• Retirement plan that contributes up to 14 (%) percent.
• 12 paid sick / 10 paid vacation days your first year, increasing with length of service.
• 2 mental health days.
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Wellness Program (paid day off for birthday, annual wellness stipend, discount at Sonoma County Family YMCA)
• Employee Assistance Program
• A feedback culture that is mission driven by meaningful work and authentic connections, where individuals are celebrated and appreciated.

“My experience… has exceeded my expectations ten-fold. I’m so happy to be a part of a team who values autonomy, empowerment, emotional connection, and motivation to do what is right.”

• YWCA Team Member

SCHEDULE: 40 Hours/Week

RATE OF PAY: $24.00-$26.00 per Hour

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Community Advocate is stationed at SonomaWORKS and is responsible for providing assistance and resource information to victims of domestic violence. They may also perform eligibility assessments for entry into the YWCA Safe House shelter for clients actively fleeing domestic violence situations.

This is a high-profile, public-interaction position requiring a high degree of compassion, professionalism, and a constant awareness that the employee is often the first non-law enforcement contact the victim encounters. The Community Advocate is truly an ‘ambassador’ for the organization. Public presentations about domestic violence issues are occasionally required. The Community Advocate must be available to be responsive to phone calls and to immediate law enforcement advocate requests.

Essential Tasks include the following. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

• Advocacy

Performs intake, on-going assessment, and develops individualized, goal-oriented service plans to enhance safety, stability and self-sufficiency for clients and their families. Assists in achieving goals through advocacy, information and referral concerning legal, health, housing, public entitlements, family functioning and dynamics, substance abuse and other service needs. Assists in the development and use of personal and community resources; teaches and enhances problem-solving and self-advocacy skills.

• Reporting

The position requires that specific reports be completed in a timely and accurate fashion according to grantor mandates. Employees must understand that failure to comply with this administrative aspect of the job may jeopardize the grant – as well as continued employment - and should comply accordingly.

• Group Facilitation

Facilitates peer support groups of 5-15 clients around a wide array of domestic violence issues. Candidate will also be responsible for intake and screening of appropriate group participants.

• Public Speaking

Presents materials to a variety of groups on a wide range of topics upon request around issues of the elimination of domestic violence. Updates materials prior to presentation according to established procedures.

• Meetings

Collaborates, coordinates and attends monthly multi-disciplinary meetings with community agencies.

Fundamental Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Advocacy and Case Management

• Knowledge of the basic principles of public safety for domestic violence.
• Knowledge of or ability to acquire working knowledge of the legal system as it applies to Civil Protection Orders. Knowledge of or ability to acquire working knowledge of immigration process of a U-Visa or through VAWA.
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to the rules of confidentiality in human service and agency settings and work effectively in a team setting.
• Ability to handle crisis situations, be flexible and remain calm in stressful situations.
• Able to maintain appropriate boundaries and work with clients in a non-judgmental and supportive fashion.

Communications

• Ability to communicate proficiently in both English and Spanish with clients from varied backgrounds, cultures, and socio-economic levels where English may not be the primary language.
• Communicate effectively and tactfully in both oral and written forms. Standard English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Able to use standard office communication methods, such as email, fax, phone.
• Strong interview skills: ability to extract personal information
• Responds to requests in a prompt, professional and thorough manner.

Leadership and Teamwork

• Able to maintain a professional attitude and calm demeanor in the face of emotionally challenging circumstances.
• Strong interpersonal skills. Ability to create and maintain good working relationships with YWCA clients, volunteers and staff.
• Demonstrates initiative and accepts personal responsibility commensurate with position.
• Ability to work both independently and cooperatively with all contacts in a culturally diverse environment.
• Able to motivate self and others with high energy and a positive outlook.

Operations and Administration

• Working knowledge of computer applications.
• Generate accurate reporting and data in a timely fashion as directed. Ability to detect obvious errors in data and recognize needed corrective action.
• Follow established policies and procedures.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks, conflicting priorities, and deadlines.
• Analytical thinking, goal and priority setting, problem solving, follow through skills.
• Basic arithmetic computation.
• Universal Precautions and other safe work practices.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• The candidate must meet the following criteria to be considered for employment in this position:
• Any combination of education, training and experience that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities above.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills, including ability to relate to diverse client and community population via telephone and in person.
• Experience with Windows operating system.
• Willingness to be “on-call” at nights, holidays and/or weekends on occasion.
• Prior to employment must pass physical and TB testing (provided by agency).
• Ability to pass agency and requisite law enforcement criminal background checks.
• Valid driver’s license, current auto insurance, ability to transport self to job-related events and education locations.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two years’ work or volunteer experience in a human services setting preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.
• Experience as group facilitator, crisis intervention and/or social work.
• Two years’ work or volunteer experience in a human service setting preferred.

CONDITIONS OF HIRE:

• Successful completion of the YWCA Sonoma County Domestic Violence Training Program. Course requires 40hours of instruction.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Candidate must be able to lift up to 35 pounds.
• Movement within office environment including up and down three flights of stairs while carrying items.
• Ability to communicate by speech and hearing.
• Visual acuity needed for detail work, computer use, reading and to potentially supervise children in a variety of activities.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to walk, run, move, squat, stoop, bend, twist, turn, push, pull and reach while interacting with children.
• Ability to use cleaning agents and supplies while performing light housework.

YWCA SONOMA COUNTY’S COMMITMENT TO DEI:

We at YWCA Sonoma County know that our best work happens when all our voices are heard, our perspectives are valued, and our whole selves are engaged.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $24.00 - $26.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• No weekends

Work Location: In person

Salary : $24 - $26