Community Advocate Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Community Support Advocate - DFCS
Reports to: Two Co-Directors of Programs

FTE: Full-time
Location: San Jose, CA

Schedule: FT, 40hr/week onsite

Who We Are

Our mission is to end domestic violence in the moment and for all time.

 In 1971, our founder Bea Robinson Mendez, concerned about the lack of services and options for domestic violence survivors, gathered a small group of her friends to figure out a solution.  They set up a shelter in a garage and established a hotline number to provide information and support to survivors. Unbeknownst to them, it would become the second domestic violence agency in California and the first bilingual domestic violence shelter in the nation. So began the story of Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence (NDS). Domestic violence is the most prevalent form of gender-based violence, often the most frequently reported crime and arguably the one with the greatest damaging effect on our families, youth, and communities.  We are the only stand-alone, domestic violence agency in Santa Clara County, answering approximately 15,000 crisis calls and serving an average of 3,000 survivors of domestic violence annually. Our comprehensive, compassionate, bilingual and multicultural services are available free of charge to all individuals across the gender spectrum and of varying abilities.

By joining NDS, you become part of a team that serves thousands, uplifts community models of support, and looks first for a way to say “yes.”  NDS is a place where inclusion, diversity, equity, access, liberation (IDEAL) are not just celebrated, but they are central to our existence. We are emerging from the pandemic in a stage of rapid reflection, and change, which means exciting new opportunities are opening up for forming transformative community partnerships, nurturing our staff, and growing our team.

Culture and Climate

NDS has developed a supportive workplace culture where personal and professional connections are valued and facilitated. Our guiding values are:

• Oneness & Connectedness
• Survivor & Community Centered
• Compassionate Accountability
• Equity & Justice
• Inclusion for Liberation

Overview:

The Community Support Advocate - DFCS plays a critical role in supporting survivors as they navigate complex systems, with a particular emphasis on the Department of Family and Child Services (DFCS).  This position is responsible for providing integral gateway services at Next Door Solutions’ community office as well as in the community.  This bi-lingual advocate will provide extensive safety planning, risk assessment counseling, and warm referrals to survivors through face-to-face and telephone services. 

Responsibilities: 

Provide direct services to survivors referred by DFCS according to NDS' philosophy and policies. These services include but are not limited to: crisis counseling; intake interviews; performing client assessments; assisting clients in creating and achieving a goal plan for independence (covering areas such as housing, income source, legal and medical needs); advocating on behalf of clients with other agencies; providing appropriate referrals; accompanying clients to appointments as needed; and providing information and referrals as well as support to clients

• Create and navigate “warm “referrals/resources/connections with community in order foster connection and to meet participant needs   
• Provide services to participants including: information on legal rights, court accompaniment, development of social bio packets, assistance with filing police reports, attend CFT meetings,   advocacy in relation to police and other systems   
• Assist with engagement with clients who are in jail via phone or in-person 
• Participate in Department of Family & Children Services’ Child Family Team Meetings
• Using police reports, follow-up with victims to discuss services
• Assist with maintenance of database of system contacts/map systems landscape 
• Create and maintain appropriate   participant records, notes, and documentation, including database entry
• Advocate for participants and work collaboratively with values-aligned systems, courts, county departments and other related agencies
• Support, create, and maintain a working environment that aligns with the organizations’ values
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and education  related to domestic violence laws, trends, systems and other related topics 
• Attend all supervision, internal and external meetings decided by the team, including All Hands, 1:1 Check-ins, full leadership, and Direct Service meetings
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements:

• AA, BA, BSW degree plus 2 years of nonprofit experience
• Knowledge of trauma informed services
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work individually one-on-one with clients and as part of a team
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work under pressure and multitask
• Ability to meet assigned deadlines
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) required.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of domestic violence with 40 hour Domestic Violence Training certificate preferred

Next Door Solutions is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of ancestry, age, color, disability (physical and mental, includes HIV and AIDS), genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion (includes religious dress and grooming), sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and/or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, or request for FMLA.