Community Advocate

Position:           Community Advocate

Supervisor:       OCDEAF Regional Director

Location:          OCDEAF

Classification:   Non-exempt, 32 hours per week

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of the Director, the Community Advocate:

1. Provides advocacy in the areas of Social Security, education, employment, consumer affairs, and others;
2. Peer-counsels deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers with problems related to personal and family adjustments, finances, employment, food, clothing and housing
3. Assists deaf and hard of hearing consumers with communication access via Videophone, TTY relay, document translation, and other duties
4. Assists deaf and hard of hearing consumers with independent living skills
5. Daily records statistics related to the provision of services
6. Educates the deaf and hard of hearing community about various laws and programs benefiting and protecting the rights of deaf persons (Department of Rehabilitation, Social Security policies and the ADA).
7. Assists with consumer workshops, trainings for service providers and community events
8. Refers consumers to community resources and other organizations
9. Secures information and resources beneficial to the department pertaining to social security, immigration, mediation, through workshops, seminars and through networking with other agencies
10. Perform Community Outreach responsibilities such as (but not limited to) community trainings, fundraising events, community education, community presentations, and various fieldwork within the agency service area.
11. Performs such tasks and responsibilities as may be assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Fluency in ASL is required.
2. Bachelor’s degree with two years of advocacy-related experience
3. Background knowledge of various laws and programs benefiting and protecting the rights of deaf and hard of hearing persons, such as Department of Rehabilitation regulations and Social Security policies, ADA, etc.
4. Able to assess and adapt to sign styles to fit the communication needs of the individual who may be deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or recently deafened, and to work with a multi-ethnic population.
5. Able to function in a team environment and be willing to drive long distances to outreach offices as needed.
6. Ability to handle personal details, data and other private information. Must maintain the highest level of confidentiality.
7. Demonstrated ability to perform professionally. Punctuality and reliability are a must.
8. Demonstrated efficiency with Microsoft Office programs is required.
9. Be detail-oriented with strong organizational and written communication skills. Must prioritize and handle multiple tasks, sometimes with competing deadlines.
10. Excellent interpersonal skills are required. Must maintain a cooperative relationship with consumers, co-employees, directors, and the CEO.
11. As business needs require, employee’s schedule may be adjusted to allow for coverage at Deaf Expos and other deaf outreach events that occur on weekends.
12. Must have reliable transportation and maintain up-to-date auto insurance.

Note: As part of our hiring process, the selected candidate must complete and pass a background check of references, criminal background screening and drug screening.

About GLAD:

The Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness is a private non-profit organization that was founded in 1969 and now has 13 locations serving 10 counties in Southern California. 

Our goal is to protect the civil rights, and ensure equal access for the deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and deaf disabled communities in particular areas of California, including the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Riverside, Mono, Inyo and San Luis Obispo, to all of life’s opportunities.

GLAD’s general purpose and powers shall be to promote the educational, health, housing, vocational, cultural, social and recreational welfare of its deaf and hard of hearing constituents.

The organization’s specific and primary purposes shall be to act as a coordinating agency addressing the broad social service needs of deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and deaf disabled individuals through direct service provision, advocacy, research and dissemination of information to the consumers, professionals and parents.

GLAD offers the follow benefits for full time employees:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
• Flex Spending Account
• Employee-paid 403B retirement Plan
• Employer-paid 401A retirement plan
• Life Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Supplemental Insurance
• Vacation days starting at 2 weeks per year
• 12 paid sick days per year
• Paid Holidays

Employee insurance plans are able to begin after the first 30 days of employment.

Part time employees (employees regularly scheduled to work 19 hours per week or more) earn sick leave on a prorated basis based on regularly scheduled hours.

Salary Range: $29.00 - $30.16 per hour ($48,256 - $50,186.24 per year) 

OPEN UNTIL FILLED.

To apply, go to https://gladinc.bamboohr.com/careers

GLAD is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

GLAD is committed to complying with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in the operations of GLAD and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of GLAD, including supervisors and co-workers.

This is an at-will employment position. Both GLAD and the employee may end the employment relationship at any time, without notice, and without good cause.