Latinx Youth Advocate

Pay: $26.50 - $29.75/hr, benefits available first of the month following date of hire

Position Purpose

The Latinx Youth Advocate will focus on providing individual, group and family services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or exploitation in our region with a focus on serving Latinx youth and families. This position is part of the Youth Services Program at CWS and will be co-located within rural and suburban school districts in Clackamas County to increase access to services for youth survivors. The position will also have mobile capacities to meet youth, families, and partners throughout the county at schools, social service agencies, medical/forensic settings, court, etc.

Key responsibilities

Youth Advocacy and Family Support:

• Provide advocacy and follow-up support to youth and/or their caregivers in various areas of the county by offering the following support:
• • Short-term, crisis intervention services
  • Emotional support
  • Safety planning
  • Assessment of needs, strengths, and challenges
  • Assist with individualized goal setting
  • Identification and connection to supports (caregivers, counselors, family members, etc.)
  • Information and referral for community resources
• Serve as lead CWS representative within co-located school-based sites by building relationships with school-based partners, participating in Parentship Meetings, and maintaining connections to school personnel to support school-based, co-located partnerships.
• Attend CWS’ Violence Prevention lessons within K-12 classrooms within Clackamas County to provide information on advocacy services and follow-up support to students seeking services.
• Coordinate and facilitate Youth Services Program groups, such as Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM) for youth, A Window Between Worlds, as well as Paternidad Activa & Charlas de Café for parents.  
• Complete outreach for Parenting classes and groups, and act as lead facilitator for regular weekly parenting class held in the evening and in Spanish.
• Assist with planning and implementation of the Pathways to HOPE and Camp HOPE America – Oregon programs including:
• • • Serve as sub-committee chair for at least one Camp HOPE Planning Committee
    • Assist with training for staff and volunteers participating in the Pathways to HOPE and Camp HOPE America – Oregon programs.
    • Assist with activity implementation, camper engagement, and family communication throughout the year.
    • Act as an in-person, lead staff member at overnight camp program for 2 weeks & 2 weekends each summer by leading activities and participating in the execution of all aspects of on-site programming.
    • Act as a mentor for camp counselors and camp support staff
• Develop expertise for supporting youth who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault and/or dating violence to ensure youth survivors have adequate support while navigating systems (schools, courts, law enforcement, DHS, title IX, etc.).
• Provide culturally specific/culturally relevant advocacy support to Latinx youth across the agency – including shelter, counseling, etc.

Other Youth Services Responsibilities:

• Serve as the CWS Representative on community collaborations that support youth and/or culturally specific populations such as school-specific collaborations such as the Rowe Community Collaborative, School-Based Care Teams, or the Hispanic Interagency Networking Team, as well as outreach events related to Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
• Have a working knowledge of age-appropriate toys & activities and be able to create engaging environments for children & youth.
• Maintain working knowledge of best, evidence-based, and promising practices in confidential advocacy.
• Assist the Youth Services Program Manager in implementing child-focused initiatives including ensuring services are culturally relevant and accessible for Latinx youth.
• Provide feedback and consultation across CWS programs to support children and youth services that focus on resiliency and strengths.
• Assist with development of Youth Services participant communication via emails, flyers, text, brochures, etc. and ensure communication is clear, timeline and supports language access.
• Provide ongoing outreach to the community by providing Youth Services specific presentations and other trainings—including but not limited to volunteer recruitment presentations and community education presentations such as The Impacts of Violence on Youth and The Dynamics of Teen Dating Violence.

General responsibilities

• Represent the mission and value of CWS to program participants and community partners.
• Represent and reflect the values of the agency through direct communication and collaboration with co-workers, partners, and participants.
• Complete documentation of all services, including intakes, releases of information, demographics tracking and statistics within the CWS database for all participants on a minimum of a weekly basis.
• Maintain appropriate participant confidentiality in accordance with advocate privilege and federal statutes.
• Model values of equity and inclusion in decision making and daily work.
• Attend and participate in regular group consultation and staff meetings. Participate in all staff meetings.
• Assist with monthly, quarterly, and annual statistical and narrative reports as assigned by the Youth Services Program Manager.
• Ensure all communication with community partners is aligned with CWS values.
• Engage in public speaking engagement on behalf of CWS.
• Work in conjunction with other staff to provide consistent services to participants.
• Meet regularly with the supervisor to plan and prioritize projects.
• Submit necessary monthly timesheets and mileage reimbursement forms.
• Manage daily schedule appropriately.

Qualifications

• Bilingual (Spanish/English)
• Bicultural preferred
• Willingness to complete 40-hr confidential advocate training
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate an understanding of domestic & sexual violence, and their effects on survivors, children, youth, and society
• Demonstrated understanding of anti-oppression issues, ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and understanding of culturally competent service delivery methods
• Enthusiasm for working collaboratively with a wide range of public and private systems intersecting with the DVSA field (law enforcement, DHS, courts, education, etc.).
• Computer proficiency in Windows environment including word processing and spreadsheets; (client databases preferred)
• Ability to work extended shifts during special events.
• Ability to work two full weeks at camp during the summer (dates TBD), including some overnights.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required; position includes use of personal vehicle to complete some
• Must be able to travel throughout Clackamas County and the Greater Portland Area.
• The person in this position frequently: moves throughout CWS worksites and the community to meet with participants, community partners, and staff. The person will also periodically move supplies and other items (up to 50 lbs.) from one place to another, participates in community events, and may work in all types of weather.