Community Advocate

Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness, Inc•Cypress, CA

1d•$29 - $30•Hybrid

About The Position

The Community Advocate, under the supervision of the Director, provides advocacy in various areas including Social Security, education, employment, and consumer affairs. This role involves peer-counseling deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers on personal, financial, and essential needs like food, clothing, and housing. The advocate also assists with communication access through tools like Videophone and TTY relay, supports independent living skills, and maintains daily service statistics. A key responsibility is educating the deaf and hard-of-hearing community about relevant laws and programs, such as those from the Department of Rehabilitation, Social Security, and the ADA. The position also entails assisting with workshops, trainings, community events, and referring consumers to appropriate resources. Community Outreach is a significant part of the role, including trainings, fundraising, education, presentations, and fieldwork within the agency's service area. The role also involves securing information and resources through networking and attending workshops and seminars.

Requirements

Fluency in ASL is required
Bachelor’s degree with two years of advocacy-related experience
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.
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
Able to function in a team environment and be willing to drive long distances to outreach offices as needed
Ability to handle personal details, data and other private information. Must maintain the highest level of confidentiality
Demonstrated ability to perform professionally. Punctuality and reliability are a must
Demonstrated efficiency with Microsoft Office programs is required
Be detail-oriented with strong organizational and written communication skills. Must prioritize and handle multiple tasks, sometimes with competing deadlines
Excellent interpersonal skills are required. Must maintain a cooperative relationship with consumers, co-employees, directors, and the CEO
Must have reliable transportation and maintain up-to-date auto insurance
Selected candidate must complete and pass a background check of references, criminal background screening and drug screening

Responsibilities

Provides advocacy in the areas of Social Security, education, employment, consumer affairs, and others
Peer-counsels deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers with problems related to personal and family adjustments, finances, employment, food, clothing and housing
Assists deaf and hard of hearing consumers with communication access via Videophone, TTY relay, document translation, and other duties
Assists deaf and hard of hearing consumers with independent living skills
Daily records statistics related to the provision of services
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)
Assists with consumer workshops, trainings for service providers and community events
Refers consumers to community resources and other organizations
Secures information and resources beneficial to the department pertaining to social security, immigration, mediation, through workshops, seminars and through networking with other agencies
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
Performs such tasks and responsibilities as may be assigned