Peer Advocate -- volunteer or paid positions

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PEER ADVOCATE JOB DESCRIPTION

Senior & Disability Action is seeking Peer Advocates for our office. There are paid and volunteer positions available. Please read through the full description before applying.

Who we are:

Seniors and Disability Action mobilizes and educates seniors and people with disabilities to fight for individual rights and social justice. Through individual support and collective action, we work together to create a city and world in which seniors and people with disabilities can live well and safely. SDA was formed by the joining of Senior Action Network (SAN) and Planning for Elders in the Central City (PECC), with a history of working with seniors and people with disabilities for more than 40 years combined.

What is the Peer Advocate Program:

SDA has a long history of supporting our community members using the peer support, empowerment approach. The meaning of "peer" can vary - you might be a peer in terms of gender, race, cultural background, age or disability. In this context, Peer Advocates use their own experiences to support other seniors and people with disabilities in navigating the systems of support that we need to live safely and with dignity and be a vital part of our communities. Peer support has long been understood to be a very empowering approach, since people tend to identify with and trust other people who have struggled with similar issues, especially when discrimination is involved. Therefore, we don’t view people who come to our office as our "clients" but as community members. They either call or come into our office seeking support around issues such as food, housing, healthcare, and legal. The Peer Advocate Program is part of the Consumer Rights for Community Living (CRCL) and was created to train and support Peer Advocates to assist consumers in such situations.

Position description:

ïConduct interviews with people who call or come into the office

ïProvide referrals and advocacy when needed

ïSupport front office operations by answering phones and greeting people

ïHelp with data entry and mailing when needed

You would be a good match for us if:

ïYou identify yourself as a senior or a person with a disability and are interested in working with this population

ïYou are willing to listen with empathy and work with seniors and people with disabilities

ïYou are able to come in for a 2 or 4 hour weekly shift and attend the 20 hour mandatory training

ïYou are able to make a 6 month commitment

ïYou share our social justice principles

ïYou are willing to learn and work with a diverse group of people

We invite you to join us at our community events. Every 2 nd Thursday of the month brings our General Meeting, where we engage in progressive conversations and where community members connect through sharing experiences and rallying for social justice. Alternatively, you can register for the SDA University and Survival School, check out our HealthCare Action Team, or attend Housing meetings. To find out more about us, check out our website at www.sdaction.org