Bilingual La Familia Associate -Spanish/English-speaking

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LA FAMILIA PROGRAM: Bilingual Spanish/English-speaking La Familia Associate

Location: YWCA Domestic Violence Department, Support Network Program, 375 South Third St, San Jose, CA 95112 and/or at a satellite office location in the North County (Sunnyvale/Mountain View) area.

Purpose:

To (a) support the day-to-day function of an innovative and dynamic program designed to assist individuals and families within Latino communities affected by domestic violence rebuild their lives and

(b) support the prevention and intervention services offered by La Familia to reduce incidents of domestic violence within Latino communities and

(c) provide Spanish Speaking individuals, and other individuals who are victims of domestic violence involved in legal proceedings for Restraining Orders, Child Custody, Child Support and Meditation with support and accompaniment to Family Court.

Major Responsibilities:

Working directly with La Familia team members, engage in any/all of the following activities:

• Execute a wide variety of administrative tasks associated with the day-to-day function of the program. Track services provided; maintain required records.
• Participate in crisis-intervention activities - community resource referrals, advocacy, saftey-planning, and more.
• Provide support and assistance individuals in need of counseling. Conduct in-person counselingappointments.
• Provide information on La Familia Program services, YWCA Support Network Program's services and other community support services, and the appropriate ways to access them.
• Prepare and translate documents, including restraining orders and declarations.
• Help host support groups - assist with session preparation, co-host sessions, and complete post-session tasks.
• Provide help and/or support with immigration issues, human trafficking, and criminal protective orders.
• Foster strong advocacy relationships with other community organizations.
• Mandatory: Report any known or suspected instance of child abuse and/or neglect to a YWCA Support Network Prgram employee.
• CHILDREN: Facilitate/ co-facilitate activity sessions/groups for Spanish-speaking chiildren, and other while parents attend a counseling session or group.- Completion of Legal Program Component Training required.
• COURT SUPPORT: Accompany victims to court appointments.Provide victims with one-on-one support to assist them through the unfamiliar court environment and complex court processes. Provide details, as required, about the when, where, what and how of the court system. Assist victims with exploring their options by providing legal information. As necessary, advocate for victims with the District Attorney, Court Baliff and other court personnel. This does not invovle speaking on behalf of the victim when in the presence of the Judge. Maintain confidentialty about victim and the case. Completion of Legal Program Component Training required.

Required Qualifications:

• Fluent in Spanish and English.
• Ability to listen actively and respectfully, and respond with warmth, compassion and empathy.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Ability to work with and support individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Detail-oriented, thorough, organized and reliable.
• Working knowledge of computers - Word, Outlook (e-mail), and the Internet.
• Strong desire to leanr about unfamiliar and complex processes and share this information with victims.
• Interest in, and commitment to, continous learning about domestic violence and the empowerment of victims of domestic violence to exercise their rights.

Preferred (but not essential) Qualifications:

• Knowledge and understanding of the diverse Latino/Latina cultures.
• Previous experience in related areas - social/human services agencies or other non-profit/community-based agencies.

Benefits to Volunteering:

• Satisfaction derived from assisting families within Latino communities affected by domestic violence rebuild their lives, and supporting prevention and intervention efforts to reduce incidents of domestic violence within Latino communities.
• Opportunity to develop extensive knowledge and skills in the field of domestic violence with a focus on Latino communities.
• Develop insight into the rights of the victims of domestic violence, how to navigate complex social/legal/immigration systems and achieve outcomes that help victims protect themselves and their families.

Training Required:

• Completion of the YWCA Support Network Program's 40-hour Domestic Violence Counselor Training
• Completion of the YWCA Support Network Program's 1-hour La Familia Program Component Training
• Completion of the YWCA Support Network Program's 1-hour Legal Services Program Component Training
• Completion of the YWCA Support Network Program's 1-hour Children's Services Component Training

Time Commitment: Volunteer 3 hours a week, or more, arranged on a mutually convenient schedule with the La Familia Program Coordinator, between the following times:

Monday 9:00am - 4:00pm

Tuesday 9:00am - 4:00pm

Wednesday 10:00am - 5:45pm

Thursday 1:00pm - 8:15pm

Friday 9:00am - 2:00pm

Required commitment: Minimum of 100 hours of service (post-training).