Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Shelter: Bilingual Spanish-English Life Skills Support Person

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Location: YWCA’s Shelter at a confidential location in Santa Clara County.

Director: Director of Support Services

Supervisor: Bilingual Spanish-English Shelter Manager

Direction provided by: Bilingual Spanish-English Shelter Advocates; Shelter Advocates

Purpose: To provide Shelter residents, including Spanish-speaking residents, with guidance and assistance in developing essential life skills to enhance individual empowerment, self-sufficiency, independence and personal health/well-being.

Major Responsibilities:

• As requested by Shelter employees, support Shelter residents through conversation, instruction and/or written information in the development of essential life skills in any of the following areas, based on personal knowledge base and comfort level: employment, education, money management, time-management, meal-planning, parenting, networking, transportation, health and self-care, housing, self-management, negotiation/conflict management, daily living, healthy relationships, communication, decision-making, stress-management, relaxation techniques, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Before and after providing support, consult with the Shelter employee on-site to share information on session goals and outcomes.
• Create a safe, respectful, and healthy space for growth and development by building trust, engaging in active and respectful listening, and interacting with warmth, compassion and empathy.
• Interact with sensitivity to the needs of individuals affected by trauma.
• Work in compliance with all legal requirements, and organizational and departmental policies, procedures and standards. Complete all required documentation within requested time frames.
• Maintain Counselor/Victim Privilege of Confidentiality as legally required under California Evidence Codes.
• Mandatory: Immediately report to a supervising employee, the Supervisor, and/or the Director, any known or suspected instance of child abuse/neglect, elder abuse, and dependent adult abuse.

Required Qualifications:

• Fluent Spanish-English speaking, writing, and reading skills. Knowledge and understanding of diverse Latino/a cultures.
• One year or more of personal/professional, paid/unpaid experience in 3 or more of the following essential life skills: Employment, education, money management, time-management, meal-planning, parenting, networking, transportation, health and self-care, housing, self-management, negotiation/conflict management, daily living, healthy relationships, communication, decision-making, stress-management, relaxation techniques, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Interest in, and a commitment to, continuous learning about domestic violence and the needs of victims/survivors.
• High level of emotional intelligence, maturity, and empathy, and a nurturing personality.
• Ability to listen actively and respectfully, and respond with warmth, compassion and empathy.
• A flexible nature; the ability to work in a changing, restricted and sometimes unpredictable environment.
• Ability to work as a member of a team, be open to feedback, and seek guidance, direction and input from others.
• Ability to practice cultural humility, i.e. maintain an interpersonal approach that is other-oriented in relation to aspects of cultural identity that are most important to the person. Ability to work with/support individuals from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Commitment to developing knowledge, skills and abilities to better connect with individuals and communities, and to gaining more insight into personal biases and identities. This includes, and is not limited to, treating all people with respect and dignity, recognizing and appreciating cultural differences, and working to interact with greater cultural sensitivity.
• Ability to empower victims/survivors by providing emotional support, resources, tools, and options based on what the individual is requesting, avoiding words and actions based on personal perspectives, judgments, and bias.
• Ability to be non-judgmental, open, honest and calm, and maintain professional boundaries.

Training & Other Requirements:

• Completion of the CA State-mandated Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Counselor 65hr Training (hosted by the YWCA).
• Completion of additional training /orientation sessions to develop personal comfort level with providing Shelter residents with guidance and assistance in developing essential life skills.
• Clearance on a background check, including DOJ & FBI fingerprinting.
• Completion of all policies and procedures documentation.
• Submitted documentation that confirms an absence of active Tuberculosis.
• Maintain Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Counselor Certification by completing 8 hours of Mandatory Continuing Education and Training (MCET) within each 12month period from the date of completion of the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Counselor 65hr training.

Time Commitment: Minimum of 100 hours of service (post-training).

Volunteer 2-3 hours or more each week, on a mutually convenient schedule, from the following options:

• 10:00am - 9:30pm (excluding 6:00pm - 6:30pm); Mondays and/or Wednesdays
• 8:30am - 9:30pm (excluding 6:00pm - 6:30pm); Tuesdays
• 11:00am - 9:30pm (excluding 6:00pm - 6:30pm); Thursdays
• 10:00am - 5:00pm; Fridays
• 1:00pm - 5:00pm; Saturdays and/or Sundays

YWCA Silicon Valley is an equal opportunity provider and does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender/gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, immigration status, socio-economic status, familial/marital status, veteran status, medical status, being differently-able, or any other basis prohibited by law.

July 2016.