Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Advocate

Position Overview: The Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL) seeks a Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Advocate. In collaboration with the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC), BCIL works to increase awareness and prevention of domestic and sexual violence in the disability community. The Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness Advocate supports survivors of domestic and sexual violence, abuse, and neglect through safety planning, resource referrals, navigation of support services and mandatory reporting processes. The advocate also represents BCIL at meetings with collaborative partners and provides outreach, education, and support to area organizations within the BCIL service area. The advocate will also be involved in organization advocacy efforts and projects impacting people with disabilities.

The Boston Center for Independent Living is a frontline civil rights organization led by people with disabilities that advocates to eliminate discrimination, isolation, and segregation by providing advocacy, information and referral, peer support, skills training, PCA services, and transitional services to enhance the independence of people with disabilities.

As an organization, we commit to making all aspects of our work antiracist, not only because it is just but because it is necessary to serve our community of people with disabilities. We commit to purposefully identify, discuss, and challenge issues of race and ethnicity, and the impacts they have on our organization, our work, and our people.

BCIL serves a very diverse clientele and our staff reflect much of that diversity. People with disabilities, people of color and those who speak another language are encouraged to apply for positions. All applicants are welcome.

Responsibilities:

• Provide initial response/support to BCIL consumers who report domestic violence or sexual assault and assist with appropriate referrals.
• Work with BCIL outreach staff, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, and other community organizations on public outreach, joint projects, and educational opportunities both within BCIL and the disability community at large, promoting awareness of and responses to domestic violence and sexual assault against people with disabilities.
• Engage with BCIL staff across all departments and provide education and support on working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault utilizing trauma-informed best practices.
• Attend meetings, webinars, conferences, and events, including ones outside of Boston, representing BCIL’s mission and values.
• Develop and give presentations on the intersections of domestic violence, sexual assault, and disability as well as relationship building to increase referrals to BCIL.
• Engage BCIL consumers through outreach, training, and events focused on how domestic violence and sexual assault may impact them as allies and/or survivors.
• Enter required data on work performed and compile narrative reports as necessary.
• Provide social media content supporting the efforts of this position.
• Ability to work occasional weekends and evenings and maintain confidentiality and comply with privacy mandates, including HIPAA, while also following all mandated-reporting requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

 Desired qualifications and competencies:

• Experience working with people with disabilities and/or survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence.
• Educational background and experience in human services and advocacy.
• Understanding of disability rights and independent living philosophy. Lived experience with disability is a plus.
• Team player experienced in collaborations while able to work independently with strong time management skills.
• Excellent listening and empathy skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Bilingual skills in languages commonly spoken by BCIL consumers are a plus.
• Ability to travel to both BCIL offices and the BCIL service area regularly and other areas as necessary (car not needed).

Equipment Operated:

Computers, copier, scanner, Microsoft Office, printer, and other office equipment/programs.

Working Environment:

The office area is a shared workspace. Verbal communication can be heard from other staff in adjoining areas. Staff are required to submit Covid vaccine card. The position requires four days of in-office working from both the Downtown Crossing and Fields corner offices and includes seeing consumers in person and meeting people outside of the office.

 Hours: 40 Hours – Full Time

 Benefits:

• 2 weeks paid vacation (increases with length of service)
• 2 personal days
• 13 holidays
• 12 sick days
• Health, dental, and vision (75% paid by agency).  Short-term disability, long-term disability, and group life insurance are 100% company-paid.
• Optional FSA medical and dependent care accounts, critical care insurance, and additional life insurance available (employee paid).
• 403(B) retirement plans available.

Salary:  $47,000 – $50,000 annually, depending upon experience (language differential available for languages used by consumers)

How to apply: Email both cover letter and resume to:  BCILemployment@bostoncil.org

BCIL is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.  Reasonable accommodation is provided as needed for employees and other affiliates.  Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE) checks are part of BCIL’s standard procedure.