Elizabeth Freeman Center (EFC) seeks a passionate advocate to expand resources, networks and services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence living with disabilities in Berkshire County.  This position focuses on developing organizational expertise and expanding options for and outreach to survivors with disabilities.  Email cover letter and resume to jobs@elizabethfreemancenter.org.  Deadlines are rolling until position has been filled. AA/EOE 

Responsibilities include:

• Assist survivors with emotional, physical, cognitive, and/or developmental disabilities in getting or staying safe from domestic or sexual violence. This can include:
  • helping survivors access resources like housing, benefits, income, and medical and mental health supports
  • advocating on issues of disability, accessibility, financial independence, safety, rights, children, and more
  • providing assistance to meet emergency needs
  • addressing disability-based barriers to help or healing
  • connecting victims with community resources (including court support, legal aid, and medical access) with follow-up as appropriate
  • doing safety planning
  • offering counseling as needed
• Help lead a Disability Justice Coalition to address the barriers to service and needs of survivors with disabilities in Berkshire County, including:
  • facilitating coalition meetings
  • organizing community trainings, symposia, and other collaboration efforts

• cultivating relationships with providers working with disability communities

• Expand outreach efforts with disability communities, including:

• providing community education on recognizing sexual or domestic violence; getting help and support; healthy relationships and sexuality; and leadership opportunities
• offering services in accessible locations convenient for ‘one-stop shop’ access
• creating and disseminating program outreach materials
• Enhance agency capacity to provide intensive supports to survivors with disabilities
  • serve as a resource to staff on their disability-justice related cases
  • coordinate staff trainings and agency assessments
  • explore the use of additional assistive technologies
  • improve countywide data on the risks, access to services, and outcomes experienced by different populations of survivors living with disabilities
• Participate in internal programmatic meetings, supervision, committees, and projects, and complete any additional training recommended by Supervisor
• Maintain appropriate and professional boundaries with individuals receiving EFC services and adhere to strict guidelines and protocols to ensure client confidentiality
• Complete all other duties to ensure that survivors with disabilities are safe and are provided with professional, empathetic, affirming, and accessible services within the context of the agency’s mission and consistent with grant requirements
• Other duties as assigned to promote agency mission

Work Hours:  40 hours per week. Occasional evening and weekend work required for outreach and counseling activities. 

Compensation and benefits:   

Elizabeth Freeman Center believes in offering all staff competitive salary and benefits, engaged and dedicated colleagues, training and education in best practices, career development opportunities, openness to innovation, and the opportunity and resources to do meaningful, impactful work.  This position begins at $20.50 per hour ($42,640 annually) plus add-on hourly increments for bilingual skills in ASL and other frequently used languages, special skills and education, and a year-end bonus depending on funding. EFC pays 85% of health insurance premiums and contributes to an FSA. EFC has generous paid leave as well as other benefits.

• Fierce advocacy skills
• Strong connection to disability communities and a commitment to disability justice
• Experience working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and/or knowledge of domestic and sexual violence

• Experience in counseling, community organizing, and/or community engagement
• Skills in verbal and written communication, computers/technology, organization, and collaboration
• Ability to work well as a part of a team
• Must successfully pass Criminal Record Check-CORI and have valid Massachusetts driver’s license and reliable transportation