Position Overview:

This position is responsible to: provide general supportive counseling and advocacy services to survivors of domestic violence (community-based and shelter); conduct trainings and provide outreach and information about DOVE’s services as well as to raise awareness about issues of abuse and violence in the Chinese/Chinese-American community; serve as a liaison between DOVE and Chinese-American community members; and provide advocacy and guidance re: strengthening of culturally responsive and affirming services within DOVE and to community health and social service providers. This position reports to the Senior Manager, Community Services and will also work closely with the Senior Manager, Prevention & Education.

Responsibilities include:

Community Advocacy/Direct Service Provision (60-65%)

– Provide culturally competent and affirming, trauma-informed emotional support, supportive counseling, advocacy, and assistance to survivors seen through DOVE’s community-based services. Includes conducting culturally specific danger assessment and safety planning as well as connecting survivors with internal and external services (e.g., legal, housing, benefits, mental health and substance abuse, etc.). Act as Counselor of the Day in rotation with other Advocates and Interns in Community Office.

– Work collaboratively with health and social service providers, service providers specializing in care for Chinese/Chinese American community members, therapists, child protection services, and others to ensure coordination of services for clients.

– Design, promote, and co-facilitate psycho-educational and/or support groups as assigned, with targeted outreach to Chinese/ Chinese-American survivors.

– Be available for consultation by other team members and intern(s) as well as community partners as needed, particularly on the needs of Chinese/Chinese American survivors.

– Periodically provide coverage of the shelter and hotline.

– Assist Senior Managers with ongoing program development and development/evaluation of program effectiveness.

– Participate in regular on-call rotation (1 week every 5-8 weeks).

Chinese Community Outreach & Awareness, Program-Building, & Liaison (25-35%)

– Initiate contact and grow relationships with community service providers, churches/temples, food pantries, schools, and others working with Chinese/Chinese American communities to promote awareness of DOVE’s services. Work to embed self in and engage with these community settings to build relationship and gain trust. Will include working with Asian Task Force Against DV, Quincy Asian Resources (QARI), Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, and South Cove Community and Manet Community Health Centers.

– Contribute to outreach and collaboration events, including representing DOVE at community and health fairs, tabling events, cultural and community festivals, events, and forums.

– Conduct presentations to promote awareness of dating and domestic/partner violence issues, as well as DOVE’s services.

– Assess, be a voice for, strengthen, and grow DOVE’s policies, practices, and organizational capacity to provide services that are informed by and responsive to Chinese/Chinese American survivors’ needs. Help DOVE work to earn the trust and confidence of Chinese/Chinese American communities and survivors.

– Serve as an ambassador for and liaison with DOVE for members of Chinese/Chinese American communities, sharing information out, and bringing feedback and information in.

– Ensure that all Chinese/Chinese American survivors are provided with professional, empathic, culturally affirming services within the context of DOVE’s mission and funder requirements.

 Administrative/Additional Responsibilities (10-15%)

– Attend and participate in regularly scheduled individual supervision, staff meetings, case review and community advocacy team meetings, and ongoing professional development meetings and trainings.

– Keep case notes and records, track services delivered in the EmpowerDB database; submit routine reports for funders in collaboration with the Senior Manager of Community Services.

– Periodically represent DOVE in meetings or interactions with collaborators, community stakeholders, donors, and/or funders.

– Complete other duties to ensure that DOVE clients/survivors and communities are provided with professional, empathic, safe, and affirming services within the context of DOVE’s mission and consistent with legal, organizational, and funder requirements.  

Skills & Qualifications:

– Bilingual/Bicultural. Excellent oral skills in English and Mandarin and/or Cantonese. Excellent written skills in English and Chinese.

– Knowledge and demonstrated ability/experience working within and on behalf of Chinese/ Chinese American persons and communities; experience in partner abuse in historically oppressed communities preferred.

– Knowledge and demonstrated ability/experience working with individuals and families impacted by violence, abuse and trauma.

– Knowledge and demonstrated ability/experience working with people from a range of diverse backgrounds (racially, ethnically, and culturally) as well as identities and lived experiences.

– Knowledge and demonstrated ability/experience working with individuals with histories of substance abuse and/or mental health challenges.

– Basic knowledge of legal, child protection, health and mental health/social service systems helpful.

– Demonstrated crisis intervention, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills.

– Be a “people person;” enjoy talking and working with others.

– Demonstrated experience making and maintaining connections in community and professional settings; some experience in public speaking, networking, designing and conducting presentation and training, group facilitation helpful.

– Willingness to learn about and actively use anti-oppression awareness and understanding in work.

– Ability to collaborate effectively, internally and externally. 

– Ability to effectively multi-task. 

– Flexibility and sense of humor. 

– Sound computer skills.

– Bachelor’s degree in Women’s/Gender studies, Asian Studies, Africana Studies, Chicana studies, social work, sociology, or related field + 2 years’ related experience required. Anti-oppression activist experience preferred.

Requirements:

– Must be committed to DOVE’s mission and practice philosophies, to ending violence and oppression, to using empowerment practice, and to promoting social justice and social change. 

– Must complete DOVE’s comprehensive domestic violence training within one (1) year of hire, participating when the training is next offered by DOVE; documentation of similar training at another organization may partially fulfill this requirement. 

– Valid MA driver’s license, reliable transportation, current automobile insurance, and willingness to travel within DOVE’s service area on organizational business very strongly preferred.

– Able to climb and descend stairs, bend, and lift items (including shoveling) up to 25 pounds preferred.

– This position is classified as an Essential Employee of DOVE and may be required to travel during State of Emergency declared by the Governor.

– A CORI background check is mandatory. CORI History will be reviewed and may not disqualify candidates.

– CORI check upon offer of hire.

**  DOVE is willing to cultivate the leadership potential of promising candidates. Domestic violence survivors, members of historically oppressed communities, Bilingual/Bicultural (Chinese/English), persons of color, LGBQ/T-identified persons, and persons with experience working in DOVE’s catchment area are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Work Schedule: Full-time, hourly position, 38-40 hours/week, generally Monday-Friday 8 hours/day, including some evening and weekend hours; flexibility is a must. The incumbent will be required to work at other times to provide on-call coverage and/or attend training/meetings; this will periodically include evening and weekend hours. 

For more information on DOVE, see our website: www.dovema.org

 

To apply, send Cover Letter specifically for this position and Resume to: Kathleen Lydon, LICSW, Senior Manager of Community Services, DOVE Inc. at applytodove@gmail.com. Applications will be considered until the position is successfully filled. First round applicant reviews will begin the week of June 12 and interviews offered to the strongest qualified candidates to date. It is DOVE’s hope that the incumbent will begin work July/August 2017. Applications or resumes without a cover letter expressing interest in employment at DOVE will not be considered.