Job Description

CHILD AND ADULT COUNSELOR/ADVOCATE
North Adams Office

Elizabeth Freeman Center (EFC) seeks a passionate counselor/advocate to work in its North Adams office counseling and assisting survivors of domestic and sexual violence, with a focus on working with children and youth.

Responsibilities:
Provide adult and child survivors of domestic or sexual assault violence with support, advocacy, and assistance, including:
o assessing their circumstances and emergency needs and providing assistance to meet those needs;
o offering individual counseling and support groups;
o safety planning;
o advocating on issues of housing, finances and benefits, children, education, mental health, and substance abuse;
o referring victims to services including other EFC services (e.g. court support) and community resources (including Community Legal Aid, the District Attorney's office, housing resources, etc.), with follow-up as appropriate
Contributing to outreach and collaboration efforts, including: liaising with community partners, providing community education, disseminating program outreach materials, and tabling at community events
Maintain professional boundaries with individuals receiving EFC services, maintain excellent records in agency database, and adhere to strict guidelines to ensure client confidentiality
Complete all other duties to further EFC's mission and to ensure that survivors are safe and are provided with professional, empathetic, affirming services within the context of the agency's mission and consistent with grant and legal requirements

Qualifications:
Demonstrated commitment to providing survivors of domestic and sexual violence with holistic, accessible, trauma-informed, strength-based victim services and advocacy
Demonstrated commitment to providing affirming, culturally relevant services to marginalized survivors (including rural, LGBTQ, immigrants, and survivors living with disabilities)
Experience working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence and/or children strongly preferred
Bilingual English and Spanish strongly preferred
Ability to work well as part of a team
Ability to work effectively with community groups
Willingness to transport clients when safety is not an issue
Effective written and spoken communication, and proficient computer skills
Bachelor or Associate Degree (may be waived for relevant, comparable level of work or life experience)
Must successfully pass Criminal Record Check-CORI, be found suitable to work with children, and have valid Massachusetts driver's license and reliable transportation

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 $22.00 per hour ($45,760/year base) plus $1.00/hour increment for bilingual English/Spanish skills, and additional increments for frequently used languages, special skills and education, plus year-end bonuses dependent on funding (generally around $2,500). EFC pays 85% of health insurance premiums and contributes to an FSA. EFC has generous paid leave as well as other benefits.

EFC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Survivors of domestic or sexual violence, people of color, people with disabilities, people who are bilingual/bicultural, and members of the LGBTQ community are strongly encouraged to apply.