Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist jobs in Reading, PA

Description

Our Mission

Safe Berks provides a safe haven and support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault through education, advocacy and a relentless commitment to prevent abuse. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where individuals can be their true selves and feel empowered to stand up to all forms of oppression.

Our Values

SAFETY

We believe that freedom from physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological harm is a basic human right of all individuals. We know that domestic violence, sexual assault, oppression and privilege include power-based tactics that affect physical, emotional and psychological safety and we work to help survivors heal the wounds caused by power-based violence.

RESPECT

We value the dignity of all individuals while appreciating our differences and celebrating and honoring our diversity. Respect is reflected in the way we treat our clients, ourselves and members of the community. We believe our work requires us to reach out to marginalized individuals and communities and to create space to celebrate and nurture them.

EMPOWERMENT

We believe empowerment begins with recognizing and knowing that individually and collectively Safe Berks clients, staff and volunteers have the strength to make necessary change and to accomplish our goals. We recognize that success is defined by each individual given their experience, talents and culture and we celebrate this success.

EDUCATION

We will educate ourselves and our community to reject and prevent violence and oppression in our own lives and in the lives of the people around us. We recognize that our mission and values are transformational, and we must work with intention to break down social and cultural norms that continue to divide us.

HOPE

We believe that hope is key to our existence, to our ability to persevere and to achieve goals. We recognize that our work fosters hope and resilience and improves physical, emotional, spiritual, and psychological well-being.

Equity and Inclusion

Safe Berks is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where all staff, residents, clients, board members, and volunteers feel safe and empowered to stand up to oppression of all kinds. We believe that the collective sum of our individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, creative outlets, innovative approaches and solutions, unique capabilities, and talent that our employees exhibit in their work represents the quality of our life-saving services. Reflective of the community we serve and embrace, we celebrate differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity, or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.

Position Standards

1. Direct Service Delivery Standard

a. Employee demonstrates a commitment to exceptional service for all individuals seeking assistance from Safe Berks and does so in a manner that is trauma-informed and in line with agency values of safety, respect, empowerment, education, and hope. Employee always maintains confidentiality according to agency requirements, consistently follows agency policies and procedures, and makes good decisions within the boundaries of their position expectations.

2. Conduct and Behavioral Standard

a. Employee responds to changing circumstances by being innovative and adjusting behavior to fit different situations. Employee performs work with a calm demeanor in stressful situations. Even in situations that may cause employee personal discomfort, they are able to be flexible and understand and balance others diverse views and beliefs.

3. Essential Skills Standard

a. Employee has strong communication skills, which are essential to the work of an advocate. They express oneself clearly and effectively when speaking and writing. Employee practices active listening by facilitating two-way communication and ensures that information is understood by all parties. They share information in a timely manner using the most appropriate method and follows up with individuals requesting additional information, referrals, or assistance.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities (includes but is not limited to the following):

1. Design a culturally appropriate strategy for men’s engagement in domestic violence and sexual assault programming.

2. Assist with developing and delivering domestic violence and sexual assault prevention curriculum, trainings, and educational programming to various audiences of all ages and populations. 

3. Establish a training schedule and weekly lesson plan with your supervisor; ensure that all required logistics are in place (training facilities, supplies and equipment, transport, etc.), in accordance with the approved plan and budget

4. Mobilize and recruit male stakeholders at various levels to participate in community dialogues, discussion forums, and formal training sessions, as applicable 

5.  Coordinate advocacy campaigns to men on the harmful effects of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other practices of oppression and toxic masculinity. 

6. Provide confidential direct support services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

7. Assist individuals in developing empowerment skills through education and self-advocacy.

8. Provide information and education regarding reporting options within the criminal justice system, under Title IX on college campuses, and filing for protection orders within the civil court system.

9. Provide short-term empowerment counseling and safety planning services.

10. Provide accompaniments to law enforcement interviews, court hearings, and Title IX/Student Conduct Meetings as requested. 

11. Coordinate and connect individuals to other Safe Berks services and/or community resources.

12. Attend and table prevention and awareness events and activities as scheduled by satellite offices or Safe Berks community partners including those occurring during non-traditional work hours.

13. Build and maintain current Safe Berks partnerships and assist in creating new partnerships within the Berks County Community.

14. Receive training in the Lethality Assessment Program (“LAP”) and assist in facilitating LAP training to law enforcement officers as needed.

15. Ensure that accurate records are kept and produce regular reports to document progress, challenges, lessons learned and achievements.

16. Attend staff meetings and maintain annual training requirements as mandated by funding sources.

17.  Conduct focus group discussions, key informant interviews, post-training follow up, pre-and post-tests, and other data collection activities as needed.

18. Assist in any field research or evaluation of Men Engagement activities as requested by the supervisor.

19. Provide inputs to the development of new proposals for Men Engagement work.

20. Ensure all data input is up-to-date and maintained in a timely manner.

21. All other duties as determined by supervisor.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each of the essential duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions. 

Requirements

Educational & Experience Requirements:

Employment Experience (amount and kind)

· One (1) to Three (3) years of related experience in the human services field

Education (general level required or specific courses)

· Bachelor’s degree required

· Associate’s degree with equivalent work experience can be considered in lieu of Bachelor’s degree

Other Requirements:

· Completion of a background check request; FBI, State Police, and Child Abuse Clearances obtained within required timeframe under Act 153 through agency vendor

· Completion of Sexual and Domestic Violence Advocacy Training provided by agency

· Valid driver’s license and insurance are required to travel to client sites

I have read the above job description and acknowledge receipt of same. I understand that this job description is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned. I further understand that it is my responsibility to ask my direct supervisor any questions I may have about my job requirements/duties