Teen and Young Adult Advocate - Bilingual, Spanish Preferred

About the position

The Teen and Young Adult Advocate position at The Arc- Jefferson, Clear Creek & Gilpin Counties is a full-time, exempt role focused on providing advocacy support to individuals aged 14-34 with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This position is designed for a bilingual candidate, preferably fluent in Spanish, to enhance communication and support for the community served. The advocate will work closely with teens, young adults, and their families, empowering them through individual advocacy, educational training, and systemic advocacy efforts aimed at shaping policies that affect people with IDD. The role requires a commitment to self-determination and empowerment, ensuring that individuals are supported in speaking for themselves and navigating various systems, including education, housing, and employment. The advocate will engage in creative problem-solving and supported decision-making, helping clients to identify and access community resources and services tailored to their needs. Responsibilities include maintaining up-to-date records of advocacy interactions, participating in training and outreach activities, and supporting self-advocacy initiatives. The position also involves collaboration with the Advocacy Team to identify trends and opportunities for new training programs, as well as participation in committees and community partnerships to enhance advocacy efforts. This role is integral to The Arc's mission of promoting and protecting the rights of individuals with IDD, fostering a culture of respect, openness, and continuous improvement. The advocate will also be responsible for understanding and articulating assessments and reports related to clients' needs, ensuring that they are informed and supported throughout the advocacy process. The position requires flexibility in scheduling, including some evenings and weekends, and a commitment to ongoing professional development and training in trauma-informed care and mental health first aid.

Responsibilities
? Uphold the values of self-determination and empowerment; support people to speak for themselves.
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? Connect with your Leader/Manager/Coach to discuss cases, trends, and observations regarding the people to whom you are providing advocacy.
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? Learn and grow your skills through engagement with your Advocacy Team colleagues.
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? Empower, inform, guide, and educate teens and young adults with IDD to strengthen their advocacy skills.
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? Provide family support on how to cultivate self-advocacy in their child.
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? Provide advocacy at the appropriate level to teens and young adults with IDD and their family members/guardians as cases are referred to you.
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? Engage in creative supported decision-making and person-centered problem solving on issues such as education, transition programs, housing, employment, social security, relationships, and pregnancy/parenting.
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? Support people in navigating benefits systems and connect them to appropriate community resources.
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? Explore future planning and identify available community resources, agencies, and services appropriate for meeting the identified needs of teens and young adults with IDD.
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? Provide advocacy in a legal setting without providing legal advice.
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? Understand assessments and reports and articulate their meaning to teens and young adults with IDD, their families, and others, explaining how they relate to specific needs.
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? Keep abreast of best practices in advocacy, both in Colorado and in other states.
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? Maintain up-to-date information regarding advocacy interactions in The Arc's database; use data to inform The Arc's programs, including training and systemic advocacy.
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? Review and respond to advocacy requests in a thoughtful and timely manner.
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? Communicate with the Advocacy Team about trends and opportunities for new trainings.
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? Participate in the creation and implementation of these trainings when appropriate, as a part of your professional growth and learning.
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? Participate in Advocacy Outreach activities as opportunities arise.
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? Engage in advisory duties; this includes some evening and weekend responsibilities.
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? Support the coordination and planning of self-advocacy events with team support.
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? Stay abreast of issues and advances in the self-advocacy movement and share this information to support The Arc's growth in this area.
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? Participate in committees of interest, or as requested when coverage is needed.
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? Participate in The Arc's onsite rotation, responding to the advocacy needs of victims and survivors with IDD who are served at PorchLight.
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? Build community partnerships in an effort to connect victims and survivors with IDD to necessary resources and supports.
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? Understand The Arc's current role in both Guardianship and Medical Proxy.
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? Responsible for sharing and attending to 24/7 on call rotation needs; this role is equally shared by all members of the Advocacy Team.
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? Embrace and model The Arc's Core Values and Guiding Principles.
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? Support and foster a cohesive Advocacy Team that serves people with IDD and their family's birth through end of life.

Requirements
? Bilingual, Spanish preferred.
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? A combined minimum of three years' experience and/or education in the field of IDD, specifically with teens and young adults.
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? Knowledge and experience supporting teens and young adults with IDD.
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? Ability to work a flexible schedule including some evenings and weekends.
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? Reliable and flexible transportation required.
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? Commitment to supporting a culture of openness, respect and continuous improvement as defined by our chapter.
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? Basic knowledge of how to collaboratively support teens and young adults with IDD; ability to foster collaboration between professionals/team members.
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? Willingness to engage in trauma informed training; basic ability to support and engage with people with IDD who are survivors of abuse and trauma.
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? Basic understanding of mental health first aid and willingness to engage in additional training.
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? Exercise best practices in person-centered disability etiquette in alignment with The Arc's values.
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? Basic experience interacting, speaking with, and demonstrating a respectful and accessible approach to communication during interactions with teens and young adults with IDD; ability to take direction from teens and young adults with IDD.
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? Basic knowledge of how to gather and synthesize information and resources and adjust the presentation of this information based on a person's comprehension and preferences.
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? Basic ability to present information clearly in writing, orally, visually, etc.
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? Knowledge of, or ability to effectively learn the interconnectedness of federal, state, and local programs/systems; basic knowledge of programs, services, and benefits in Colorado including HCBS Medicaid Waivers and Social Security benefits.
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? Ability to listen with empathy and compassion.
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? High level of organizational and prioritization skills; ability to hear, understand, and prioritize people's advocacy needs.
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? Thorough research and resourcing skills; creative problem solving.
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? Ability to hear and digest constructive feedback; advocacy is a continuous learning experience.
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? Multi-tasking is critical; must be able to tend to multiple tasks and stay organized.
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? Must have a high degree of self-awareness and a willingness to continually improve performance and communication.
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? Ability and willingness to foster professional, authentic relationships with self-advocates.
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? High level of ability to set personal and professional boundaries.
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? High degree of flexibility and ability to collaborate with team members to ensure on call needs are always met.

Nice-to-haves
? Spanish language skills and cultural competency preferred.

Benefits
? 401(k)
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? 403(b)
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? Dental insurance
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? Disability insurance
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? Employee assistance program
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? Flexible schedule
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? Flexible spending account
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? Health insurance
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? Life insurance
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? Paid time off
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? Vision insurance