EXCELLENT PLACE TO WORK

n The Rise’s Management Team and Board of Directors are committed to running a secure, stable organization with a strong infrastructure. On The Rise strives to be a premier provider of services and an excellent place to work. Every member of On The Rise’s 13-person staff is integral to achieving our mission.

Current job openings

Clinical Community Advocate

This full-time exempt position reports directly to the Program Director, with additional regular individual supervision and consultation provided by an outside clinician. One position on the 5-person Advocacy Team is currently open. The position requires at least THREE years of direct mental health experience. Licensure and a graduate degree in psychology, social work, or related field are strongly preferred.

An advocate’s responsibilities begin at the Safe Haven, a daytime program where women experiencing trauma and homelessness may address some basic human needs such as food, clothing, rest and hygiene. At the Safe Haven Community Advocates spend both casual and intensive time with individual women, many of whom are trauma survivors, struggle with mental and physical health issues, and substance use/abuse.

The Advocacy Team builds relationships with the women in this environment, and these relationships are the basis for long-term, broad-based support both inside and outside the Safe Haven. Such support may take the form of assistance in using other programs through accompaniment and advocacy; support may relate to a wide range of issues, including housing, drug and alcohol treatment, domestic violence, sexual assault, childhood and adult trauma, legal and criminal issues, parenting issues, physical and mental health issues, applying for public benefits, budgeting, sexual identity and orientation, and more.

The Safe Haven is also the site for On The Rise’s Wellness Program, in which the Advocacy Team helps build women’s positive self-image and sense of efficacy with affirming experiences like yoga and relaxation, haircuts and manicures, and self-expression through writing, art, music and crafts.

Hours: On The Rise's normal business hours are 8 – 4 on weekdays. The Safe Haven is also open on most Saturdays and most holidays. In order to ensure adequate staffing during all the Safe Haven’s scheduled operations, Community Advocates schedules may include one Saturday monthly and occasional holidays and exclude occasional weekdays.

Description: Members of the Advocacy Team are expected to rise to the following challenges:

Direct Service to women:

• Providing broad-based, long-term emotional and general support to women in the Safe Haven, with other programs and offsite (at the hospital, in court, at other community programs, etc.)
• Strengthening professional relationships within the continuum of service providers, enhancing the success and effectiveness of referrals between On The Rise and other programs, and providing a smoother integration for women into and through the system – in keeping with On The Rise’s “mortar between the bricks” philosophy
• Acting as occasional “ambassador” of On The Rise to community members, donors, and other interested parties at site visits, open houses, and other organizational events

Collaboration:

• Collaboration within the Advocacy Team to provide a safety net of support for women at On The Rise that is not wholly dependent on particular staff members, and to leverage the diverse skills of different team members in complex, multi-layered problem-solving
• Working with women to help them articulate their needs, supporting them in meeting these needs, helping them work through issues including housing, drug and alcohol abuse and treatment, domestic violence, sexual assault, childhood and adult trauma, legal and criminal issues, parenting issues, physical and mental health concerns, benefits, budgeting, sexual identity and orientation, and more
• Facilitating women’s access to other programs including information and referral, accompaniment to and advocacy at other agencies and programs, coordinating follow-up care and assistance
• Crisis intervention and harm reduction, including assessment of danger and risk

Organizational:

• Regular exercise of independent judgment and discretion
• Participation in maintaining a safe, clean, healthy physical environment, adequate supplies, etc.
• Certain aspects of day-to-day program management, e.g. meetings, scheduling
• Recordkeeping and reporting
• Active participation in program development and evaluation, identification of service gaps, etc.

Other:

• Like all On The Rise employees, Community Advocates will be flexible and open to “pitching in” as needed with other duties that arise in the course of a 12-employee organization’s day-to-day operations
• Like all On The Rise employees, Community Advocates are expected to strive to continuously increase skills and competence, e.g. taking advantage of opportunities for professional networking and continuing education

• Exceptional commitment to the mission of On The Rise and to furthering this mission through direct service to women
• Minimum three years’ experience in mental health or a related field is required, and licensure and a graduate degree in psychology, social work, or related field is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated interest in or prior work with trauma, substance abuse, mental health, homelessness
• Understanding of and/or prior work using harm reduction and relational approaches, and to using these approaches to achieve social justice aims through direct service
• Knowledge of human service agencies and programs throughout Greater Boston
• Commitment and tact in contributing to the work of a multi-disciplinary team and assisting a diverse population, while maintaining personal standards and performance
• Desire to keep learning and stretching
• Determination to “meet each woman where she is” using creative, professional approaches
• Strength and self-knowledge in maintaining personal/professional boundaries, acknowledging personal limitations
• Judgment and experience in helping women prioritize competing, often conflicting, needs
• Rapport and discretion in dealing with sensitive, confidential matters
• Sense of humor
• Ability to work in a diverse and fast-paced environment; open to new ideas
• Microsoft Office literacy and internet savvy

A valid driver's license and a personal vehicle are required for light to moderate use for employment purposes.

On The Rise is partially supported by MOVA through the 1984 VOCA grant from the Office of Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

On The Rise recognizes the importance and benefits of diversity in the workplace and the community. We are an AA/EOE, and we strongly encourage people of color to apply. Individuals who have experienced homelessness or overcome other significant life challenges are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply:

Please send your resume and a cover letter addressing the questions below:

Please submit your materials to:

You may also apply on-line by submitting your résumé and cover letter as attachments to: jenny.hurwitz@ontherise.org with "Community Advocate " in the subject line.