Independent Living Advocate

YWCA Brooklyn’s mission is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. The organization is the borough’s largest and oldest nonprofit serving women and girls. YWCA Brooklyn furthers its mission by providing over 300 safe, affordable homes for low-income women, most of whom are survivors of gender-based violence, and college access and leadership for girls and young women of color from poverty impacted neighborhoods.

Position Summary:

The Independent Living Advocate is responsible for providing a comprehensive range of services to support residents aging in place at the YWCA Brooklyn. Using a holistic, strength-based approach, the Independent Living Advocate ensures that residents can maintain their independence and dignity while aging in place by delivering practical independent living and wellness support. The Independent Living Advocate will connect residents to vital resources within the community, facilitate access to essential services, and address their basic needs to promote self-sufficiency and an enhanced quality of life as they age in place.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct assessments to identify residents’ challenges of living independently individual needs, goals, and barriers to independent living. Develop individualized independent living assistance plans for aging residents to help them with basic daily tasks such as grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. and accompaniment to appointments.
• Liaise with community partners to provide referrals for aging residents to receive local services, such as healthcare services, mental health services, home health aides, nutritious food programs and to assist with fall risk assessments and prevention.
• Act as a client advocate for residents who face challenges to ensure they receive the support and services they need.
• Empower residents to make informed decisions and maintain their independence.
• Partner with our Coordinator of Housing Success and Case Managers to ensure our aging residents are receiving and maintaining entitlements they are eligible for (i.e. SCRIE, Medicaid, etc.) and that they are not at risk of a return to homelessness.
• Partner with Residential Program Coordinator for wellness workshops, social programming, nutrition and healthy eating workshops, adaptive exercise classes, and support groups to enhance residents’ emotional and physical well-being including leading senior focused workshops
• Promote community to prevent isolation.
• Represent organization at community events, conduct outreach, cultivate relationships with, and bring in subject matter experts to educate residents on aging in place and issues affecting older adults through informative workshops on topics such as financial literacy and legal services, including establishing health proxies and end-of-life planning.
• Work collaboratively as a part of a multi-disciplinary team to ensure older residents have a holistic comprehensive support system.
• Maintain proper documentation in the form of case notes, demographic data, and reports.
• Always follow organization protocols and maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality of all residents.
• Perform other duties, as needed.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field required
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working with seniors, especially in independent living or aging in place programs
• Commitment to social justice mission and ability to work well with a diverse community
• Expertise providing trauma-informed services to vulnerable populations, including older adults, trauma survivors, and those experiencing mental illness and substance use
• Ability to ensure agency, program, and client confidentiality at all times
• Technologically proficient, especially with Microsoft 365
• Literacy with CRM systems, Apricot preferred
• Self-starter who can work independently as well as collaboratively in a group, is team-oriented, has a growth mindset, and is willing to do what it takes to get the work done
• Excellent organization, time management, and exceptional follow-up skills; ability to prioritize
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred, but not required

Note: We are looking for candidates who are available to work a Monday-Friday 8am-4pm schedule (with one of those days on a fixed 11am-7pm schedule, as assigned by the supervisor), as well as occasional evening events.

• Medical Insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Commuter Benefit
• Supplemental Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan - 403(b) and Pension