Adult Home Organizer

Organization

The Coalition of Institutionalized Aged and Disabled (CIAD) is a non-profit, constituent-led advocacy organization of adults living in Adult Care Facilities (ACF). CIAD was established in 1973, to address the sense of disenfranchisement and isolation experienced by adults living in long term care institutions with minimal staffing, regulation, or regulatory oversight. The vision of CIAD is one that seeks to protect people’s rights, improve the quality of their lives and living circumstances, and transform institutions into real community settings where people live with dignity, autonomy, and agency. CIAD helps the voiceless find and raise their voices and have a seat at the table of power in their homes and in governmental and regulatory systems.

Title: Adult Home Organizer

Position Summary

The Adult Home Organizer (AHO) is a full-time position that works flexible hours dependent on the organizing needs of the homes. The AHO works in conjunction with other full-time staff, as well as part-time Peer Advocates, in planning strategy and actions to support the needs of Resident Councils, Food Committees and the EQUAL Grants process and CIAD’s advocacy and lobbying goals. The AHO’s direct supervisor is the Executive Director.

Responsibilities

Organizing - Work with the Residents and staff of adult homes to organize and strengthen:

• Resident Councils (RC).
• Food Committees (FC).
• EQUAL Grant processes.
• Resident Rights Trainings.

Training and Workshops

• Provide Homes with trainings on organizing RCs including:
• Independence Training workshops from CIAD curriculum.
• Resident Rights Training based on MFJ Resident Rights Handbook.
• How to Identify and Recruit Floor Captains.
• How to Identify and Recruit Elected Leadership.
• How to hold Elections and Bylaw formation and amendment.
• EQUAL Grant process, along with any changes made by NYS DOH.
• Community Interface
• Assist RC and FC in identifying and connecting to community resources
• Senior Centers.
• Food Pantries.
• Medical Access.

Policy and Advocacy

• Facilitate meetings between residents, policymakers, and government agency staff for assigned homes and lobbying of the NY Legislature.
• Organize annual Adult Home Resident Speak Out in Albany, NY.
• Be trained and compliant under NYS lobbying laws and protocols.
• Submit quarterly lobbying reports for self and for any Peer Advocates working in collaboration in home to which assigned.
• Have a strong command of NYS Department of Health regulations for Adult Homes and knowledge of complaint system to empower Residents to file complaints as needed.

Peer Advocates

• Coordinate Peer Advocate (PA) activity in assigned homes.
• Two
• week shadowing by new Peer Advocate hires in home organizing.
• Support ongoing training for PAs.
• Train new Peer Advocates in CIAD model of home organizing as found in the Resident Tool Kit.
• Provide bi-weekly coordination call of 30 minutes with PA’s in assigned homes for support and direction.
• Provide feedback to Deputy Director for annual appraisal and review.

Day to Day Duties

• Provide workshops and training programs for Residents and facility staff in residents’ rights and to organize Resident Councils, Food Committees, Floor Captains, and other committees to support Residents.
• Attend Resident Council and other Resident meetings as invited and as priorities and schedule permits.
• Help residents and resident councils address facility-wide problems.
• Participate in scheduled staff meetings, Peer Advocate meetings, and meetings with allied colleagues.
• Participate in ongoing PA and Staff training as scheduled as participant and presenter.
• Maintain data for reporting on assigned homes.
• Assist individual residents in filing complaints with the NYS Department of Health.
• Participate in Policy Committee meetings and in organizing residents from assigned homes.
• Support the convening of meetings of adult home residents in the New York City
• Assist in the planning, coordination, and implementation of Coalition-wide activities

Education/Experience

• Associate's degree required/ Bachelor's Degree preferred
• At least 2 years of experience as an organizer, or working in mental health or with older adults

Qualifications/Skills

• Committed community organizing experience
• Good capacity for public speaking, writing, and crafting language letters and in interfacing with elected officials.
• Strong computer skills.
• Ability to manage schedules and work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong commitment to empowering adult home residents and improving conditions in these facilities.
• Strong sense of personal and professional boundaries.
• Experience working with people with mental health, intellectual and physical disabilities will be helpful.

Job Location

• Hybrid- Onsite in Lower Manhattan office and Remote.
• Field Visits to Adult Care Facilities required

Salary;

• 55,000-60,000 USD per year

Supervision

Supervision will be twice a month for 45 minutes with the Executive Director or Deputy Director in the ED’s absence.

• Supervisor Executive Director
• New Hire 30 Days- Verbal Review.
• New Hire 90 Days Written Review.
• Annual Appraisal and Review Based on Hire Date.