Economic Stability Specialist

Economic Stability Specialist

Community Advocacy Program

Full-time, salaried, non-exempt

Casa Myrna is Greater Boston’s foremost provider of solutions to end domestic and dating violence.  The agency operates three residential programs in Boston for survivors and children made homeless by domestic violence, a comprehensive range of advocacy and supportive services, and SafeLink, Massachusetts’ statewide 24/7 toll-free domestic violence hotline. Casa Myrna believes that every relationship should be safe and healthy and works to end domestic and dating violence through education, awareness and prevention.

The Economic Stability Specialist supports survivors in Casa Myrna’s residential programs and at community sites as they work to achieve economic stability. The Economic Stability Specialists provides individual counseling and workshops on budgeting, credit, CORI, banking, education, professional skills-building, job readiness, job search and referrals to outside programs and services. The Economic Stability Specialist reports to the Manager of Community Advocacy.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides comprehensive assessment, advocacy and goal planning with residential and community advocacy program participants.
• Helps program participants identify and overcome barriers to economic stability, including credit repair/building and CORI issues.
• Works with participants to develop a realistic plan to address their financial challenges and manage expectations.
• Delivers financial literacy education, workshops and counseling on-site at the residential programs and community locations based on Casa Myrna’s Personal Economic Planning curriculum, in English and another language (preferably Spanish, Portuguese, Cape Verdean Creole or Haitian Creole).
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with other resources in the community whose programs can help Casa Myrna program participants achieve economic stability.
• Accompanies program participants to various meetings including, but not limited to, financial institutions, schools, and education programs.
• Demonstrates professionalism through interactions and communications with colleagues and external collaborators.
• Manages program participant and agency data in order to complete reports to funders and internal constituents. Ensures records are accurate and complete for all services and activities as required.
• Participates in residential staff meetings and weekly Case Review meetings.
• Provides a connection to other Casa Myrna support services and to those in the community.
• Collaborates with staff to provide resources and information that will benefit program participants.
• Collaborates with Housing Specialists on the housing program screenings, intakes, and monthly stabilization meetings with program participants.
• Works as a team player with other program and agency staff.
• Attends professional development trainings both within Casa Myrna and in the community.
• Other related duties as assigned by supervisor and agency.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Committed to Casa Myrna’s values and mission of ending domestic and dating violence and commercial exploitation, and promoting social justice and social change.
• Demonstrated experience working with survivors of domestic/dating violence, trauma and abuse, and with marginalized communities, particularly communities of color.
• Minimum of years’ demonstrated experience working as an activist, community organizer, or advocate.
• Familiarity with Boston-area community agencies and resources, particularly those serving youth, homeless and/or low-income populations.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize appropriate, non-judgmental communication techniques when responding to survivors that illustrates sensitivity to their experiences and needs. Ability to work and advocate in a collaborative style with diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and socio-economic groups, as well as diversity based on ability/disability, sexual orientation and religion.
• Experience facilitating group workshops.
• Familiarity with local programs providing job training and employment-related services.
• Ability to prioritize and coordinate work at multiple sites; ability to work independently and in a team.
• Excellent interpersonal, crisis management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite, database software, and accuracy in data entry and record keeping information and statistics.
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills in English and another language.
• Promote an atmosphere of respect and cooperation; maintain confidentiality regarding program participants.
• Ability to travel throughout Boston required; access to reliable transportation.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and/or weekends as needed.
• Strong preference for candidates who identify as a member of a marginalized community as Casa Myrna works to be an inclusive and equitable organization.
• Fluency in a language other than English strongly preferred. Preference for Spanish, Portuguese, Cape Verdean Creole, or Haitian Creole.

Salary: $50,000 – $55,000

Location: Boston (Dorchester)

Hours: full-time (4 days and 35 hours/week)

Benefits: Casa Myrna offers: family friendly schedule; generous paid time off and holidays; health, dental, vision and short term disability insurance; flexible spending account; health reimbursement account; retirement savings plan with employer match; and opportunities for professional development and training

Casa Myrna is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity and hiring people with diverse life experiences. Survivors, people who are bilingual/bicultural, persons of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ people are strongly encouraged to apply.

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. If reasonable accommodations are needed during recruitment process, email hr@casamyrna.org.

Please submit cover letter and resume to jobs@casamyrna.org to be considered.