WHO WE ARE  

For over 50 years, CCLS has been representing and advocating for low-income individuals in Merced, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Fresno, Tulare, and Kings Counties—a region where intense poverty exists side by side with unparalleled wealth and abundance. Our mission is to provide high quality, no-cost civil legal services to low income individuals, families, and communities—improving the wellbeing of our Valley through systems-changing advocacy, client education, and legal work that meets individual clients’ immediate needs. We also work closely with agencies and community organizations that share our commitment to support our clients in being their own agents of change. 

POSITION DETAILS 

Under supervision of the Health Consumer Center (HCC) Supervising Attorney, the Peer Facilitator will work with individuals to assist in developing a PAD plan to reduce the cycle of homelessness, hospitalization, and engagement with the criminal justice system. Establishing a relationship based on trust is key for the Peer Facilitator, who also serves as a point of contact for individuals to access additional services beyond the PAD. 

The Peer Facilitator role is critical to CCLS’s efforts to collect outcome data, and to help the health consumer (consumer) navigate through the PAD project and to obtain the care and assistance needed to improve the consumer’s stability, well-being, and independence. The Peer Facilitator is a member of the HCC team and will work with team members to coordinate and conduct educational outreach events, trainings and clinics as needed. The ideal candidate will serve as an ally and liaison to ensure consumer needs and directives are respected and adhered to in times that the consumer cannot otherwise speak on their own behalf. 

Position:  Peer Facilitator 

Experience:  1+ Year of Related Experience 

Location:  Fresno Office; travel throughout Fresno County, as needed

Term of Employment:  Contract, Full Time – Position Expires June 30, 2024

Other:  FLSA Non-Exempt, Union Position 

Salary Range: DOE $17.72 to $32.79 per hour

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  Open Until Filled

Applications should be received by FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2023 to be considered for the first round of interviews. 

CCLS is an equal opportunity employer: we value equity, inclusion, and diversity, across all races, cultures, classes, ages, religions, gender identities and presentations, sexual orientations, body sizes, family structures, abilities, and all categories protected by law. We encourage all interested individuals to apply. CCLS is subject to a Collective Bargaining Agreement.

COMPLETE APPLICATION

1. Resume

2. Cover Letter addressing the following questions: 

• a. Please tell us briefly about your experience, if any, doing advocacy work with a low-income community.  What skills and qualities did you bring that were important to the effort?  What did you learn?  
• b. Please tell us briefly about your experience, if any, working or interacting with those involved in behavioral/mental health work, whether from a public, private, or personal perspective. What did you learn from that experience that would help you be successful in this position? How would it help you relate to our target population described above?
• c. Please describe your leadership experience, if any.
• d. Tell us about your connection to the Central Valley:  how well do you know it?  Do you have ties here?  What draws you here?
• e. Do you have particular interest in the Psychiatric Advance Directive project, or in being a legal aid employee?  If so, please tell us about that.

3. Three References (at least one must be professional)

DUTIES

• Assist clients in the creation of self-determination based psychiatric advance directives (PADs) through legal clinics and individual appointments;
• Develop a rapport with each person, identify the individual’s long-term goals including housing, employment, mental health recovery, education, family relationships, and community integration;
• Attend and help present at all outreach and clinic settings, help the consumer prepare a PAD, work to schedule folks for sessions during clinics or individual appointments;
• Serve as intermediary and primary point of contact for all internal CCLS staff members and external community partners to ensure that all who have agreed to help client actually succeed in doing so;
• Work with the client and PAD project attorney to find creative, client-specific approaches to identified needs and potential barriers to meaningful community integration;
• Work with other CCLS teams to address identified legal issues, including, but not limited to, public benefits, housing, employment, and disability rights, in a whole person approach to the provision of comprehensive services;
• Maintain regular contact with each PAD project client to check on status and provide updates as necessary;
• Establish and develop relationships with client-approved community services and potential supports that will aid in the successful implementation of client’s PAD, including, if appropriate, the client’s family as well as friends, mentors, and other supporters; 
• Travel to rural parts of Fresno County to conduct trainings, outreach events, or clinics potentially on a weekly basis, at times most convenient to participants (possibly after normal business hours or on weekends); 
• Assist in data collection and analysis as necessary, including entering data and information regarding each client encounter or community/team update in client’s PAD project file in Legal Server;
• Participate in planning and strategy meetings with project partners and statewide networks of Legal Aid advocates;
• Participate in weekly CCLS meetings as directed, keep abreast of changes in the law and project, including continuing education, and adhere to CCLS policies and procedures;
• Participate in Case Closure process within Legal Server, reviewing goals attained and objectives met;
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Ability to communicate effectively with people with communication barriers including those who are stressed or confused, those who suffer from physical or mental disabilities, or those for whom English is a second language;
• Lived experience or prior work experience working with low-income community members who are unhoused or at risk of being placed under a conservatorship; experience collaborating with diverse groups of individuals, organizations, and community leaders;
• Commitment to the rights and empowerment of PAD project participants; a genuine interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion; the legal rights and social needs of low-income people, elderly, and people who are differently abled;
• Previous Peer Support, Advocacy, Legal Aid or other non-profit legal services, or Behavioral/Mental Health experience desirable;
• Able to work on a team or independently;
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; Bilingual ability strongly preferred (Hmong/English or Spanish/English);
• Able to set and meet deadlines, and to implement and follow-through with goals and tasks independently;
• Able to learn to use standard computer software and apps, such as those used by CCLS include: Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, Zoom, and email;
• Reliable transportation or ability to secure transportation to and from outreach events and clinics and other events, a valid CA Drivers’ License with appropriate car insurance if driving a vehicle for travel to and from clinics, outreach events, home visits, etc.

CCLS MANDATORY VACCINATION POLICY

Please note that CCLS currently requires all staff to be fully vaccinated and to have at least one booster (if eligible). Medical and religious exemptions to this requirement are also available. 

 CCLS BENEFITS PACKAGE OVERVIEW: 

Work/Life Balance

• 7.5 hour work day / 37.5 hour week
• 14.5 Paid Holidays
• Free wellness counseling & resources
• Union protection for applicable positions

Rewards for Dedication

• Annual pay increases
• Overtime for Hourly/Non-exempt staff
• Compensatory Time for Salaried/Exempt staff

More than Base Pay

• School Loan Assistance up to $500/month
• Bilingual Pay up to $90/month
• Home internet reimbursement of $25/month
• CCLS issued laptop & cell phone
• CA State Bar dues paid in full
• Mileage reimbursement

Retirement Contribution

• CCLS contributes to staff 403(b) plans starting at the one-year anniversary:
• Year 1 to 2 – 1% of salary contributed
• Year 2 to 3 – 2% of salary contributed
• Year 3 to 4 – 3% of salary contributed
• Year 4 to 5 – 4% of salary contributed
• Year 5+ - 5% of salary contributed

Group Health Insurance

• Coverage begins 1st of the month following hire date
• CCLS pays 100% for staff health insurance coverage
• CCLS pays 67% of staff dependent health insurance coverage
• Low-Cost Plans for:
• Dental PPO & Vision Insurance
• Long term disability & life insurance
• Workers Compensation coverage 

Cash Out Options

• Vacation Cash Out:
• Accrued vacation cashed out & added to paycheck upon request
• Overtime Pay Out (Non-Exempt Staff):
• OT paid out within 30 days of accrual, per State standards

Computer Loan Fund

• Up to $1,500 interest free loan to assist staff with personal computer purchase

State Bar Exam Leave & Loan

• Protected leave for CA Bar Exam
• Interest-free loan for Bar Exam & study course fees
• Up to 8 weeks salary advance