Deaf Abused Women’s Network (DAWN)

Title: Empowerment Advocate

Hours: Full time at 40 hours per week

Location: Deaf Abused Women’s Network office in Washington DC

Supervision: Interns

Reports to: Deaf Abused Women’s Network Advocate Coordinator

The Empowerment Advocate should have extensive knowledge ofdomestic violence and sexual assault. The Empowerment Advocate will provide direct services to Deaf, hard of hearing and Deaf-Blind survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual violence by assisting them in navigating the civil and criminal judicial process and providing crisis management. The Empowerment Advocate will serve as a direct link to community resources to assist survivors in maintaining their safety and fulfilling immediate social service needs through short-term case management. The Empowerment Advocate will provide systematic advocacy by serving as an expert on the implications for improving the criminal legal system response to Deaf, hard of hearing, and Deaf-Blind survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking.

DUTIES INCLUDE:

- Provide immediate crisis management, and advocacy for Deaf, hard of hearing, and Deaf-Blind survivors in legal and medical settings.

- Provide guidance and knowledge through the judicial system that may include protection order process, civil and/or criminal charges, and answer questions about navigating the judicial process.

- Provide guidance and knowledge through the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) process.

- Provide short-term case management to survivors by connecting them with local resources and social services.

- Provide assistance with emergency housing.

- Provide information and assistance with emergency food and transportation services.

- Provide assistance with applying for social service agencies.

- Assist the Advocate Coordinator in maintaining client services.

- Assist the Executive Director and Coordinator with Outreach and Education program efforts.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s Degree required
Extensive knowledge of and training in domestic violence and sexual violence
Excellent American Sign Language and written communication skills
Well organized and detail oriented
Able to work in diverse settings
Excellent people skills
Able to work in time sensitive situations
Knowledge of Deaf culture
Knowledge of and ability to work within the family services and criminal legal system

How to apply:

Submit a resume and cover letter detailing reason for interest in this opportunity, relevant previous experience, and two references to:

Deaf Abused Women’s Network
Attention: Amy L. Rousseau, Executive Director
5321 First Place NE
Washington, DC 20011

or email to: director@deafdawn.org

DEADLINE TO APPLY: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2010

As many of you already know, Deaf counselors are few and far between. The reason for this, in part, may be due to the fact that the national licensure exam for counselors is largely English-centric. Below, we are reprinting a letter from a Deaf lawyer, who is working to rectify the situation, and hopefully, enable more Deaf counselors to obtain their licenses. Kudos to Jonathan Whitby for his mission!

DEAF COUNSELORS AND THE LPC CREDENTIAL

Some Deaf people who obtain master’s degrees in counseling subsequently struggle to obtain the Licensed Professional Counselor (“LPC”) credential. (I say “some” Deaf people, but anecdotal evidence leads me to believe that “many” or even “most” would be more accurate.) Without that credential, their marketability as counselors is severely limited.

Although licensing requirements and procedures vary somewhat among states, many require that applicants pass the National Counselor Examination (“NCE”), which is administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors (“NBCC”). The NCE, like many standardized examinations, is more about test-taking abilities and English language fluency than about the subject matter it purports to test. It is not unusual for Deaf individuals with a high level of counseling knowledge and skill to fail the NCE repeatedly, become discouraged, and give up.

Deaf counselors seeking the LPC credential might have a fighting chance if the NCE were available in American Sign Language (“ASL”), i.e. through an interpreter. However, I am personally aware of multiple cases where the Deaf individual has asked NBCC to provide an interpreter for the NCE, and that request has been denied. I am presently unaware of any instance where NBCC allowed the examination to be interpreted. (It appears that NBCC’s policy is to provide interpreters for the directions prior to the examination, but not for the examination itself.) This is puzzling and frustrating, especially given that the Association of Social Work Boards (“ASWB”) is known to provide ASL interpreters for its examination, which is used by most states to license social workers.

If you are a Deaf person with a master’s degree in counseling and have struggled to pass the NCE, I am interested in hearing from you. Please email me at whitbylaw@gmail.com.

Jonathan R. Whitby
www.whitbylaw.net

Not In My Backyard: “Prison fully accessible (in ASL and English) to Deaf inmates” finished at the bottom of this week’s Laurent, South Dakota, poll. The poll invited readers to rank their preferences for community services and businesses they would want to see in the planned Deaf town, before they would actually move there. An ASL- and English-friendly mental health center fell somewhere in the middle of the list, between a farmer’s market and a restaurant with an international menu. The prison, probably to no one’s great surprise, ended up as the least desired facility.

The Fate of Deaf Prisoners: As deserving of their punishment that some Deaf criminals might be, none of them deserve the cruel and unusual punishment of inaccessible communication during their prison time. Even with the ADA and constitutional guarantees, too many Deaf prisoners have their rights violated every day. They are denied access to certified sign language interpreters for court hearings, disciplinary meetings, and educational classes. Deaf prisoners have been punished unfairly for not following guards’ orders because the guards did not know they were Deaf or were unable to communicate with them. Many prisons lack flashing light systems, TTYs, videophones, and captioned televisions. Deaf prisoners also face dangers of physical abuse and isolation.

Why Should We Care?: From a humanistic viewpoint, Deaf prisoners deserve the same opportunities for rehabilitation as do hearing prisoners. As members of the Deaf community, we should be concerned about Deaf prisoners. If they were members of our community before they were imprisoned, there’s a good chance they will be back when their sentences are complete.

Everyone is better served if Deaf prisoners have access to psychotherapy during imprisonment. They can benefit from to dealing with whatever it was that led them to become involved in crime in the first place, and hopefully, learn more effective coping skills. If they are given opportunities to learn a new trade or develop new skills that will help them gain employment later, Deaf prisoners may be less likely to resort to criminal behavior in the future.

While some people may fear having a prison in their backyard, in all likelihood, an ASL-accessible prison could potentially be a bonus for a Deaf community. Such a prison could offer a number of job opportunities for Deaf people (think cafeteria, guards, social workers, educators). With accessible programs in place, Deaf prisoners might have a better chance of straightening out their lives and returning to society in a better position to contribute. And last, if it was your child, your family member, or your best friend who ended up in prison, for whatever reason, what kind of treatment would you hope the prison offers Deaf people?

Looking for a Job?: San Diego Youth and Community Services (SDYCS) will be opening a Deaf group home in January 2007. We heard from a colleague that the agency is very receptive to the idea of finding a Director who is ASL fluent and who knowledgeable and competent in Deaf culture.

For more information, check SDYCS’ webpage and click on “Employment Opportunities” in blue at the top of the page for more information and a listing of qualifications for the position. We always need more Deaf leaders. This is a great opportunity for a Deaf person who is interested in working with Deaf people in the mental health field!