The mission of Alum Rock Counseling Center (ARCC) is to heal families and inspire youth to reach their full potential. For 50 years, ARCC has provided a wide range of behavioral health counseling and school-based support, designed to promote health equity & educational equity, and ensure that high-risk youth stay safe, in school, and drug & violence free. The agency supports a predominantly Latinx (70%) population in underserved schools and neighborhoods throughout Santa Clara County with a focus on the high-need area of East and Central San Jose. ARCC staff provide services to youth and caregivers who otherwise might struggle to afford and/or access quality care. In 2022-2023, the agency served 11,000 individuals, through 13 different programs, including individual and family counseling, substance use prevention education, youth mentoring, family reunification, parent training/support, and services in 40 high-need schools.

We have 85 full-time employees and dedicated volunteers that make our program run. ARCC provides the opportunity to interact with youth and families within different departments and programs of the agency. We value integrity, honor, respect, diversity, compassion, and empathy. We work together as a team. Our employees love the work they do here because they can see the difference it is making in the community and in the life of each individual.

This is a part-time, 24 hours per week position.

Program Summary:

The Cultural Broker Program is a partnership with the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and the Juvenile Probation Department (JPD) to decrease disproportionality and increase well-being among at-risk children and families in Santa Clara County. The program addresses the needs of families, specifically of Latinx ancestry, by facilitating communication and understanding between families, social workers, and probation officers. Cultural Brokers have a cultural understanding and sensitivity of the Latinx community, and must maintain a high degree of cultural and language proficiency. Cultural Brokers provide clients with individualized support, education, and resources, in order to promote strong families and safe children. This program addresses challenges, mitigates bias, mediates between groups of different cultural backgrounds, and creates partnerships to help families better understand the DFCS and JPD systems and concerns. Families become active participants as well as share the responsibility in their own safety planning. Cultural Brokers connect youth and families to needed community supports in order for children to remain safely with their families and be supported in their communities. Cultural Brokers honor the families’ unique strengths and potential, helping them to self-advocate through humility and respect, in the hopes of preventing families and youth from entering the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

Essential Job Functions:

• Assist clients with services that support the family case plan to ensure reduction of risk factors and reduction of recidivism;
• Provide case management and family education services, per contract requirements, meeting at the DFCS/JPD offices, ARCC office, community and/or client’s home
• Engage the family, DFCS, and/or JPD through meaningful conversations about the family’s culture
• Educate the family on, but not limited to, the child welfare and juvenile delinquency system, allegations and safety concerns, court process and terminology, how to negotiate and resolve conflicts, how to advocate for their needs
• Support with family’s transition (from ER to DI, Voluntary to Continuing, from probation/child welfare to community support programs, and to natural community services)
• Contact referred clients and schedule intake appointments;
• Complete a cultural need and understanding assessment at the beginning, during, and post services, utilizing an evidence informed assessment tool provided by the County
• Develop and document a family case plan, identify achievements, update needs, and/or acknowledge successfully completed needs on an on-going basis;
• Conduct follow-up contact for each client in a timely manner and monitor client progress
• Consult and collaborate regularly with Social Workers, Probation Officers, and other DFCS/JPD constituents and partners to support clients with their family case plan and needs, discuss client’s progress or concerns and provide updates with the delivery of services that support a client’s family case plan
• Identify and connect clients with community resources such as housing, employment, food, clothing, transportation, etc.;
• Provide transportation, translation and interpretation, application assistance, and accompany to court hearings as needed
• Stay informed and knowledgeable of resources and programs available throughout the County of Santa Clara and the respective community
• Attend CFT, JDM, and other DFCS/JPD meetings to support the client
• Maintain documentation and appropriate client files and complete required paperwork including intake, consents, individual service plans, surveys, discharge, etc. within expected timeframe
• Document all client contact and write progress notes on Welligent (electronic health records system) within 24 hours
• Gather and provide data and administer evaluation surveys as requested or required by contract
• Partner with DFCS/JPD and be accessible for questions and meetings, as necessary
• Attend meetings, supervision, and trainings necessary for professional development and as required for ARCC, DFCS or JPD
• Keep ARCC abreast of possibilities for system improvement and potential barriers to success
• Follow all confidentiality and HIPAA policies and procedures in accordance with DFCS, JPD, and ARCC
• Understand and adhere to the laws governing child abuse, dependent adult and elder abuse reporting laws
• Perform other related duties as assigned by supervisor for the benefit of ARCC or its clients

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or other related field and a minimum of two (2) years of work experience in providing direct case management services to clients that demonstrate the ability to engage with families, accurately assess family needs, develop a family case plan, secure resources and services to help the family achieve the goals of the case/treatment plan, and understand the developmental needs of children. For staff that do not possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or other related field, a minimum of (4) years of case management experience and/or experience providing direct services to the population may be substituted

• Preference will be given to staff who have extensive experience serving as a community representative and child welfare related experience.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Understanding of and sensitivity towards Hispanic/Latinx culture and experiences preferred.
• Strong knowledge of the cultural groups who they serve to broker, community resources and the ability to successfully engage with families is also required. Staff must demonstrate knowledge of the cultural, religious, regional, ethnic, social, linguistic, gender and sexual orientation needs of the community being served
• Strong knowledge of values, beliefs, and child welfare practices of cultural groups; an understanding of traditional and indigenous wellness and cultural practices; and
• Experience navigating child welfare service delivery and supportive systems within communities
• History of experience with the cultural groups who they serve to broker
• The trust and respect of the community. Ability to serve as a catalyst for change by modeling and mentoring behavioral change, which can break down bias, prejudice and other institutional barriers that exist in child welfare settings.
• If the Cultural Broker has child welfare experience as a client, the broker’s case must have been closed no less than one year prior to their date of hire
• If a Child Welfare referral is open on a Cultural Broker at any time during his/her employment, the broker will not have any clients while the referral is open
• A Cultural Broker cannot be employed in the capacity of a broker if he/she has a case open in the Child Welfare System or if he/she has any active criminal involvement at any time during his/her employment
• Team player with a proven track record of maintaining healthy boundaries and professional demeanor.
• Able to work independently with minimal supervision and as a positive member of a team
• Ability to represent the program and agency in diverse settings
• Understand and adhere to the laws governing child abuse reporting
• Effective verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated computer literacy.
• Fingerprinting and background check (DOJ and FBI live scan and Intellicorp)
• Be certified in First Aid and CPR.
• Valid CA driver’s license, an automobile for agency travel, and proof of current auto insurance.
• TB clearance required.
• Proof of COVID vaccine and booster required.
• Ability to work evenings as necessary.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs