Job Description:
POSITION DESCRIPTION
I.
Position: IL Program Coordinator & Work Incentive
Benefits Specialist
II.
Status: Full Time, Hourly
III.
Reports to: Independent Living Services Program Director
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I.
Position Summary: Provide independent living
services to individuals with disabilities, in the service area, to
enhance the quality of their lives. Responsible for all activities
related to the classes and workshops held in the service area.
Conduct outreach to establish referral relationships with community
partners and to build relationships in the
multi-cultural/underserved communities (African American,
Hispanic/Latino/Hmong) in the service area counties. Conduct
Grassroots Advocacy Groups.
Provide work incentives benefits planning and career counseling
supports to people with disabilities. Focus on assisting individuals
with disabilities to understand the effect that income will have on
their benefits and services as they prepare for employment and pursue
goals to reduce their reliance on public programs such as Social Security.
Participate in activities related to
Disability Policy Change.
IV.
Position Expected Hours of Work: This is a Full-Time
position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to
4:30 pm. Occasional evenings and weekends.
V.
Independent Living Services Essential Functions of the
Position:
A. Facilitate self-assessment and identification of independent
living related services needs of the consumer.
B. Facilitate the development of independent living goals with the
consumer. Regularly revisits these goals, updating as needed and
noting progress.
C. Promote self-advocacy by teaching individuals how to access
services, assert their rights, obtain funding for the purpose of
reaching their goals.
D. Provide independent living skills instruction on an individual or
group basis.
- Provide information, referral and training to consumers and the
community in the IndependenceFirst service area on
independent living issues and services.
F. Coordinate peer support efforts in the outlying county areas.
G. Provide consumers, businesses, and community organizations with
assistance regarding the ADA, IDEA, Fair Housing Act, and the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (501-504), etc.
H. Develop and maintain appropriate collaborative relationships with
other organizations/service providers to enhance the goals of
independent living.
- Conduct outreach and establish relationships with community
partners for the purpose of referral to our program.
- Conduct outreach to establish collaborative relationships with
other organizations and service providers that serve individuals
with disabilities that are part of multi-cultural/underserved
populations (African American, Hispanic/Latino, Hmong) in the
outlying counties.
- Complete agency required documentation in agency database.
VI.
Work Incentives Benefits Specialist Essential Functions:
- Analyze the benefits, entitlement, subsidies, and services of
individuals to determine the impact that work will have on
eligibility for programs and changes in payment levels.
- Provide individuals with an in-depth written assessment of their
situation and provide guidance with making informed choices about working.
- Develop a work incentives plan to assist individuals with
achieving their employment goal.
- Provide benefit related information and referral services.
- Provide individuals with support in dealing with benefits issues
as they arise.
- Advocate on behalf of individuals regarding benefit issues with
other agencies and programs.
- Develop and maintain appropriate collaborative relationships with
federal, state, and local agencies/organizations.
- Conduct presentations and trainings on the Social Security work
incentives and other return to work issues for people with disabilities.
- Complete required documentation in databases as required by
program contracts.
- Attend all staff meetings and trainings as required.
VII. Disability Policy Change Essential Functions of
the Position:
- Participate in individual and systems advocacy activities by
voicing opinion at public hearings and educating public officials
through letter writing or other appropriate means on issues relating
to independent living.
- Actively participant in agency advocacy team.
- Present testimony on disability issues by writing, email, and fax,
in person testimony to legislative bodies on the local, state and
federal levels. This includes contacting congresspersons, senators
and giving opinions on pending legislation.
- Assist consumers with their advocacy needs.
- Participate in
Disability Policy Change Events.
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IX.
Work Environment
- Work environment is generally performed in an office setting with
minimal to moderate noise level.
- The work environment characteristics described here are
representative of those an employee encounters while performing the
essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be
made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the
essential functions.
Disclaimer:
The above statements reflect the general details necessary to
describe the principle functions of the occupation described and
shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work
requirements that may be inherent in the occupation.