Advocacy Coordinator

POSITION OVERVIEW:

As the Advocacy Coordinator for the STOP Act initiative at La Familia, this position supports the coordination and implementation of activities related to youth substance use prevention, community assessment, capacity building, policy advocacy, and program evaluation. The Advocacy Coordinator will work closely with government partners, community-based organizations, and residents—particularly youth and families in the unincorporated and surrounding areas—to advance public health strategies that prevent underage alcohol use and reduce health disparities. As part of the Community Outreach Services Department, the Advocacy Coordinator will play a key role in building a positive team culture by demonstrating leadership, initiative, and a collaborative spirit in driving community-centered solutions. This role will uphold and champion the agency’s mission, vision, and values and contribute to a collaborative and inclusive work culture.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities: 

Community Organizing, Health & Prevention Education, and Public Policy:

• Participate in all elements of the approved work plan to advance health equity, civic engagement, and youth advocacy efforts.
• Cultivate and maintain collaborative relationships with youth, residents, community-based organizations, and government partners to support public policy campaigns, with a focus on alcohol prevention and other health-related issues.
• Provide leadership development and mentorship to youth resident leaders through one-on-one and small group sessions aimed at building advocacy, organizing, and public speaking skills.
• Design and facilitate culturally responsive, evidence-based workshops and training on substance misuse prevention, youth mental health, healthy coping strategies, and related topics.
• Develop prevention education resources such as bilingual handouts, digital content, and presentation toolkits.
• Integrate trauma-informed and harm reduction principles into all health education and outreach activities.
• Coordinate and support peer education programs that empower youth to lead and deliver public health messages in their communities.
• Promote civic participation through grassroots strategies such as door-knocking, petition drives, and voter engagement activities.
• Co-plan and implement community events (e.g., environmental scans, volunteer days) in collaboration with youth and residents to meet program objectives.
• Participate actively in coalition meetings and subcommittees; implement communication strategies and support new member orientations.
• Represent La Familia and project initiatives at City, County, and State meetings, ensuring community priorities are elevated in public policy discussions.
• Build a culture of advocacy and activism in unincorporated and surrounding areas through technical assistance, leadership training, and capacity-building efforts.
• Support equitable post-COVID recovery by empowering residents to advocate for the resources, funding, and systems needed for community wellness and economic stability.

Administrative & Work Plan Implementation

• Maintain and update key project documents such as meeting agendas, minutes, coalition member lists, and contact logs; serve as primary point of contact for youth resident leaders and coalition members.
• Provide day-to-day coordination, support, and tracking of activities assigned to youth interns and youth resident leaders.
• Gather qualitative community data through one-on-one conversations, small group sessions, and surveys to inform project goals and community strategies.
• Monitor local government and community meeting agendas (e.g., County Board of Supervisors, City Councils) and provide timely summaries and briefings to resident leaders and coalition partners.
• Draft and support development of campaign materials, public education content, and awareness resources—particularly for alcohol control and prevention messaging.
• Assist in writing and compiling required reports to maintain funding, including tracking progress toward objectives and documenting community engagement.
• Coordinate and maintain the coalition’s social media presence and digital outreach in alignment with communication strategies.
• Track and evaluate the outcomes and effectiveness of prevention education and capacity-building efforts; analyze participant feedback and make data-informed adjustments.
• Maintain complete documentation of all training and educational sessions, including attendance records, evaluations, and curriculum materials in compliance with funder requirements.
• Contribute outcome data, success stories, and summaries of program activities to support grant reporting and proposals.
• Develop and sustain partnerships with subject matter experts, public health professionals, and educators to ensure program content remains current, relevant, and evidence-based.
• Assist in coordinating community-driven needs assessments to guide program planning, strategy refinement, and policy advocacy.

Other 

• Provides input and feedback on related projects and programs that support or enhance agency objectives.
• Collaborates on special projects aligned with organizational goals and community impact initiatives.
• Implements program policies and procedures as directed by the supervisor to ensure consistent service delivery.
• Performs additional duties as assigned to support overall program operations and agency effectiveness.
• Attend trainings and participate in events relevant to key responsibilities
• Administer and collect participant satisfaction surveys and/or pre and post surveys
• Track and regularly report on key metrics for responsible function areas
• Leads and collaborate on special projects related to agency objectives as appropriate 
• This position does not include supervision of staff

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

• BA Degree in the mental health field, or community outreach, education/experience and/or
• 4 years’ experience in the mental health field or community outreach
• Bilingual Spanish/English strongly preferred
• Non-Profit and Community Based Organization experience highly desirable.
• Demonstrates and models excellent “customer service” orientation, especially in the ability to interact with people at all levels within and outside the agency.
• Thinks independently and can make informed decisions when needed. 
• Exercises extreme discretion with the ability to hold, balance and transmit public and confidential information needed by various parties. 
• Proficient using MS Office products, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Acquires or maintains proficiency in using Google Drive products, including Docs, Sheets, and Forms.
• Valid CA Driver’s license

• Auto insurance:  Personal vehicle may be used for business related purposes; it is recommended you inform your auto insurance carrier.   

 OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines.  Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, policies, standards and proscribed procedures.  
• Demonstrates an awareness of and sensitivity to clients including cultural and ethical beliefs; and implements care in a thorough, skillful, consistent and continuous manner.
• Knowledge of community resources for client referrals.
• Attends work regularly and adheres to policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness.  Provides adequate notice to supervisor and management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests. 
• Demonstrates knowledge of legal issues including client confidentiality and risk management in all aspects of client care and department functioning.
• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

TEAM COMMITMENT:

• Viewed by others to be an effective team member who is flexible, cooperative, and willing to assist others; and acts as a resource to team members and clients where appropriate.
• Handles difficult or conflict situations constructively and seeks appropriate assistance.
• Takes accountability for own actions and accepts constructive criticism.
• Attends all mandatory meetings and staff meetings as required, and actively participates in other departmental professional development including providing training and consultation.
• Observes and keeps self-informed activities in the department and makes recommendations for change.
• Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with fellow employees, supervisors, managers in other departments, senior management, and executive staff, and community stakeholders.
• Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain goodwill within the agency.  

WORKING CONDITIONS and JOB SETTING:

• May be required to work some evenings and/or weekends
• Ability to occasionally or frequently stand, walk, sit and reach with hands and arms above shoulders 
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee routinely is required to sit; walk; talk and hear; use hands to keyboard, finger, handle, and feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, crawl, reach, and stretch
• The employee is occasionally required to move around the office
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus 
• May require travel dependent on agency needs
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
• Can work under deadlines
• Performing general physical activities such as picking up moving, and using objects, tools or controls
• The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate

BENEFITS:

• Excellent Health benefits package for you and your family including:
  • Medical/dental/vision benefits with 95% employee & 80% dependent employer premium contribution and employer paid life insurance.
• Vacation, 15 paid holidays, 12 paid sick days upon accrual
• Employee Assistance Plan to support yours and your family’s wellbeing and finances 
• Pet Plan Benefit: 
  • PetPlus Product and Prescription Discounts, Pet Assure Veterinary Discounts, AskVet 24/7 Pet Telehealth, and ThePetTag Lost Pet Recovery Service
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Work-life wellbeing & excellent work hours
• Supportive/Collaborative work environment 
• Opportunities for Growth and Professional Development
• License and Certification renewals reimbursed