The Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services (ADWAS) is a non-profit agency that serves Deaf and Deaf-Blind victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, and provides prevention education to the general community.
Executive Director Position
Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS)
Seattle, Washington
Job Announcement: Executive Director
Open until July 30, 2010
The Organization
Abused Deaf Women’s Advocacy Services (ADWAS) is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader to lead the agency. ADWAS is a non-profit agency that serves Deaf and Deaf-Blind victims of domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault (SA), and provides prevention education to the general community. The new Executive Director will have an opportunity to lead a well-recognized agency with DV and SA expertise serving the Deaf and Deaf-Blind community for nearly 25 years. ADWAS is a model agency that has received recognition at the federal and state levels, and the agency has been replicated in 42 other Deaf communities across the country.
ADWAS was started in the basement of founder/retiring Executive Director, Marilyn J. Smith, in 1986 with a budget of $4,000. The first focus was on essential and immediate crisis services for victims/survivors, which later grew to full programs for Deaf and Deaf-Blind victims/survivors. The vision statement is “ADWAS believes that violence is a learned behavior and envisions a world where violence is not tolerated”. Today, ADWAS has a $1.9 million budget and 18 staff.
Located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, ADWAS is designed to provide a wide range of services to meet the needs of DV and SA victims/survivors in the greater Seattle area, including Snohomish, King and Pierce Counties. Our transitional housing, known as “A Place of Our Own”, serves DV and SA victims from across the country.
Our services include:
Advocacy Program
Staff advocates support victims of DV and/or SA that need assistance in the following areas: discussing options, developing a safety plan, learning about their rights, locating other appropriate services, gaining access to lawyers, Child Protective Services, hospitals, counselors and housing systems, and medical/legal advocacy.
Local Crisis Line
Trained volunteer advocates provide 24-hour DV and SA crisis support over the TTY phone and in-person for Deaf and Deaf-Blind victims of abuse within King County.
National Domestic Violence Deaf Hotline
The National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) is available to Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing people across the nation via phone/videophone, instant messaging, and e-mail. The hotline is available 24 hours, 7 days a week. ADWAS operates the National Hotline for Deaf callers from 9:00AM to 5:00PM (Pacific Standard Time) Monday-Friday. At all other times, the national hotline is answered by staff at the NDVH headquarters in Texas.
Positive Parenting Program
The positive parenting program offers parenting education and support to all members of the Deaf community. A variety of classes and workshops are available throughout the year.
Children's Program
The children's program provides the following services to children whose lives have been affected by DV or SA: therapy, support groups, advocacy, and structural educational and recreational activities.
Counseling Program
The counseling program offers victims of DV or SA the following services: short-term counseling services, on-going individual/family therapy related to DV or SA, group counseling related to childhood DV or SA, psychosocial assessments, evaluation of sexual abuse of children, and client advocacy and referrals.
Education and Consultation Services
ADWAS provides a vast array of education and consultation services. All trainings and workshops are specifically designed to meet the needs of each group, school or agency. Developed by ADWAS, Deaf-appropriate materials are used during training. ADWAS provides all training in American Sign Language. Voice interpreters for hearing agencies/individuals are provided as needed.
Transitional Housing Program
ADWAS provides transitional housing apartments for women and their children who are escaping violence, from across the country. There are 19-units of housing with support programs located in the same building. A Place of Our Own, owned and operated by ADWAS, was opened in 2006.
The Position
The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for the organization’s consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives. The Executive Director provides overall administration of the agency per Board directives, hires and manages a qualified and diverse staff, and supports the Board of Directors. The Executive Director also provides financial support for the agency through grant writing, fundraising and contracts with funding sources ranging from private foundations to human services and governmental agencies.
Program Development/Administration
• Provide leadership in developing program, organizational and financial plans
with the Board of Directors
• Maintain the organization’s long-range strategy which achieves its mission and ensures the development and implementation of mission and strategic direction, including creating a welcoming environment for a diverse staff and clientele
• Ensure that a qualified and diverse staff is recruited and maintained for all positions
• Coordinate annual program planning and oversees progress through regular staff meetings
• Ensure that the Board of Directors is kept fully informed on the condition of the organization and all important factors influencing it
• Establish working relationships and arrangements with other communities and organizations
• Promote the agency on local and national levels and serve as spokesperson to the media
• Manage the transitional housing LLC
Budget/Finance
• Oversee all contracts and obligations to ensure compliance with all contracts and legal requirements
• Work on annual budget development with Business Manager and Board of Directors; ensure that the organization operates within budget guidelines
• Oversee monthly billing and bookkeeping
• Participation in various fundraising on behalf of the agency and assist the Board of Directors with fundraising events; for example, the fall auction and the spring luncheon
• Maintain records and documents and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local requirements
• Oversee the research, development, preparation and submittal of grant proposals
• Ability to work on complex budgets and deal with a large variety of funding sources
• Network, build and maintain relationships with donors
Community Relations
• Ensure that ADWAS is represented at relevant community meetings and networking opportunities
• Inspire trust and confidence in ADWAS, its services and leadership
• Collaborate with other organizations and agencies
• Ensure that the full diversity of the community is represented and integrated into ADWAS programs and services
Advocacy
• Represent the victim advocacy perspective in the community
• Advocate for public policy that promotes victim safety and autonomy, and perpetrator accountability
• Provide leadership in the field of DV and SA at the local, state and national levels
• Master’s Degree or its equivalent in education/experience
• 3 years of experience in organization leadership or management
• Ability to work with diverse clientele and staff
• Ability to build and sustain relationships and collaborate with individuals, organizations, and governmental entities
• Excellent communication and conflict resolution skills
• Articulate and skilled at public-speaking
• Fluency in American Sign Language
• Strong commitment to cultural competency
• Working knowledge of budget development
Desired Qualifications
• 3 years of experience in non-profit organization management
• Experience in the field of DV and SA
• Experience in providing training
• Knowledge or experience with building/facility operations management
• Knowledge or experience with creating and implementing welcoming diversity initiatives
• Experience with complex budget development
• Experience with grant writing
Responsible to: The Board of Directors
Classification: Exempt
Hours: 40 hours/week, flexible, some evenings and weekends
Compensation/Benefits: A competitive salary and an excellent employee benefits plan are offered.
Please send a resume and a letter of interest to the contact supplied below. All applications must be postmarked by July 30, 2010.
All submissions will be held in strict confidence and will be acknowledged.
E-mail:
adwassc@gmail.comMail:
ADWAS
Attn: Search Committee
8623 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115Website (for information only):
www.adwas.org
No FAX applications accepted.
