Advocacy Coordinator

Asian Health Services, founded in 1974, provides health, social, and advocacy services for all regardless of income, insurance status, immigration status, language, or culture. Our approach to wellbeing focuses on “whole patient health,” which is why we provide more than primary care services, including mental health, case management, nutrition, and dental care to more than 50,000 patients in English and 15 languages: Korean, Lao, Burmese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Mien, Karen, Mongolian, Karenni, Tagalog, Khmer, and Vietnamese.

We offer medical, dental, and mental health services for all ages.

LOCATION: ADMIN-HQ

JOB SUMMARY:

The Advocacy Coordinator will coordinate advocacy and policy change activities and campaigns to address issues of violence, healing, health equity through public health strategies, civic engagement, and overall health center advocacy,. The Advocacy Coordinator works under supervision of the Advocacy Manager, and in collaboration with AHS’ Community Healing Unit, Stop the Hate program, consultants, community partners, and other AHS staff members.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Co-facilitate bilingual advocacy training and participatory learning curriculum for staff and community members, featuring public health approach to address violence, health equity, social determinants of health and safety, and civic engagement.

2. Conduct bilingual organizing and engagement activities with patients, staff, and community members to participate in advocacy campaigns to advance public health solutions that address crime, violence, and hate at local, state, and federal levels

3. Participate in coalitions and external partnerships related to advocacy campaigns, including civic engagement and overall health center advocacy.

4. Engage in cross racial, intersectional, and civic engagement alliance-building activities

5. Engage community members through collaboration with Community Healing Unit program activities (e.g., support group, restorative healing practices, cultural healing activities)

6. Participate in strategic communications, outreach, education, narrative change, and awareness campaigns on public health solutions to address crime, violence, and hate

7. Participate in advocacy activities in partnership with health equity coalitions and health care associations at state and federal levels

8. Conduct project coordination duties (meeting scheduling, meeting note-taking, monitor project status, coordinate team members, internal/external communications)

9. Engage in related community research projects

10. Engage and build trust with patients and community members impacted by crime, violence, and trauma

11. Support internal staff campaigns focused on civic engagement and health center related issues.

12. Engage with staff on advocacy and civic engagement activities

13. Identify gaps and advocate for systems improvements

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. None

GENERAL AGENCY/AHS DUTIES:

1. Fosters an environment that promotes trust and cooperation among clients and staff.

2. Enforces clinic policies and procedures, including maintenance of client confidentiality under HIPAA privacy rules, to ensure that the principles of AHS are implemented.

3. Participates in general membership meetings, fundraisers, and other public events, as required.

4. Participates in outreach activities, agency advocacy, and serves on ad hoc committees, as requested.

5. Attends AHS staff retreats and Board of Directors meetings, as required.

6. Participates in agency-wide quality improvement program processes and performance improvement teams to ensure excellence in the quality of services provided across the agency.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. A Bachelor’s degree in Ethnic Studies, public policy, public health, social work, health administration, or related field, OR

2. Four years of relevant work experience including health advocacy, policy, city planning, community collaboration, community organizing, project management, public health, and program data analysis and evaluation

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Ability to speak, read, and write at a high proficiency level in an Asian language (Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, or Khmer strongly desired).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

1. Ability to work occasional weeknight or weekend meetings or events.

2. Ability to navigate complex environments and conversations, with the cultural humility to work across sectors, populations, and settings, building deep and lasting relationships with collaborative members, local policymakers, and other invested stakeholders.

3. Ability to travel to various locations in Oakland.

4. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and adaptability to working with computers and software applications.

5. Ability to multi-task and work effectively in a high-stress and fast-moving environment.

6. Cultural humility and demonstrated ability and effectiveness in working with ethnically diverse populations.

7. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

8. Strong written and verbal communication skills.

9. Knowledge of the AAPI community’s health care needs and the social, cultural, economic, and political factors affecting the API community's access to and utilization of health care services.

10. Knowledge of AAPI community resources.

11. Skilled in health advocacy.

12. Skilled in community relations.

PHYSICAL & WORK DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

BENEFITS:

Medical, Dental, Vision premiums 100% paid by AHS

12 Vacation Days

12 Sick Days

12 Holidays and 3 Floating Holidays

3% 403B Employer Contributions and up to 2% Employee Match Contribution

Transportation Benefit Paid by AHS

FSA/Dependent Care Assistance

Long Term Disability