Family Mentor

Job Summary

The Family Mentor provides family- and child-centered, culturally and linguistically based home visit services for Deaf* and hearing families. This role ensures age-appropriate language development, school readiness and access to cultural, linguistic, and educational resources. Work hours vary based on family needs, including some nights and weekends. The Family Mentor II serves as a bridge between families and the Deaf* community, fostering connections that support long-term linguistic and educational success.

Essential Job Functions

Family Mentorship & Support

• Minimum of three days per-week on-site presence required
• Regularly meet with clients and families via videophone, Zoom or in person for services and other critical stages of their case. 
• Develop and implement individualized Deaf-centric mentoring plans for families, focusing on pre-school and kindergarten readiness.
• Provide ASL instruction, bilingual language development, and Deaf culture education through interactive activities, videos, and written materials.
• Facilitate connections between Deaf* children/youth and Deaf* role models to strengthen language and identity development.
• Assist families in creating accessible visual communication environments that support language acquisition and family engagement.
• Participate in community outreach and strategic planning to ensure inclusive services for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and non-signing youth.

Direct Client Services & Education

• Provide one-on-one advocacy and educational consultation for youth and families.
• Assist families with DCARA orientation, eligibility guidance, and access to educational resources.
• Support workshops, webinars, and classes, including Club Saturdays, Love & Literacy, ASL classes, and the Family Mentoring Program.
• Submit interpreter requests for each assignment and ensure that they meet grant qualification requirements;
  • Interpreter fulfillment will be managed by the Interpreting Services Department.
• Coordinate document assistance, and emergency support as applicable.
• Efficient communication methods including all electronic formats (emails, zoom chats, etc.) and in person with all employees using the following:
  • Various levels of written English
  • American Sign Language  
  • Other signed communication methods 

Other Job Functions

Business Relations

• Build and maintain relationships with agencies to promote awareness and address service gaps.
• Track partnerships and collaborations with businesses and community organizations.
• Support the YFS Manager in educating external agencies on the needs of Deaf and hearing families

Documentation Duties 

• Maintain client records, case notes, and statistical data in Salesforce.
• Track service plans, update case files, and submit bi-weekly reports to the Youth & Family Services Manager.
• Revise and update service plans as needed to ensure ongoing support for families.

Community & Recruitment

• Assist the YFS Manager in hosting public awareness workshops twice a year.
• Provide input on the impact of services, ensuring inclusivity for diverse communities.
• Develop marketing materials, including flyers, brochures, and vlogs, to support recruitment efforts.

Required Education and Experience

• Fluency in ASL and efficient written English skills.
• 2+ years of experience working with families in a support, education, or advocacy role.
• Knowledge of early childhood development and bilingual language acquisition.
• Familiarity with Deaf* education policies, including IDEA, Section 504, ADA, and SB 210.
• Ability to work with diverse communities, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and non-signing families.
• Efficient interpersonal and organizational skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Basic computer proficiency for documentation, communication, and outreach.
• Ability to travel locally for family visits and community events as needed.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, DocuSign and similar software.

Desired Education and Experience 

• BA in Child Development, Psychology, Social Work, Deaf Education, or related field.
• Decisive with the ability to adapt to feedback and changing needs.
• Proficiency with Salesforce platform is desired but can provide training.

Benefits

• Employee Full Coverage: Health, Dental and Vision Plans
  • Optional to add members at competitive rates
• Life Insurance
• Paid Benefits
  • Twelve (12) Holidays 
  • Generous Sick Leave
  • Competitive Vacation Package 
  • Weekly Wellbeing Hour

*Work Location Requirement: This is a primarily in-person position. Must be based within commuting distance of San Leandro for three mandatory in-office days per week. Remote work is only permitted when approved for specific situations and is not a standard benefit. Applicants must live within the Bay Area and be available to meet with clients on short notice. This is a client-facing role requiring regular on-site presence.

Our Workplace Culture

Our workplace culture is a fun, challenging, and caring working environment where you can grow your career. We work together by being inclusive to everyone - including ideas, of people, of points of view. Individually, we are experts at what we do. Collectively, our impact is even greater. You’ll find some of the best and most satisfied staff working for the agency. At DCARA, you will be able to use your experiences, abilities, creativity, and energy to work and discover the talents within yourself as you enrich the lives of Deaf* (Deaf, DeafBlind, Deaf with disabilities, hard of hearing, and late-deafened) community members.

Living in the Bay Area

DCARA is located in the beautiful Bay Area / North Coastal of California, known for its large Deaf* community, warm climate, highly educated communities, historic buildings, and an exciting array of activities for everyone, including cultural events, professional sports, trips up and down the Pacific coastline, wine tasting in Napa and Sonoma Valley, hiking around Redwood Giants, and many other community activities. You will also live near many of the world’s Global companies (Google, Apple, Facebook, for example) which are located in the Bay Area. There is no better place to live than California as the world’s fifth largest economy!

Equal Employment Opportunity
DCARA is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.  DCARA is an at-will employer and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, including Deaf, DeafBlind, Deaf with disabilities, hard of hearing, and late deafened people. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

How to Apply
Interested applicants should submit their resume and cover letter to https://dcara.org/careers/.

Join us in empowering Deaf* communities! Be a leader, an advocate, and a champion for change at DCARA.