Transition Facilitator, Center for Independent Living (CIL), Berkeley, CA

About the position

The Transition Facilitator works with people with disabilities to reclaim community living from carceral institutions (like jails and prisons), mental health facilities, houselessness, and skilled nursing facilities or other institutional levels of care.

Founded in 1972 in Berkeley, California, the Center for Independent Living (CIL) emerged from the Independent Living movement of the 1970’s as a powerful force in helping people with disabilities achieve their independence. CIL is the model for hundreds of Independent Living Centers throughout the U.S. and the world.

CIL directly serves about 1000 individuals each year. Services include peer counseling, assistive technology consultation and training, employment services, travel training, a residential access program that provides simple equipment allowing seniors and people with disabilities to stay in their homes, systems change advocacy, work and benefits counseling, and a Living Well with a Disability curriculum that helps seniors with aging-related physical and mental disabilities remain productive, healthy and engaged. CIL’s Information and Referral staff provide specialized, in-depth connections to resources to an additional 5000-6000 people a year. 

CIL Guiding Principles

• Comprehensive programs most effectively meet the needs of people with disabilities
• People with disabilities are the best experts on their lives
• The strongest and most vibrant communities are those that include and embrace disability

Summary

The CIL is seeking a Transitions Facilitator to support the CIL in launching a new version of our Transition and Diversion Program, to bring people with disabilities back into community living from carceral institutions (like jails and prisons), mental health facilities, foster care and congregate care, houselessness or the risk of houselessness, and skilled nursing facilities or other institutional levels of care. The Transitions Facilitator will also provide supports and services to assist in diverting people with disabilities from entering these types of institutions and facilities.

This position will have a special emphasis on transitioning and diverting people with disabilities from institutions where there has (historically) been less of an emphasis from independent living centers–such as prisons and jails, mental health facilities, foster care, and from houselessness or the risk of houselessness. This position will also support transitions and diversions from skilled nursing facilities and other institutional levels of care.

The Transitions Facilitator works with consumers to develop plans for their own transition and diversion from these institutions or houselessness, and brings together teams of CIL staff and diverse community-based organizations to translate that plan into action, services, resources that support independent/interdependent living in the community.

The Transitions Facilitator will be part of a Transition and Diversion Program team with one other Transitions Facilitator, a Program Manager, and Program Director. The Transitions Facilitator will work closely with CIL’s other Transitions Facilitator to learn the ins and outs of transition and diversion services, and to build out a robust and sustainable Transitions and Diversions Program.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with other CIL staff to provide consumers whole-person planning and support across the breadth of CIL’s programs and services to support their transition or diversion 

• Develop relationships of collaboration and mutual referral with community-based organizations providing re-entry, legal, housing, or other social support services and/or mutual aid, including organizations working at the intersections of anti-racism, economic and gender justice, and the fight against mass incarceration. Develop systems for making seamless referrals and open lines of collaborative communication. 

• Develop relationships with public defender offices, probation/parole offices, and local jails and nearby prisons to offer resources and referral that supports release and transition 

• Develop relationships with juvenile justice systems, foster care agencies, and congregate care facilities to build networks for transitioning and diverting young people with disabilities 

• Develop relationships with mental health facilities and care systems, as well as houselessness shelters and organizations, to build networks for transition and diversion

• Develop relationships with skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, and long-term care facilities in Northern Alameda County and inform them of CIL’s Transition Services, and, in particular, to identify opportunities to divert and transition people with disabilities who are formerly incarcerated, experience severe mental health disabilities, and who have experienced homelessness from these type of institutional levels of care 

• Create an overview of CIL’s transition services, including trainings and outreach materials
• Create and maintain an ongoing database of institutions and facilities, and potential consumers who are interested in transitioning from these institutions and facilities into community living

• Research what types of needs transitions consumers might encounter, develop referral and resource lists for services outside CIL

• Meet with potential Transition and Diversion consumers to complete an intake,, goal-setting, and creating a transition or diversion plan

• Work with CIL Housing Counselors and local housing resources and housing justice organizations to find housing options for potential transition consumers

• Act as a peer counselor and advocate for consumers

• Maintain accurate and detailed records; documenting, in particular, services to consumers and funds utilized to support their transition or diversion

• Demonstrate commitment to the CIL and to the vision, mission, and independent living philosophy of the agency

• Strong commitment to racial equity and anti-racism, anti-ableism, anti-ageism, economic justice. Demonstrated understanding of the intersections and interactions of disability, incarceration and houselessness, and the criminalization of poverty 

• Knowledge of Disability Justice frameworks and strategies preferred but can also be learned

Other Requirements

• Personable, outgoing personality
• Lived experience with a disability is valued
• Experience in counseling and/or social work
• Ability to travel to nursing facilities
• Experience with Google Suite and data management systems a plus

Work Environment

Hybrid – Work is primarily done in-person at different facilities with consumers, or at CIL’s Berkeley office. Some remote work from home. 

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.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to available individuals with disabilities to perform the job functions on request.

A Note to Potential Candidates

Studies have shown that BIPOC and other people from marginalized groups are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all the qualifications described in the job description. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization, and to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse work experiences and backgrounds. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in this position, and what you hope to bring to this role.

How to Apply

If you are interested in joining CIL’s team, please submit the following application materials: 

• A cover letter describing your interest in CIL and how your past experience has prepared you for this role
• Resume

All job offers are contingent on passing a pre-employment background check.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the Director of Operations at hr@thecil.org.

CIL Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity), national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation or status as a protected veteran. Persons with disabilities, veterans, women, and minorities are encouraged to apply.  

CIL is an E-Verify participating employer.

Salary

$28.00 - $31.00 per hour