Mental Health Advocate

MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE

Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Compensation: $50,050 - $52,780 yearly (based on a 35-hour workweek)

Location: In-Person, Brooklyn, NY

Reports to: Mental Health Coordinator

ABOUT MIXTECA

Mixteca Organization Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, that seeks to support sustainable livelihoods for Spanish-speaking immigrants, regardless of status. Mixteca provides free, culturally responsive programming to respond to the critical health, educational, and immigration needs of Spanish-speaking families in Brooklyn and the broader NYC metropolitan area.

POSITION SUMMARY

Mixteca is seeking a compassionate, proactive, and community-centered Mental Health Advocate to provide culturally responsive emotional support, supportive counseling, case management, and resource navigation to Spanish-speaking immigrant individuals and families.

The Mental Health Advocate will work directly with community members experiencing emotional distress, migration-related stress, grief, family separation, trauma, and other psychosocial challenges. Through individual emotional support sessions, psychoeducation, healing-centered activities, and connections to community resources, the Advocate will help participants strengthen their emotional well-being, resilience, and support systems.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Emotional Support and Supportive Counseling

● Provide individual social-emotional support to participants navigating stress, grief, trauma-related challenges, family separation, and other emotional or psychosocial concerns.

● Conduct intakes, needs assessments, and individualized emotional wellness and support plans based on participants' needs and goals.

● Utilize trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and healing-centered approaches to create safe, welcoming, and supportive environments that promote emotional well-being and resilience.

Case Management & Resource Navigation

● Provide participant-centered case management, including identifying immediate needs, developing action plans, coordinating services, and monitoring progress toward established goals.

● Connect participants to appropriate community resources, including healthcare, legal services, housing, public benefits, specialized mental health services, and other social supports.

● Assist participants in navigating complex service systems, overcoming barriers to accessing resources, and advocating for their needs.

● Collaborate with internal programs, community organizations, and service providers to ensure coordinated referrals, continuity of support, and timely follow-up.

Program & Community Healing

● Facilitate healing spaces, support groups, workshops, and wellness activities that promote safety, connection, and community healing.

● Help design and implement healing-centered programming that reflects the lived experiences, cultures, and strengths of immigrant communities.

● Conduct outreach and help develop culturally relevant mental health education materials.

Administrative & Team Support

● Maintain accurate case notes, records, and program data in compliance with agency and funder requirements.

● Represent Mixteca in community meetings, events, and partner spaces as needed.

● Perform other related duties as needed to support program and organizational goals.

QUALIFICATIONS

● Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Human Services, Art Therapy, or a related field, or equivalent community-based experience in nonprofit, mental health, advocacy, or healing-centered settings.

● Fluency in Spanish and English, with strong verbal and written communication skills in both languages.

● Experience working with immigrant communities, particularly Spanish-speaking communities impacted by trauma, migration, family separation, or violence.

● Experience supporting survivors of gender-based violence, LGBTQIA+ community members, youth, and working-class communities strongly preferred.

● Ability to build trust and create safe, welcoming, and culturally affirming spaces.

● Strong outreach, facilitation, relationship-building, and interpersonal skills.

● Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage documentation and follow-up.

● Proactive, collaborative, and solution-oriented approach to work.

● Commitment to social justice, anti-racism, and the dignity, resilience, and leadership of immigrant communities.

● Familiarity with traditional, ancestral, body-based, expressive arts, or other community-rooted healing practices is strongly preferred.

We strongly encourage applicants with community-rooted, ancestral, Indigenous, or non-Western healing knowledge and practices to apply.

IMPORTANT ROLE NOTES

Equal Opportunity: Mixteca Organization Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected under applicable federal, New York State, and New York City law. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request.

Overtime Eligibility: This is a non-exempt position. Hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek are compensated in accordance with Mixteca's overtime policy and applicable wage-and-hour law.

BENEFITS

Mixteca offers a range of benefits to support the health, well-being, and everyday needs of our staff, including:

● 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums.

● Monthly OMNY card.

● Paid time off, personal days, and sick days.

● Summer Fridays with shortened workdays during the summer.

● Weekly yoga sessions offered in partnership with a local studio.

● Access to discounted tickets and special offers for concerts, performances, cultural events, and other special events throughout the year.

● Opportunities to participate in staff events and activities that support connection, community, and well-being.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

● To apply, please visit our careers site at Mixteca.org