Advocate Adult New Heights

POSITION TITLE: Adult Advocate

FT/PT: Full time (35+ hours per week, may include some evenings and weekends)

CLASSIFICATION: Salaried Non-Exempt

PAY GROUP: Level 16

REPORTS TO: Case Management Coordinator

SUPERVISES: N/A

FUNCTION: The Adult Advocate will assist in the development and implementation of services for adult victims of domestic violence. The Adult Advocate will provide all necessary advocacy, and link clients to needed services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide individual and group counseling which may include conducting weekly support groups.
• Work with clients placed in scattered-site housing throughout the Chicago Metropolitan area, helping them to achieve safety, emotional and financial stability
• Develop Service Plans jointly with each client. Will continuously monitor progress of the client(s), and adjust service plans as necessary. Monitors the goals, objectives and quality of the program. Time frames must be clearly specified.
• Provide employment counseling and referrals for job placement.
• Link clients with outside referrals for education, job training, and other resource agencies in the city of Chicago, including WIC, TANF, legal Aid, Emergency Assistance and other community networking as needed.
• Provide legal advocacy and emotional support for clients in court.
• Provide assistance in obtaining Orders of Protection.
• Provide crisis intervention to walk-in clients, call-in clients or clients referred by other means.
• On behalf of the client and/or Family Rescue, will coordinate and advocate with outside entities which may include; social service organizations, mental health organizations, substance abuse organizations, landlords, housing organizations and/or legal/law enforcements agencies, etc.
• Provide community presentations/trainings to both public and private entities.
• Serves as a liaison between Family Rescue and the community at large.
• Works with internal agency programs to link clients to appropriate services.
• Provide effective case management/documentation which includes completing all required documentation in a timely manner and maintaining records, files, reports etc. as directed.
• Complete intake/screening of clients for services.
• Provide follow-up service to clients once they have left Family Rescue services.
• Attend staff meetings, trainings etc. as required and/or scheduled.
• Other Duties as assigned.

MARGINAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• May assist in picking up and distribution of donations
• May do research and/or gather resources to directly assist clients and/or to perform job.
• May assist in the up-keep (cleaning) of office/building space(s).
• May provide assistance with transportation to scheduled appointments.
• May assist in other programs both inter-agency as well as inter-program.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education & Experience:

• A B.A. degree in social service or related field.
• Will consider an A.A. degree with one (1) or more years applicable experience.
• May consider a High School Diploma with two (2) years applicable experience.
• Must have 40-hour domestic violence training (within 3 months of hire date).
• May require city and/or state certification.
• Must be CPR/first aid certified (within 1 year of hire date).

Language/Writing Skills:

• Must have excellent verbal skills.
• Must have the ability to communicate effectively to diverse group(s) of people in varied settings.
• Must be able to write in a logical, clear and grammatically correct way.
• Bi-lingual Spanish speaking, reading and writing may be required.

Reasoning Ability:

• Must have the ability to read, analyze and interpret common reports and documents.
• Must be able to respond to the needs and/or request of clients, co-workers, supervisors and others in a professional and timely manner.
• Must have the ability to plan and organize in a logical manner.
• Must be able to prioritize and multi-task in an efficient manner.