COA Advocate - (CHS)

Anixter Center•Chicago, IL

19h•Onsite

About The Position

Anixter Center, through its division Chicago Hearing Society (CHS), is a leader in providing services to children, teens, and adults with disabilities, enabling them to live, learn, work, and play in the community. They serve over 8,000 individuals annually with employment, residential, educational, health, and social/recreational services, focusing on community involvement. Anixter Center offers a unique range of services for all life stages. This full-time position reports directly to the Community Support Manager and involves working with the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Communities. The role provides advocacy, support, crisis intervention, problem-solving, short-term counseling, information, referral, education, and training.

Requirements

Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice, counseling or a related field.
1 year of direct service work experience in the Deaf community with a strong knowledge of community resources.
Fluency in American Sign Language (ASL).
Must own and maintain an operating vehicle, have a valid driver’s license, and be eligible to be an agency approved driver.

Nice To Haves

Prefer ASL as a first language.
Knowledge of Deaf culture.

Responsibilities

Provide advocacy, case management, and information and referrals to clients and the general public.
Support and encourage client self-advocacy efforts and when necessary and requested, advocate on behalf of clients to ensure their rights and responsibilities are protected within the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Illinois Domestic Violence Act and in interaction with other service providers.
Provide information and referral services to members of the Deaf community, services providers, community organizations, employers, family members, and DDBHH individuals.
Provide crisis intervention, problem solving, and short-term counseling to DDBHH survivors/victims of sexual assault, either in the office or at agreed-upon locations in the community.
Refer clients to appropriate community resources for services such as emergency shelter, long-term counseling, and housing assistance, and provides on-going support through case management.
Ensure communication access to all related services including medical services and to police and court proceedings, usually through the use of sign language interpreters.
Accompany clients to court, meetings with police, lawyers and other service providers.
Arrange and/or develop and present educational programs and exhibits to DDBHH individuals, service providers, police departments.
Implement data collection procedures to document service delivery and demographic information about survivors/victims of domestic violence.