Community Wellness Advocate

Build Inc•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Community Wellness Advocate (CWA) (40 hours, Full-time) Non-exempt BUILD, Inc. (Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development) is presently seeking a committed, self-motivated, and innovative individual to join our team. BUILD is a nationally respected gang intervention, violence prevention, and youth development organization based on Chicago’s West Side. Since 1969, BUILD has worked to save lives and mentor young people who live in the city’s most challenged neighborhoods. When you work at BUILD you make an important difference to the thousands of youths and families we serve. Our Core Values: Empathy, Passion, Persistence, and Innovation. Community Wellness Advocate (CWA) provides trauma-focused, culturally aware, and community-based direct services to families, household members and youth impacted by community violence at a school within the service areas of Austin, Garfield Park and Humboldt Park. The direct services offered to families that are enrolled clients in the Community Support Services program include, but are not limited to, clinical case management, advocacy support, resource linkage, crisis intervention and stabilization, and other BUILD programs, and outside providers/resources. The (CWA) is part of the Prevention Department. The (CWA) reports directly to the Manager of Site Based Prevention Programs.

Requirements

Minimum three years of experience working with inner-city youth in a human service setting, trauma-informed care, social service setting, or related field
Bachelor’s degree in social work or related education field preferred
Maintains confidential, respectful and appropriate relationships with program participants, all levels of agency staff and the various publics of the agency, demonstrating sensitivity to all ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds
Self-motivated leader with the ability to communicate in a friendly and informative manner with people from a wide variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles
Must be willing to provide community-based direct services
Operate professionally in the field on a flexible time schedule, which includes late evenings and weekends.
Proficiency with technology (Microsoft Office), tech integration into daily program operations and evaluation systems.
An automobile is required along with current insurance and a valid driver’s license
Must successfully pass extensive background check
Bilingual English and Spanish preferred but not required

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English and Spanish preferred but not required

Responsibilities

Utilizes motivational interviewing to complete needs assessment and creates collaborative service plan reflecting client’s self-identified biopsychosocial emotional immediate and long-term needs in conjunction with the school where you will be placed.
Develops and implements trauma-focused and culturally aware interventions to support clients in achieving self-identified goals.
Establishes a regular schedule of home visits, contacts, and follow-up phone calls to encourage the building of relationships with clients and the completion of service plans in conjunction with the school where you will be placed.
Connects violence-exposed individuals, youth, and families with comprehensive services that promote healing, foster life-skills, and aim to address risky behaviors resulting in increased exposure to violence and adverse outcomes. This is done in conjunction with the school assigned to. We work closely with the Counselor and Parent Coordinator.
Provides and assists in crisis intervention and stabilization support to ensure client and community safety
Works closely with the school community and BUILD program to ensure appropriate wraparound services such as individual/group therapy, justice system navigation and advocacy, mentorship, extracurricular programming, etc.
Participates in weekly team meetings with the site coordinator and manager of Site Based Prevention Programs
Represents BUILD to broaden community awareness and support by attending program-related community and committee meetings as needed
Maintains knowledge current in the field in way of participation of professional development opportunities, seminars and/or workshops
Attends departmental and agency-wide staff meetings, as scheduled and agency-wide events as required
Documents and reports program activities and outcomes and ensure progress toward annual program objectives in our evaluation system
Submits statistics and reports to corresponding managers on a bi-weekly and monthly basis and/or as needed
Maintains File Compliance as required and compliance with ETO