DV Court Liaison

Metropolitan Family Services • Chicago, IL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Metropolitan Family Services is hiring a part-time, in-person DV Court Liaison for its Jane Addams DV Court Advocacy Program, based at the Centralized DV Courthouse. The role provides direct support and advocacy to domestic violence survivors and their children, including crisis intervention, safety planning, emotional support, court accompaniment, information, and referrals. The average starting salary is $23–$25 per hour, depending on skills and experience.

The liaison works with clients navigating Orders of Protection and other domestic violence, divorce, and family court matters. The position coordinates with internal programs, community services, and legal and justice-system partners; maintains documentation and grant-related reporting; and represents the agency professionally in court settings. Work requires travel between sites and driving clients in a personally owned vehicle. The role is based in person at the courthouse and includes the physical demands described in the posting.

Metropolitan Family Services describes itself as Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency, serving more than 122,970 individuals and families across Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs, and DuPage County.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree plus 2 years of work experience; experience in gender-based violence and/or a criminal justice-related capacity is preferred.
• Knowledge of community resources, advocacy, and crisis intervention; understanding of trauma and Trauma-Informed Care is beneficial.
• Ability to advocate for survivors within the criminal justice system.
• Empathic, non-judgmental, service-oriented approach to working with clients.
• Ability to partner with clients, recognize them as experts in their own lives, and support their strengths and safety.
• Ability to respond appropriately in varied situations, multitask, and function with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work and problem-solve independently and collaboratively, demonstrating professionalism, flexibility, and mature judgment.
• Self-awareness, insight, and commitment to ongoing professional growth.
• Ability to model healthy boundaries and good self-care with clients and coworkers.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and effectiveness working with diverse populations.
• Satisfactory completion of relevant screening and criminal background checks.
• Ability to drive for work and transport clients in a personally owned vehicle; travel between sites is required.
• Ability to sit and stand for sustained periods; frequently talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to feel, handle, and operate objects or controls; occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel, and crouch; walk up and down stairs to clients’ apartments; and occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds.
• Close visual acuity for tasks such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Criminal Justice, or a related field.
• Experience in the legal system or the field of gender-based violence.
• Prior experience in social services or the domestic violence field.
• Experience with Orders of Protection and/or individual domestic violence support.
• Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional (CDVP) certification.
• Bilingual/bicultural abilities; these may be required for particular programs or sites.
• 40-hour Domestic Violence training at the time of hire. The training is required at the first opportunity after hire and must be completed before any contact with DV program clients or their personally identifying information.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct services to survivors of domestic abuse and/or their children, including crisis intervention, safety planning, emotional support, advocacy, information, and referrals.
• Assist and accompany clients and witnesses through court procedures involving Orders of Protection, domestic violence, divorce, and family court.
• Offer support and information to survivors of domestic violence.
• Help clients prepare petitions for Orders of Protection, accompany them through the court process, and prepare Orders for the judge.
• Maintain working knowledge of MFS programs and community resources, and connect clients with services within MFS and in the community.
• May assist with training program staff, volunteers, and/or interns.
• May conduct public education presentations, police trainings, or other educational offerings related to court advocacy.
• Administer required outcome tools at designated intervals.
• Attend mandatory group supervision and program or agency meetings.
• Collaborate with departmental staff and other programs to provide comprehensive client services.
• Complete intakes, case notes, and other client-file documentation in a timely manner.
• Meet contract, grant, and program expectations, including timelines and reporting requirements.
• Provide timely and accurate statistical information for program grants.
• Stay informed about developments in domestic violence and attend appropriate workshops, conferences, and other professional development activities.
• Work with and advocate for clients in coordination with other agencies and the legal system, including State’s Attorneys, Legal Aid, DCFS, police and Sheriff’s departments, private attorneys, and investigators.
• Represent Metropolitan Family Services and the domestic violence program professionally, with awareness of courtroom etiquette and criminal justice system expectations.
• Provide services in accordance with the Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals’ code of ethics.
• May perform other specialized duties based on the needs of the assigned site or program, such as court follow-up contacts.

Benefits

• Medical coverage.
• Guardian dental coverage.
• VSP vision coverage.
• Metropolitan Family Services contributions of $2,000 for individual and $4,000 for family HSA accounts, prorated to the benefits start date.
• Free general medicine and behavioral health Teladoc services for all team members.
• Ascensus 401(k) plan with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on the first day of eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree