Resource Advocate

Howard Brown Health•Chicago, IL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Resource Advocate is responsible for coordinating daily resource linkage services and providing youth-centered support to LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) youth, youth experiencing homelessness, and street-based youth at the Broadway Youth Center. This position will provide 1:1 youth case management services and collaborate with other BYC teams to strengthen internal service linkages. BYC Case Management/Resource Advocacy provides linkages to housing, government-issued documentation, life-skills and youth development programming, transportation, nutrition, and other support services within the daily Drop-In Program, as well as through scheduled appointments. This deeply collaborative role requires a dynamic integration of harm reduction, anti-oppression frameworks, and youth development best practices to achieve our mission to improve LGBTQ/street based quality of life through youth access to health, cultural and social services.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Previous experience working with LGBTQ community, youth experiencing homelessness, or marginalized communities required.
Must be highly organized, a strong communicator, and demonstrate the ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
Previous case management experience required.
Must have previous experienced working with LGBTQ community, youth experiencing homelessness, or marginalized communities

Nice To Haves

Previous case management experience highly regarded.
Previous trainings on harm-reduction, youth work, and providing trans and gender-non-conforming-affirming care is also highly regarded.
Bilingual Spanish-English highly preferred.
Previous trainings on harm-reduction, youth work, and providing trans and gender-non-conforming-affirming care is also highly regarded.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate a profound understanding of, and knowledge of working with LGBTQ and street-based youth age 12-24; demonstrate the ability to speak to and affect a wide variety of audiences related to the health, wellness and case management needs of the target population; demonstrate the ability to connect with, and provide case management services and interventions.
Provide LGBTQ and street-based youth with high-quality and responsive care, particularly resource linkage in a milieu setting at the Broadway Youth Center.
Incorporate anti-oppression frameworks including harm reduction, trauma-healing care, restorative justice, and body positivity into your youth work.
Meet with youth participants for one-on-one and partnered resource advocacy sessions using a walk-in model and scheduled appointments
Support youth in achieving individualized life skills goals by linking participants to and/or supporting systems navigation of healthcare, housing programs, workforce development, public benefits, and other support services.
Maintain regular contact with youth participants and reassess goals as necessary.
Create and enact discharge plans for youth participants; providing follow-up at least every three months.
Provide new participants with an overview/orientation of program services, intake sessions, follow up sessions,
Build relationships with youth participants by mingling in the milieu setting.
Support Community Meeting by gathering resources for Resource of the Week, facilitation, and other tasks as needed.
Link youth to appropriate in-house services at BYC and Howard Brown including basic needs, walk-In sexual health, primary care, mental health, education, and vocation
Maintain knowledge on best practices of case management work and Chicago area resources for LGBTQ and homeless youth through continuing education workshops and trainings.
Actively participate in regular staff CHAT meetings to plan accountability processes and program development for young people.
Attend all required trainings, team huddles, and meetings, specifically briefing and debriefing meetings prior to and immediately following Drop-In.
Acquire and maintain required client documents, including signed and completed goal planning forms, privacy forms, Release of Information forms, and registration forms
Maintain and update team services and data lists including Session Log, CTA Tracking log, Government Application Log, CES Assessment, Permanent Housing List, etc.
Maintain and update recent resources relevant to the community we serve to be shared with youth participants though fliers and announcements and with other staff through emails and resource binder.
Create and facilitate group-based life-skills programming and educational workshops to be hosted during or immediately after the daily drop in program– ex. Tenant rights, Home economics, Parenting, etc.
Provide escort to goal related appointments and off-site support sessions with clients (ex. housing, medical and childcare appointments) upon request and manager approval
Position requires a minimum of 30 weekly hours of direct care work with program participants.
Others duties as assigned

Benefits

Employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance with two PPO plans and an HMO plan.
BCBS HMO, PPO, and PPO Select Plans
BCBS Dental
BCBS Vision
3-weeks paid vacation and 1-week of personal time
12 accrued sick days per year
10 paid holidays, including Juneteenth
PTO Exchange allows employees to turn unused PTO into liquid assets
401k program with up to 5% employer match after 90 days
Employer-paid basic life insurance valued at one times the annual salary
Voluntary Life and AD&D, and Short-term and Long-term disability
Pre-tax commuter and parking benefit account
Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care
Tuition Reimbursement and Student Loan Forgiveness Programs; NHSC & PSLF
Employee Assistance Program with 5 employer-paid counseling sessions
50% off at Brown Elephant Resale Shops and discounts at local businesses