Transitional Housing Advocate

Remedies • Rockford, IL

14h

About The Position

The Transitional Housing Advocate participates in a multidisciplinary team delivering transitional housing services for survivors of domestic violence, with support for residential and non-residential programming as needed. The role uses an empowerment-based, trauma-informed, survivor-centered approach and contributes to individualized client goal plans and services. The advocate maintains a caseload and provides or arranges supportive services for clients and survivors.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Counseling, Social Work, or a related field.
• Ability to prepare and maintain effective case files.
• Ability to participate in and successfully complete a comprehensive training program.
• Ability to demonstrate sincere interest in working with the client population.
• Ability to engage potential clients and support current clients’ continued participation in services.
• Ability to acquire and apply empathetic and empowering counseling, advocacy, and crisis-intervention skills and methods.
• High physical and emotional energy to handle a range of circumstances.
• Basic computer skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with survivors, staff, service providers, and the public.
• Completion of the 40-hour domestic violence training required by the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, from an Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional-approved training site. Remedies Renewing Lives will provide this training to new employees who have not completed it.

Nice To Haves

• One year of full-time experience providing professional counseling, advocacy, and/or case management with adults is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Use advocacy-based counseling techniques to identify and support individual client and survivor needs.
• Assess the needs, assets, and goals of assigned clients in collaboration with them, based on their input and requests.
• Promote wellness and autonomy through empowerment, encouragement, and assistance with goal setting.
• Provide advocacy, domestic violence counseling, and case management on a scheduled and as-needed basis.
• Maintain client confidentiality in accordance with agency policies and applicable laws and regulations.
• Maintain appropriate client records documenting services and progress toward goals.
• Engage in safety planning and link clients and survivors to services.
• Assist with data collection and adhere to funding requirements.
• Meet weekly with the direct supervisor and attend other staff meetings as needed to discuss client, program, and community needs and possible approaches and resources.
• Document activities and services accurately and on time.
• Attend staff and community agency meetings as requested or assigned.
• Participate in in-service or continuing education as requested.
• Maintain working relationships with agency client-service teams and community partners to support continuity of care.
• Give and receive support from other staff members.
• Provide community education presentations on intimate partner violence and agency services as requested.
• Communicate with clients, survivors, referral sources, and employees as appropriate.
• Perform job functions professionally and consistently with confidentiality requirements, ethical practices, agency policies, and the agency mission.
• Maintain a professional image and promote a positive workplace attitude.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical insurance eligibility for full-time employees beginning the first of the month after 30 days of employment.
• Dental insurance eligibility for full-time employees beginning the first of the month after 30 days of employment.
• 401(k) participation.
• Accrual of four weeks of paid time off per year.
• Annual discretionary bonus after completing one year of service.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Term life insurance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level