Youth Advocate

Mercy Home for Boys & Girls • Chicago, IL

19h • Onsite

About The Position

Mercy Home for Boys & Girls is seeking a full-time Youth Advocate to support young people living in its residential programs. The role builds therapeutic relationships with youth and young adults and their caregiving systems, while providing advocacy, coaching, guidance, supervision, and role modeling in a structured environment. The Youth Advocate helps residents identify strengths and interests, develop skills, solve social problems, and plan and pursue goals. The position uses individualized, developmentally appropriate, attachment-informed, and trauma-responsive approaches consistent with the Mercy Model of Care.

The Youth Advocate works with treatment teams, families, support systems, and outside professionals to coordinate services and support residents’ well-being. The role also includes maintaining treatment plans and documentation, communicating with internal and external stakeholders, supporting daily routines and activities, safely transporting youth, following medication procedures, and using de-escalation and behavior-management techniques. The position is based at the Walsh girls campus in Chicago, Illinois. This is a 40-hour-per-week position with a schedule that varies according to program needs; weekend hours receive a pay differential. The advertised pay range is $24–$25 per hour.

Requirements

• Be at least 21 years of age.
• Have a bachelor’s degree, preferred, or a high school diploma and at least five years of experience in youth development.
• Have demonstrated experience working with youth; at least two years of experience is preferred, ideally with youth who have experienced developmental adversity and/or trauma.
• Hold a valid Illinois driver’s license, be able to safely drive a van, maintain a clear driving record, and obtain and retain driving approval through the Department of Children and Family Services.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance.
• Be able to work a flexible schedule and adjust it to meet program and youth needs.
• Be able to work independently and as an active member of an interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Have excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Be able to accept, adopt, and implement feedback from supervisors and the team.
• Be open and respectful toward clients’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and competent and willing to work with a diverse client population.
• Enjoy working with youth and young adults.
• Be able and willing to create, initiate, and participate in recreational and therapeutic activities with youth.
• Have relationship-building, active-listening, and coaching skills.
• Maintain a professional demeanor, exercise judgment and discretion, respect others, respond to feedback, consider other viewpoints, and remain willing to learn new skills.
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy.
• Attend required agency trainings and maintain training compliance; be flexible to attend daytime trainings or sessions outside regularly scheduled hours.
• Be able to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds and, with proper training, physically restrain youth.
• Be committed to the agency’s mission, values, and goals.

Nice To Haves

• A bachelor’s degree.
• At least two years of experience working with youth, ideally youth who have experienced developmental adversity and/or trauma.

Responsibilities

• Build therapeutic relationships with youth, young adults, and their caregiving systems while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Implement program structure by providing supportive supervision, guidance, and role modeling in the residential milieu.
• Coach youth and young adults, teach skills, guide social problem-solving, and identify strengths, talents, and interests.
• Participate in weekly Advocate meetings and maintain weekly contact with support systems as applicable.
• Help youth and young adults plan and achieve goals across relevant domains.
• Engage residents in daily routines and activities by setting expectations and limits, praising positive behavior, providing corrective feedback, and processing behavior and decision-making.
• Develop and support creative interventions that incorporate youth strengths and talents, and provide individualized services and supports.
• Refer residents for specialized services when needed and consult with relevant professionals.
• Collaborate with treatment teams and other teams to support youth and young adults; participate in team meetings and youth assessments.
• Prepare for and participate in supervision with the direct supervisor, either the Supervisor – Youth Care or Program Manager, depending on program structure.
• Provide coverage or support in other programs as needed and directed.
• Keep program log entries current and read and respond to email promptly.
• Participate in care-planning and family meetings, including reviewing treatment efficacy and consistency with the Mercy Model.
• Use effective interaction skills, including active listening, empathy, nonjudgmental communication, appropriate limit-setting, and encouragement.
• Complete quarterly Individual Treatment Plans and implement them.
• Communicate promptly and accurately with agency staff and external contacts such as employers, schools, families, support systems, legal personnel, and housing programs.
• Complete required documentation during shifts and follow on-call notification procedures.
• Transport youth, young adults, and their support systems safely in accordance with agency policy and state law.
• Follow medication-distribution procedures and document medication handling accurately and safely.
• Use de-escalation and behavior-management techniques in accordance with CPI protocol, and restrain youth or young adults when necessary.
• Learn and apply developmentally appropriate, attachment-informed, and trauma-responsive practices consistent with the Mercy Model of Care.

Benefits

• Comprehensive training and ongoing professional development opportunities are described; further benefits are available through the employer’s benefits information link.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED