Community Wellness Advocate

Lawrence Hall; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Lawrence Hall is seeking a Community Wellness Advocate to mentor and support youth and young adults 8-24 in Chicago. The role emphasizes trauma-informed and positive youth development approaches to build healthy coping skills and pathways toward success.

You will engage with at-risk and justice-involved youth, connect families to resources, and collaborate with schools, probation officers, and community partners to ensure coordinated care. The work is community-based across Chicago.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required or related lived/professional experience considered.
• Minimum of 2 years working with youth ages 8-24.
• Experience with at-risk/justice-involved populations preferred.
• Knowledge of Positive Youth Development, trauma-informed care, restorative practices, and case management.

Responsibilities

• Provide mentorship, advocacy, and supportive guidance to youth ages 8-24.
• Build trusting relationships with youth and families.
• Deliver case management, assessments, referrals, goal planning, and follow-up.
• Use PYD, trauma-informed care, restorative practices in daily work.
• Support youth with life skills, education goals, employment readiness, and substance abuse prevention.
• Lead individual and group sessions on wellness, leadership, and coping strategies.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Flexibility

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Human Services, Criminal Justice, Youth Development, or related field

Job description

The Community Wellness Advocate will provide mentorship, case management, and supportive services to youth and young adults ages 8-24 years old. This position focuses on engaging at-risk and justice-involved youth from high-crime and underserved communities through a therapeutic, trauma-informed, and positive youth development approach.

The ideal candidate is passionate about supporting youth and families, understands the impact of community violence and systemic barriers, and is committed to helping young people build healthy coping skills, stability, and pathways toward success. The Community Wellness Advocate will serve as a trusted mentor and advocate while connecting participants to resources, programming, and opportunities that promote long-term wellness and personal growth.

This role requires flexibility, consistency, strong relationship-building skills, and the ability to meet youth where they are emotionally, socially, and developmentally.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide mentorship, advocacy, and supportive guidance to youth ages 8-24 years old.
• Build and maintain positive, trusting relationships with at-risk and justice-involved youth and their families.
• Provide case management services including assessments, referrals, goal planning, resource coordination, and follow-up support.
• Utilize Positive Youth Development (PYD), trauma-informed care, restorative practices, and therapeutic engagement strategies in daily interactions.
• Support youth with life skills development, emotional wellness, conflict resolution, educational goals, employment readiness, and substance abuse prevention.
• Facilitate individual and group sessions focused on wellness, leadership development, healthy decision-making, coping strategies, and personal accountability.
• Connect youth and families to community resources, mental health services, workforce opportunities, educational support, and additional supportive services.
• Assist with crisis intervention and de-escalation when necessary.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation including case notes, attendance records, incident reports, and service tracking.
• Participate in outreach activities, recruitment efforts, workshops, and community events.
• Collaborate with schools, probation officers, community partners, families, and internal staff to ensure coordinated care and support for participants.
• Provide transportation assistance for youth when necessary, including picking up and dropping off participants throughout the Chicago area.
• Attend staff meetings, training, supervision sessions, and professional development opportunities.
• Maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and strong ethical boundaries at all times.

This position includes community-based work throughout Chicago and may involve travel between program sites, schools, homes, and partner organizations. The role requires active engagement in both office and field settings.

Who we're looking for

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Human Services, Criminal Justice, Youth Development, or a related field preferred. Relevant lived and professional experience will also be considered.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working with youth and young adults ages 8-24 years old.
• Experience working with at-risk, justice-involved, and underserved populations strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of Positive Youth Development, trauma-informed care, restorative practices, substance abuse prevention, and case management strategies.
• Understanding of challenges impacting youth exposed to violence, poverty, trauma, and systemic inequities.

Preferred:

• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to engage youth with empathy, accountability, patience, and consistency.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Must be flexible and available to work mornings, evenings, and weekends as needed.
• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and willingness to transport youth throughout the Chicago area required.
• Must successfully pass all required background checks and screenings.
• Crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques
• Group facilitation and workshop leadership.
• Knowledge of Chicago community resources and violence prevention programming
• Mentorship, outreach, and youth engagement strategies
• Building strong rapport and positive relationships with youth and families from diverse backgrounds
• Working with at-risk and justice-involved youth through a trauma-informed and therapeutic lens
• Supporting youth impacted by community violence, substance abuse, and systemic barriers
• Conflict resolution, emotional regulation support, and restorative practices
• Connecting youth and families to education, employment, mental health, and supportive service resources
• Maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity in all interactions