Prevention Advocate

BUILD Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) + 2% match

Medical, Dental and Vision

Life Insurance

Paid Vacation

Wellness Days

Flexible Spending Account

Job summary

BUILD Chicago is seeking a full-time Prevention Advocate to support at-risk youth and their families. This role involves providing advocacy, resources, and community support aimed at preventing youth incarceration and improving long-term well-being. Key responsibilities include collaborating with schools, conducting home visits, and maintaining positive mentor relationships. Ideal candidates have experience with inner-city youth, excel in communication, and can pass background checks. This position offers competitive benefits including health insurance and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• Experience working with inner-city youth in a human service setting.
• Proficiency with technology integration into daily program operations.
• Ability to pass a criminal and CPS background check.

Responsibilities

• Provide advocacy programs in and out of schools.
• Work collaboratively with school administration and partners.
• Support youth who are off track in school.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Team collaboration

Organizational skills

Technology proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in education or related field

High School Diploma

Job description

Prevention Advocate (VPV)

Full‑time, 40 hours, Non‑Exempt

BUILD, Inc. (Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development) is presently seeking a committed, self‑motivated, and innovative individual to join our team. BUILD is a nationally respected gang intervention, violence prevention, and youth development organization based on Chicago’s West Side. Since 1969, BUILD has worked to save lives and mentor young people who live in the city’s most challenged neighborhoods. When you work at BUILD you make an important difference to the thousands of youth and families we serve.

Our Core Values: Empathy, Passion, Persistence and Innovation.

This position will be dedicated to the Violence Prevention Villages (VPV) project that aims to provide positive, proactive and preventive upstream supports and services to youth Pre k – 8 and their households. BUILD partners with schools to improve behavioral, social/emotional and school outcomes for students, and we engage the nonprofit ecosystem to support household wellbeing and stability. We follow and support youth and households as long as they are willing, and aim to improve long term well‑being, educational attainment and economic stability across generations.

The Prevention Advocate (PA) will serve youth who are off track, street or gang‑involved, and those involved in the juvenile justice system. The PA is responsible for providing support, advocacy, opportunities, and community resources that will prevent entry or return to the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (CCJTDC). The PA will work closely with other program departments and support staff to ensure youth are integrated into various programs that will dissuade them from entering, recidivating, and/or returning to gangs or other destructive activities. The Prevention Advocate reports directly to the Violence Prevention Village Senior Manager.

Responsibilities

• Provides advocacy programs and services in and out of schools for the designated community
• Works collaboratively with school administration and other partners
• Informs appropriate BUILD team of program progress and challenges, making recommendations and seeking advice as necessary
• Meets with team weekly to discuss youth engagement and case management service
• Meets with Manager/Coordinator weekly to discuss the youth in case management service
• Interacts with participants by establishing a professional relationship
• Ensures that youth who are off track in school receive the support necessary to improve and maintain academic requirements
• Ensures that youth receive ongoing home and/or school visits upon participant's enrollment and/or release from the CCJTDC and maintains regular ongoing contacts (individual and group) with participants in his/her caseload for a minimum of one year
• Ensures that youth are involved/encouraged to participate in leadership development opportunities
• Facilitates and provides learning spaces for participants such as peace/talking circles
• Provides informal individual and group counseling
• Ensures completion of needs assessments and refers participants to appropriate services within BUILD and their communities
• Maintain a positive adult mentor/mentee relationship while reinforcing positive behavior
• Recruits and maintains a required caseload of youth
• Record case notes into internal and external online databases on a weekly basis and record intakes and assessments into the system as needed
• Update caseloads monthly and submit information on a monthly report
• Collect baseline and year‑end data on academic, interpersonal, and pro‑social behaviors
• Submits statistics and reports monthly and/or as needed
• Maintains File Compliance as required and compliance with internal and external data collection
• Represents the agency to various publics to broaden community awareness and support, interpreting the agency’s programs and services in a positive way
• Participate in agency outreach and recruitment events, including evenings and weekends
• Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in education or related field preferred. High School Diploma.
• Experience working with inner‑city youth in a human service setting, social service setting, or related field
• Must demonstrate excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skillsProficiency with technology integration into daily program operations and evaluation systems
• Highly organized to set priorities, develop a work schedule, and monitor progress towards goals
• Ability to build positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally to achieve the goals of the organization
• Able to do the required number of home visits per month
• Ability to pass a criminal and CPS background check and child abuse/neglect registry check
• Must have a valid Driver’s License, access to reliable transportation and willingness to travel locally
• Must be able to provide proof of COVID‑19 vaccine

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times
• Stand, walk, and move continuously during outreach shifts, community events, and youth engagement activities.
• Carry outreach materials, supplies, and documentation tools across multiple locations.
• Occasionally assist in de‑escalating situations involving youth or community members in distress, following safety protocols.

Benefits

• 401(k) + 2% match
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Life Insurance
• Paid Vacation
• Wellness Days
• Flexible Spending Account

ADA Statement

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job specific functions (listed within each job responsibility) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by the organization on a case‑by‑case basis.

BUILD, Inc., does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, citizenship, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, medical status, military status, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, or any legally protected status. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits and training.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically prohibit employment. Rather, BUILD Inc. considers conviction information on a case‑by‑case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

This organization reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.