Youth Advocate

Alternatives, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 49,761 - 60,819; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Blue Cross Medical/Dental/Vision

403(b) retirement plan

Holidays

4 weeks Paid Time Off

10 weeks paid Parental leave

Job summary

Alternatives, Inc. in Chicago seeks a Youth Advocate to provide crisis intervention, direct case management, and advocacy for youth clients under supervision of the YASS and Crisis Coordinator.

The role emphasizes equity, rapid response within crisis, coordination with guardians, schools, and community partners, and thorough documentation of services. This is a full-time exempt position with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in Human services or related field.
• Vaccination as required by policy.
• Ability to use car during working/on-call hours.

Responsibilities

• Provide crisis coverage and respond within 45 minutes to the police station.
• Maintain ongoing case management with guardians and youth; coordinate with family for school and transportation.
• Facilitate weekly groups and youth development programming.
• Assist in preparing cases for court and transport youth when needed.
• Use eCornerstone and YASI data systems for client records.
• Attend agency and program staff meetings and trainings.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Anti-oppression

Positive Youth Development

Trauma-informed

Balanced and Restorative Justice

Education

BA/BS in Human services

Tools

eCornerstone

YASI assessment

Job description

Description

Youth Advocate

Direct Report: YASS and Crisis Coordinator

Status: Full-time; Exempt with benefits: Blue Cross Medical/Dental/Vision, 403(b) retirement plan, Holidays, 4 weeks Paid Time Off, 10 weeks paid Parental leave

Salary: $55,290

Alternatives Overview

Our mission is to inspire young people to create a just future through practices that heal individuals, restore communities, and transform systems. Since 1971, Alternatives has modeled innovative alternatives to the status quo in Chicago's youth services field. Our school and community‑based therapy, prevention and leadership development programs support young people to individually and collectively address causes of substance use, grief and trauma while building social‑emotional, career and social change skills. In addition to working directly with young people, we train, coach and advocate for youth‑serving institutions like Chicago Public Schools to be restorative and trauma‑informed.

Position Overview

The Youth Advocate will provide crisis intervention, direct case management, and advocacy services to youth clients under the supervision of the YASS and Crisis Coordinator.

Responsibilities

Perform the following from a racial, gender, sexuality, and ability equity lens:

• Provide crisis coverage as assigned; respond within 45 minutes to the police station, work with family and youth toward a resolution to the crisis, assess immediate needs of family and complete all necessary paperwork.
• Understand and work within a positive youth development and Balanced and Restorative Justice framework.
• Maintain ongoing case management for assigned cases, including daily contact with guardians and youth; making arrangements with the family for school, transportation and record keeping functions; collaborating with appropriate individuals, agencies or service systems to ensure client accessibility to services.
• Provide transportation for youth to school, temporary shelter, or to any other appointments during youth’s placement with Alternatives, Inc.
• Facilitate weekly groups and provide youth development programming as assigned.
• Follow‑up on all status referrals from the police by phone or letter.
• Assist in preparing cases to be petitioned in court, including collecting necessary information from the family, preparing social history report, orienting guardians to the court process and making arrangements with court personnel. This may also include transporting youth to court.
• Implement therapeutic and youth development focused day programs with youth in placement during school holidays and summer.
• Use eCornerstone data entry system and other data systems as assigned as well as the Youth Assessment Screening Instrument (YASI) assessment for each client case.
• Demonstrate knowledge of Alternatives’ policies, practices and services, and communicate these to clients, and where assigned, to other community organizations and members.
• Attend and actively participate in all agency and program staff meetings, in‑service trainings and weekly supervisory meetings.
• Provide coverage of intakes, both phone and walk‑in, providing crisis intervention and making referrals when appropriate.
• Complete in a timely fashion all other tasks and individually established goals as assigned.

Requirements

Qualifications

1. Minimum of BA/BS in Human services or related field.
2. Use of car during working/on‑call hours and valid insurance.
3. Past experience working with adolescents.
4. Interest and commitment to working in community‑based youth services.
5. Consistently learning and working within the following frameworks: Anti‑oppression, Positive Youth Development, Trauma‑informed and Balanced and Restorative Justice.
6. Skilled at working with young people at high risk for juvenile justice and child welfare system involvement.
7. The COVID vaccine is mandatory for all employees to the full extent permissible under applicable law.