Youth Advocate

About the role

Mercy Home for Boys & Girls is dedicated to empowering Youth, fostering hope, and creating brighter futures. We are a Top 100 Places to Work in Chicago and are committed to Diversity and Inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Act as an advocate, role model, and coach for the Youth who live in our residential programs.
• Work with others to assist the Youth at Mercy Home in re-establishing themselves in a secure environment that will empower them to pursue their goals with confidence.
• Build a therapeutic relationship with youth and young adults and their caregiving systems while respecting professional boundaries.
• Implement structure of the program, including providing supportive supervision, guidance, and role modeling for the youth or youth adults in the milieu.
• Coach the youth and young adults; teach skills; guide social problem solving; identify strengths, talents, and interests.
• Engage with youth or young adults in daily routines and activities by setting expectations, praising positive behaviors, setting limits, giving corrective feedback, processing behavior and decision-making.
• Develop and support creative interventions that incorporate youth strengths and talents.
• Provide individualized services and supports to best meet the needs and goals of the youth and young adults.
• Collaborate with the treatment team to refer a youth or young adult for specialized services as necessary and consult with those professionals.
• Work collaboratively with all teams as necessary to support youth or young adults.
• Prepare for and participate in supervision with the direct supervisor (either the Supervisor – Youth Care or Program Manager, based on program structure).
• Participate in team meetings, which will include assessment of program youth or young adults.
• Provide coverage and/or support in other programs as needed and as directed.
• Stay up to date on all program log entries and read/ respond to emails in a timely manner.
• Engage in care planning meetings and family meetings (review efficacy of treatment being provided and consistency with the Mercy Model).
• Utilize effective interactional skills (solicit youth input throughout interactions; acknowledge youth input through active listening; remain nonjudgmental; use a pleasant and steady voice tone; express enthusiasm when appropriate; attune to youth and utilize good caregiver affect management; express empathy, concern, care and encouragement; offer assistance as needed; set limits and expectations when appropriate; provide praise).
• Communicate promptly and accurately within the program/Agency and with external bodies (i.e. employers, schools, family, supports, legal personnel, housing programs, etc.).
• Complete required documentation during shift and follow on-call notification procedures.
• Provide safe transportation for youth or young adults and their support systems, following agency policy and state laws.
• Follow guidelines and procedures to ensure accurate and safe distribution and proper documentation of medications.
• Employ all aspects of de-escalation and behavior management techniques as outlined in CPI protocol. Restrain youth or young adults as necessary.
• Actively engage in learning and integrating developmentally appropriate, attachment-informed, and trauma-responsive theory and practice consistent with the Mercy Model of Care.

Requirements

• At least 21 years of age.
• Bachelor’s degree (preferred) or a High School diploma with at least 5 years of experience in youth development.
• Demonstrated experience working with youth, ideally those who have experienced developmental adversity and/or trauma (at least 2 years’ experience preferred).
• Possess a valid Illinois driver’s license with the ability to safely drive a van, maintain a clear driving record, and obtain/retain driving approval through the Department of Children and Family Services.
• Regular and predictable attendance.
• Able to have a flexible work schedule. Able to adjust schedule to meet program and youth needs.
• Able to work both independently and as an active member of an interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Able to accept, adopt and implement feedback from supervisor and team.
• Open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and willing and competent to work with a diverse client population.
• Desire to work with and enjoyment being around youth and young adults.
• Able and willing to create, initiate and participate in recreational and therapeutic activities with the youth.
• Possesses relationship-building skills, active listening, and coaching skills.
• Able to maintain professional demeanor (respect for others, responsive to feedback, open to other viewpoints, willingness to learn new skills, maintains objectivity) while exercising judgment and discretion in work.
• Able to maintain confidentiality and privacy.
• Able to attend required Agency trainings and maintain necessary training compliance.
• Flexibility to attend daytime trainings or sessions outside of regularly scheduled hours.
• Able to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds, and with proper training, be able to physically restrain youth.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and goals of the Agency.

Qualifications

• At least 21 years of age.
• Bachelor’s degree (preferred) or a High School diploma with at least 5 years of experience in youth development.
• Demonstrated experience working with youth, ideally those who have experienced developmental adversity and/or trauma (at least 2 years’ experience preferred).
• Possess a valid Illinois driver’s license with the ability to safely drive a van, maintain a clear driving record, and obtain/retain driving approval through the Department of Children and Family Services.
• Regular and predictable attendance.
• Able to have a flexible work schedule. Able to adjust schedule to meet program and youth needs.
• Able to work both independently and as an active member of an interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Able to accept, adopt and implement feedback from supervisor and team.
• Open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and willing and competent to work with a diverse client population.
• Desire to work with and enjoyment being around youth and young adults.
• Able and willing to create, initiate and participate in recreational and therapeutic activities with the youth.
• Possesses relationship-building skills, active listening, and coaching skills.
• Able to maintain professional demeanor (respect for others, responsive to feedback, open to other viewpoints, willingness to learn new skills, maintains objectivity) while exercising judgment and discretion in work.
• Able to maintain confidentiality and privacy.
• Able to attend required Agency trainings and maintain necessary training compliance.
• Flexibility to attend daytime trainings or sessions outside of regularly scheduled hours.
• Able to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds, and with proper training, be able to physically restrain youth.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and goals of the Agency.

Skills

• Effective communication skills.
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with youth and young adults.
• Knowledge of attachment-informed and trauma-responsive theory and practice.
• Ability to provide individualized services and supports to meet the needs and goals of the youth and young adults.
• Ability to work collaboratively with interdisciplinary treatment teams.
• Ability to provide safe transportation for youth or young adults and their support systems.
• Ability to follow agency policies and procedures related to medication management.
• Ability to employ de-escalation and behavior management techniques as outlined in CPI protocol.
• Ability to provide physical restraint as necessary.

Benefits

For more information on benefits, please visit this link.

Pay

The pay range for this position is between $24-$25/hour.

Schedule

This job is a full-time position (40 hours per week). The schedule varies based on program need (pay differential for weekend hours).

Locations

• West Loop (boys) campus - 1140 W. Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607
• Walsh Girls Campus - 11600 S. Longwood Dr, Chicago, IL 60643