Youth Advocate Coordinator, Middle School (YACMS) (Full-time, 40 hours) Non-Exempt

The Youth Advocate Coordinator, Middle School (YACMS), as part of the BUILD Prevention Team, must exemplify the mission, vision, and values of the agency. The (YACMS) will serve youth who are off track, street or gang involved as well as youth involved in the juvenile justice system. The (YACMS) 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 (YACMS) 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 (YACMS), reports directly to the Manager of Youth Advocacy, Middle school (MYAMS).

Responsibilities/duties are but not limited to:

• Coordinates advocacy services in the schools for designated community
• Works collaboratively with school partners
• Direct oversight of Youth Advocates caseload
• Track spending to maintain the program budget
• Compiles reports and ensures compliance of team members
• Cross trains staff on positive engagement with at-risk population
• Leads program planning activities with the team
• 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
• Helps to identify and recruit youths for youth advocacy services and works with Advocates to assign
• Interacts with youth by establishing a professional relationship while in and out of the community and school
• Ensures that Advocates are providing youth with ongoing home and/or school visits upon enrollment and/or release and maintain regular ongoing contacts (individual and group) with youths in his/her caseload for a minimum of one year
• Ensures that youth are involved/encouraged to participate in leadership development opportunities.
• Ensure proper youth learning spaces, such as peace/talking circles
• Ensure youth are engaged in formal individual and group counseling
• Ensure that all Advocates provide needs assessments and refer youths to appropriate services within BUILD and their communities
• Ensures that Advocates maintain a positive adult mentor/ mentee relationship while reinforcing positive behavior
• Ensures that Advocates recruit and maintain the required caseload of youth
• Ensures that Advocates document case notes into internal and external online databases weekly and record intakes and assessments into the system as needed
• Ensures that Advocates update caseloads monthly and submit information on the monthly report
• Ensures that Advocates collect baseline and year-end data on academic, interpersonal and pro-social behaviors
• Submits statistics and reports monthly and/or as needed.
• Ensures Advocates file compliance as required and compliance with internal and external data requirements.
• Identifies positive adult/youth influences to create a youth support network for the youth.
• Models’ appropriate communication skills and uses tools matched to the needs of various audiences and purposes.
• Attends school and community collaboration meetings.
• Represents the agency to various publics to broaden community awareness and support, interpreting the agency’s programs and services positively.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• 3+ years of experience in youth development
• Experience supervising staff
• Proficiency in Word and Excel required
• Self-motivated leader with the ability to energize staff, interns and volunteers
• Must be able to effectively and efficiently handle multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office is essential with the ability to integrate technology into daily program operations and evaluation systems required
• Must work effectively with agency staff, board members, funders, donors, and volunteer.
• Must possess solid understanding of data collection and compliance
• Must maintain respectful and appropriate relationships with program participants, all level of agency staff and various publics of the agency, demonstrating sensitivity to all ethnic, racial and economic backgrounds and embracing the agency’s mission, values and culture
• Ability to understand and interpret the policies, procedures, and general organizational structure of the Chicago Public schools
• Must pass Chicago Public Schools, State, and Federal Background Checks
• 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

Benefits:

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

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.

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. 

American with Disabilities Act (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.