Volunteer Coordinator, Chicago

Volunteer Coordinator

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights invites applications for a full-time Volunteer Coordinator (VC) position based in Chicago, Illinois. In collaboration with Site Manager, the VC role executes the recruitment, screening, and training for Child Advocate volunteers. This position ensures that all necessary processes, events, and programs are effective in yielding, supporting, and retaining bicultural and bilingual volunteers in Chicago.

In addition, the Volunteer Coordinator actively engages with the National Volunteer Program Manager and VCs across the organization, supporting the implementation of a national Young Center volunteer strategy. This position is funded primarily through a federal contract and is contingent on on-going renewals

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and best interests, safety, and well-being of immigrant children in the United States. We center children's voices, celebrate their strengths, and recognize their fundamental need to be with family and in community, not detention. For more than 20 years, the Young Center has accompanied and advocated for over 10,000 children from more than 70 countries worldwide.

We are the only organization that takes an integrated approach to protecting and advancing the rights of children, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and state and federal law, through direct services, stakeholder support across child welfare systems, systems and narrative change, and litigation. Further, we fight tirelessly to bring greater equity to the child welfare system, demanding accountability from systems and people in positions of power, so children in immigrant families who face court cases remain safe, free, and with families in communities where they are supported.

The Young Center has offices in Houston, San Antonio, and Harlingen, Texas;
Chicago, Illinois;
New York, New York;
Washington, D.C.;
Phoenix, Arizona;
Los Angeles, California; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. We also serve children through our programs in New Jersey. To learn more about the Young Center, visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

• Develops annual recruitment, outreach, training, and engagement strategies for a cohort of Child Advocate volunteers per calendar year.
• Develops and maintains relationships with relevant community partners and recruiting sources in the Chicago community.
• Serves as the site contact for the National Volunteer Program Manager (NVPM) and inquiries regarding Young Center volunteer recruitment in Chicago.
• Hosts and represents the Young Center at community recruitment events and presentations (virtual and in-person).
• Conducts screening calls for prospective volunteers to follow up on applications, determine Spanish proficiency and gauge fit for the volunteer Child Advocate role.
• Tracks new applications for prospective volunteers.
• Develops calendar, content, and materials for 2-3 annual Child Advocate volunteer trainings.
• Considers budget as part of process to plan volunteer trainings and is responsible for maintaining receipts and appropriate documentation of all expenditures.
• Implements training plan and acts as project manager to ensure all logistics are delegated and completed on time and within budget.
• Makes recommendations to Child Advocate Supervisors about matching volunteers to children.
• Coordinates local and national education and appreciation events for volunteers.
• Enters, maintains, and tracks data on volunteer applications, recruitment, and engagement.
• Ensures that all volunteers prior to case assignments have completed and updated clearances on file.
• Actively participates in regular cohort meetings with Volunteer Coordinators across the Young Center.
• Supports the organizational strategy to recruit, train and grow volunteer Child Advocates, led by the NVPC.
• Designs and publishes a volunteer Child Advocate newsletter 2-4 times per year.
• Serves as a Child Advocate for at least one child to learn about the role of the Child Advocate.
• Provides administrative and clerical support to…