Lead Shero Youth Development Coach

Position Title

Lead Shero Youth Development Coach

Violence Intervention and Prevention Services (VPS)

VIPS Program Director

The Lead SHERO Life Coach is responsible for providing leadership, guidance, and direct support to participants in the SHERO Program—a comprehensive intervention program designed to empower women at the highest risk of becoming either victims or perpetrators of firearm violence. This role combines life coaching, mentorship, and program coordination to ensure that participants receive holistic support in their personal, professional, and emotional development.

The Lead Life Coach will also supervise and support other life coaches, ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality services and alignment with program goals.

• Demonstrates supportive behavior and role models positive appropriate interactions.
• Maintains in-person contact with each active participant on a weekly basis, at minimum.
• Provides direct case management and emergency support services to participants and their families in community, hospitals, and office settings.
• Provides support and advocacy to the participant and their families through home visits, hospital visits, phone calls, criminal justice advocacy, and referrals to other support organizations.
• Assists participants in accessing resources such as Victim’s Compensation, Short Term Disability, affordable healthcare, and mental health services.
• Participates in team meetings and required trainings.
• Actively participates in committees (AIC, Diversity) and agency events.
• Engages with partner agencies to create a network of support for individuals and their families affected by violence.
• Works interdepartmentally to foster UCAN continuum of care and suggests improvements from the participant’s perspective.
• Coordinates and facilitates activities for workshops and groups for program participants.
• Possesses a basic understanding of the effects of trauma and operates from that perspective when interacting with participants and families.
• Acts as a mandated reporter.
• Works with participants on violence prevention skills such as anger management, conflict resolution, and other life skills.
• Using a strengths-based approach, engages participants in strategies to improve participation in needed services.
• Assists participants with setting and completing individual goals.
• Assists participants with becoming involved in positive activities such as tutoring, counseling, employment, and recreation.
• Documents service delivery to individuals and families impacted by violence in a timely manner as required by program and grant.
• Has knowledge and influence of the target communities being served.
• Has knowledge or willingness to learn about Chicago and communities with histories of violence.
• Able to lift 25-50 pounds.
• Able to stand for long periods of time.
• Performs other related tasks as required by the grant.

• Establishes and maintains relationships with local service providers, government and law representatives, community leaders, and faith institutions to enhance community relations and strengthen referral sources for participants.
• Occasionally attends community meetings (e.g., elected officials’ meetings, beat meetings, community discussions) and serves as a representative of UCAN.
• Attends and participates in a minimum of 2 community events a week.

• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of UCAN.
• Adheres to UCAN dress code.
• Acts in a professional manner at all times and maintains appropriate boundaries with participants and their family members.
• Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments to others.
• Reports to work, meetings, training, and job-related activities prepared and as scheduled.
• Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of participants and coworkers.
• Accepts feedback and ideas from team and supervisor and is constructive when giving feedback and ideas to others.
• Discusses alternative problem solving and is open to new ideas and ways of doing things.
• Adheres to VIPS…