Resource Advocate

Howard Brown Health Resource Advocate

Howard Brown Health is a nationally recognized leader in LGBTQ+ health and wellness. Our commitment to inclusive and affirming care has made us a cornerstone of the Chicago community. At Howard Brown, we believe in providing holistic, patient-centered care that empowers individuals and enriches lives.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to health equity and social justice.
• Work in a supportive, inclusive, and culturally competent environment.
• Access to continuous learning opportunities and professional development.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Contribute to groundbreaking health initiatives and research.

Benefits

• Employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance with two PPO plans and an HMO plan.
• Paid Time Off: 3-weeks paid vacation and 1-week of personal time, 12 accrued sick days per year, 10 paid holidays, including Juneteenth, PTO Exchange allows employees to turn unused PTO into liquid assets.
• 401k program with up to 5% employer match after 90 days.
• Employer-paid basic life insurance valued at one times the annual salary.
• Voluntary Life and AD&D, and Short-term and Long-term disability.
• Pre-tax commuter and parking benefit account.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care.
• Tuition Reimbursement and Student Loan Forgiveness Programs; NHSC & PSLF.
• Employee Assistance Program with 5 employer-paid counseling sessions.
• 50% off at Brown Elephant Resale Shops and discounts at local businesses.

Pay:
Level 1: $24.62 / Level 2: $27.67 / Level 3: $33.10

Position Summary:

The Resource Advocate is responsible for coordinating daily resource linkage services and providing youth-centered support to LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) youth, youth experiencing homelessness, and street-based youth at the Broadway Youth Center. This position will provide 1:1 youth case management services and collaborate with other BYC teams to strengthen internal service linkages. BYC Case Management/Resource Advocacy provides linkages to housing, government-issued documentation, life-skills and youth development programming, transportation, nutrition, and other support services within the daily Drop-In Program, as well as through scheduled appointments.

This deeply collaborative role requires a dynamic integration of harm reduction, anti-oppression frameworks, and youth development best practices to achieve our mission to improve LGBTQ/street based quality of life through youth access to health, cultural and social services.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate a profound understanding of, and knowledge of working with LGBTQ and street-based youth age 12-24; demonstrate the ability to speak to and affect a wide variety of audiences related to the health, wellness and case management needs of the target population; demonstrate the ability to connect with, and provide case management services and interventions.
• Provide LGBTQ and street-based youth with high-quality and responsive care, particularly resource linkage in a milieu setting at the Broadway Youth Center.
• Incorporate anti-oppression frameworks including harm reduction, trauma-healing care, restorative justice, and body positivity into your youth work.
• Meet with youth participants for one-on-one and partnered resource advocacy sessions using a walk-in model and scheduled appointments.
• Support youth in achieving individualized life skills goals by linking participants to and/or supporting systems navigation of healthcare, housing programs, workforce development, public benefits, and other support services.
• Maintain regular contact with youth participants and reassess goals as necessary.
• Create and enact discharge plans for youth participants; providing follow-up at least every three months.
• Provide new participants with an overview/orientation of program services, intake sessions, follow up sessions,
• Build relationships with youth participants by mingling in the milieu setting.
• Support Community Meeting by gathering resources for Resource of the Week, facilitation, and other tasks as needed.
• Link youth to appropriate in-house services at BYC and Howard Brown including…