Victim Services Advocate; West Pullman

• Location 3605 W. Fillmore,Chicago, IL, 60624,United States
• Base Pay $50,000.00 / Year
• Employee Type Non-Exempt
• Required Degree High school
• Manage Others No

• Name Recruitment Team
• Email Recruitment

Violence Intervention and Prevention Services (VPS)

VPS Program Supervisor/Manager/Director

Violence Intervention & Prevention Services (VIPS) helps youth thrive in a safer environment and empowers them to fulfill their potential and become future leaders. Staff works in Chicago neighborhoods most impacted by poverty and violence, and in the community to engage individuals to prevent violence and respond to violence to help the community heal. VIPS reduces youth participation in crime and violence, addresses trauma, and improves academic engagement and employment.

The Victim Services Advocate works with youth and adults who have been impacted by gun and street violence. This is facilitated by crisis intervention, case management, support and advocacy to the individual and their family. Utilizing UCAN’s Clinical Philosophy, the Advocate facilitates healing through trauma informed services and Positive Youth Development and provides support and encouragement individually and in collaboration with members of the VIPS and overall UCAN teams.

• Demonstrates supportive behavior and role models positive appropriate interactions.
• Maintains in-person contact with each active participant on a weekly basis, at minimum.
• Provide direct case management and emergency support services to participants and their families in community, hospitals, and in office.
• Provide support and advocacy to the participant and their families through home visits, hospital visits, phone calls, criminal justice advocacy, and referrals to other community organizations.
• Assist participants in accessing resources, such as Victim’s Compensation, Short Term Disability, affordable healthcare, and mental health services.
• Required to participate in team meetings and required trainings.
• Actively participates in committees (AIC, Diversity) and agency events.
• Engage with partner agencies to create network of support for individuals and their families affected by violence.
• Works interdepartmentally to foster UCAN continuum of care and suggest improvements from participant’s perspective.
• Coordinates and facilitates activities for workshops and groups for program participants.
• Possesses a basic understanding of the effects of trauma and operate from that perspective when interacting with participants and families.
• Required to act as a mandated reporter.
• Works with participants on violence prevention skills (i.e., 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.
• Knowledge and influence of the target communities being served.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn about Chicago and communities with histories of violence.
• Perform other related tasks as required by the grant.

• Establish and maintain relationships with local service providers, government and law representatives, community leaders, and faith institutions to enhance community relations and to strengthen referral sources for participants.
• Occasionally will be required to attend community meetings (i.e., elected officials’…