WHO WE ARE:

Annually serving over 1,400 youth and families, Lawrence Hall is a community-based organization committed to helping Chicago's youth, families, and communities heal from the adverse effects of childhood trauma. For more than 150 years, Lawrence Hall has been delivering high-quality care throughout the Chicago metropolitan area and is a statewide leader in highly effective, evidence-based, and innovative therapeutic treatment. Their core programs-Child and Family Treatment Center, Therapeutic Day School, Creative Therapies, Foster Care, Transitional/Independent Living Program, Workforce Development, and Community Wellness-have met the changing and complex needs of youth and families by not only becoming more community based, but also by developing more preventative programs that help curb violence in Chicago's communities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Caseworker reports to the Workforce Development or Youth and Community Engagement Supervisor. Provides services to youth ages 12-26 in community based programs to increase their protective factors and connect them to community based resources. Coordinates services with the participants' family, mentor, employer, school and other resources as needed. Provides case management services to youth during regular meetings on-site, in their home and within the community. Providers services and works within the specifications and data systems of multiple program funding sources Requires knowledge of trauma exposure, knowledge of the 5 S's of trauma: Safety, Self-Regulation/Soothing, Supportive, Strengths, Self-Care, and an understanding of and recognition of the signs of traumatic stress. Frequent utilization of personal vehicle for ongoing site visits. Effective use of oral and written communications skills. Use of crisis intervention techniques (both verbal and physical). Physical intervention requires the ability to kneel and return to standing without assistance. Caseworker must have the flexibility to adjust work schedule to the needs of the program.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop Individual Achievement Plans with youth
• Coordinate youth services with key stakeholders to support provision of wrap-around services for youth and their families
• Provide one-on-one mentoring services outside of program hours to assist the youth in developing the personal, emotional, or social skills that may be impacting their ability to be successful through coaching and modeling positive behaviors
• Provide guidance in multiple life domains: employment, education, mental health, housing, legal services, relationship development, substance abuse services as needed
• Make appropriate referrals to community based providers and support youth in following through with services
• Requires knowledge of typical child and adolescent development and an understanding of trauma exposure and traumatic stress signs and symptoms.
• Practice will include using strategies that support healing, recovery, and that resist re-traumatization
• Engage caregivers, parents, family members and others by sharing strengths and challenges experienced by program participants
• Cultivate and maintain a network of available community resources for youth as needed
• During site visits, monitor youth performance and participation, observe behavior, and intervene as needed
• Act as a liaison between the youth, youth's family, agency, youth's school, probation officer and police department
• Provides supplementary services, as needed including Coping with Mental, Emotional, and Learning Disabilities; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and transgender employment services; and financial literacy programming
• Recruit eligible youth for the program
• Complete intake assessments
• Facilitate quarterly or as needed multidisciplinary team meetings
• Maintain personal area and program service areas in a neat and orderly fashion
• Ability to multitask and manage time effectively
• Attend all staff meetings and in-service training as required
• Participate in program evaluation as required
• Participate in the development and implementation of continuous quality improvement activities as assigned
• Uses active and reflective listening skills and affirmations to demonstrate respect and empathy, avoiding negative and derogatory labels that foster disrespect
• Understand that behaviors, responses, attitudes, and emotions are a collection of survival skills often developed in response to traumatic experiences
• Maintain confidentiality of employees, volunteers, and program participants to provide a safe environment
• Attend at least two trainings related to being trauma informed in a twelve-month period
• Ability to work effectively with program participants and family members, employees and vendors in a culturally diverse environment to support healing and recovery
• Accurately complete documents as needed
• Maintain a professional standard when representing the agency or clients
• Document services following agency guidelines
• Engage in continuing education and professional development to provide best practice

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree in a human service field preferred or High School Diploma/equivalent with 3 years of related work experience
• Strong sales ability
• Must be highly organized, detail focused, have excellent time management, and possess strong computer skills
• Knowledge of childhood trauma and prior experience working in settings with youth and families that have been exposed to trauma or experiencing traumatic stress preferred
• Knowledge of youth development, adolescent issues, positive youth development/strength-based approach preferred
• Personal vehicle or access to vehicle and proof of insurance
• Valid IL, IN, or WI driver's license
• No history of child abuse or neglect
• Ability to pass background and drug screen

Highlighted benefits

• Provides full time employees 2 times their salary in term life insurance for no additional cost
• Reimburses your gym memberships up to $20 per month to aid on your overall fitness and health
• Offers 100% match up to 3% on your retirement savings after 1 year of service
• All employees start off with an average of 17-25 days of PTO
• Employee Referral Program gives employees an opportunity to receive up to $1500 for referring candidates
• 9 paid holidays off

Frequently cited statistics show that women and underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Lawrence Hall encourages you to apply even if you do not meet all listed qualifications. We look forward to your application. 

This position meets the FLSA requirements for Exempt.

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V