Community Advocate

Home Office: Vienna, IL

Area of Focus: Community Collaboration

Program(s): Family Advocacy Center (FAC) program helps children and parents/caregivers that have DCFS involvement (or are likely to have DCFS involvement) stay together by strengthening and safeguarding the functioning of families, preventing substitute placement, promoting family reunification, stabilizing foster care placements, facilitating youth development, and ensuring the safety and well-being of children.

Immediate Supervisor: Community Resources Assistant Director

Hours of Work: Full-time, 40 hours/week

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field; Master’s Degree in Human Services or related field preferred. Qualifies as a Mental Health Professional (MHP); qualifies as Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) is preferred.

Skills & Knowledge: Must have knowledge of case management processes, area resources/service systems, crisis intervention/conflict resolution, word processing and basic computer skills. Employee must be able to assist the QMHP in addressing individual client needs and document clients’ progress toward the goals and objectives identified on the Case Plan. Excellent written and oral communications, ability to teach basic life skills and problem solving strategies. Ability to relate to others easily and build rapport with clients in an unbiased and empathic manner.

Special Requirements: Travels to off-site/community based locations for direct service delivery; participates in after-hours crisis response rotation; maintain and provide proof of a valid driver's license and personal vehicle liability insurance; at least 21 years of age; maintain First Aid & CPR certification; must complete required registry clearances and criminal fingerprint background checks; Schedules evening or weekend hours as necessary.

Job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Intervenes and evaluates consumers, establishes diagnosis, identifies service needs. Develops treatment plan collaboratively with consumers by defining goals, specific outcomes and time‑frames for treatment.
• Intervenes therapeutically to change attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of consumers to improve individual and family level of functioning.
• Provides crisis intervention to stabilize consumer's condition by utilizing short‑term crisis intervention techniques and/or referral to other support services.
• Maintains networking and referral contacts with other human service providers both internally and externally.
• Carries a caseload as assigned by supervisor.
• Completes required monthly direct service hours as assigned
• Facilitates comprehensive consumer care by providing case management services.
• Facilitates recreation/socialization and cultural activities for consumers which provide enjoyable outings that prepare and encourage them to engage in activities independent of the agency.
• Effectively teaches life-management skills.
• Demonstrates active involvement in supervision and clinical staffings.

You will enjoy:

• A flexible schedule
• A culture of collaboration
• Professional & upward mobility opportunities
• A family-oriented atmosphere
• Health wellbeing stipend ($200 per fiscal year)
• 100% employer-paid health insurance (health, dental, vision) *available after 1st day of

the month after 60 calendar days of employment

• $50,000 life insurance policy
• Travel reimbursement
• Up to 368 hours of paid time off just within your first year of employment! Includes 13 paid holidays, 3 personal days, 12 sick days, 40 hours bereavement leave, 12 days vacation (6 month probation period), and 8 hours volunteer paid time off per year.
• Additional opportunities for compensation are available above starting salary!

Call/text our recruiter at 618.652.7233

About us

When you join the Arrowleaf team, you are committing to a meaningful career where your work will make a difference for your neighbors throughout Southern Illinois and strengthen our region as a whole. You’ll have a chance to build well-being not just for the people you work with, but for yourself as well, as you gain life-changing experiences, enjoy highly competitive benefits, and experience unmatched opportunities for advancement.

Mission: Arrowleaf’s mission is to help all Southern Illinoisans reach their full potential. We provide resources and opportunities that support individuals of all ages so they can thrive, make our communities more vibrant, and build economic prosperity that benefits everyone.

Vision: We envision a Southern Illinois where all individuals are contributing to a community that is safe and vibrant for everyone.

Visit our website: myarrowleaf.org/employment to learn more about Arrowleaf!

At Arrowleaf we aim to create and maintain a work environment that is safe, welcoming, inclusive, and equitable for everyone.

Selection of employees for Arrowleaf shall be performed in such a manner as to ensure equal consideration of all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, marital status, protected veteran status or national origin.

Arrowleaf is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) and to compliance with all Federal, State and local laws regarding it. EEO is a set of standards that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, gender identity, and sexual orientation), marital status, national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information (including family history), order of protection status, or military status or unfavorable discharge from military service. The laws apply to all types of work situations, including recruiting, hiring, disciplinary actions, terminations, promotions, pay practices, training, wages, and benefits.