Life Skills Educator

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

The Life Skills Educator reports directly to the Site Coordinator. Provide intensive individual and group Life Skills training to 8-16 young people aged 17 ½ to 20 years old at the assigned site. Teach basic independent living skills to young people in order for them to be successful after discharge from the program. 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. Documentation of behaviors and actions using the computer. The position requires the flexibility to adjust hours in order to provide coverage at the site in the absence of other employees as needed. Weekend and holiday hours included.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• 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
• Home Management - instructs basic household management - how to clean, proper nutrition, shopping, meal planning and cooking
• Self-Care - teaching appropriate skills related to grooming, dress habits and social skills
• Time Management - Help young people organize and develop a routine - facilitate completion of daily responsibilities
• Facilitates psycho-educations groups
• Facilitates Life Skills groups
• Develops team building activities
• Documents all services provided
• Facilitates community support services
• 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
• Participate in staffing with team and young people for assessment, treatment planning and review
• Transport young people in agency vehicle to various community resources, schools, etc
• Participates in the development and implementation of continuous quality improvement activities as assigned
• Other duties as assigned

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to perform keen observation of young people by seeing, hearing and verbally communicating
• Ability to walk up and down between two to four flights of stairs without assistance several times during the course of an 8-hour shift

• Ability to lift a maximum of 50lbs
• Assist in placement moves

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must have minimum of an Associates Degree or 60 hours of college in Human Services or at least five years of certified experience in the field of social work or related field
• Will be no less than 21 years of age providing they hold an Associate Degree of at least 60 hours of college credits. Will be at least 25 years of age if they do not hold an associate degree or at least 60 hours of college credits
• At least one (1) year experience working with older youth in a child welfare setting
• Knowledge of word processing and basic computer functions; intermediate to advanced level of computer skills required
• 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
• Valid Illinois Driver's license
• No history of child abuse or neglect
• Ability to pass background and drug screen

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Exposure to behavior problems that may include physical acting out requiring safe physical management skills
• Exposure to young people with complex mental health issues and/or disorders
• Exposure to young people with various states of cleanliness and hygiene

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 Non-Exempt.