Community Wellness Advocate

This job was posted by : For moreinformation, please see:Wellness Advocate (CWA)(40 hours, Full-time) Non-exemptBUILD, Inc.(Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development) ispresently seeking a committed, self-motivated, and innovative individualto join our team. BUILD is a nationally respected gang intervention,violence prevention, and youth development organization based onChicagos West Side. Since 1969, BUILD has worked to save lives andmentor young people who live in the citys most challenged neighborhoods.When you work at BUILD you make an important difference to the thousandsof youths and families we serve.Our Core Values: Empathy, Passion, Persistence, and munity Wellness Advocate(CWA)provides trauma-focused, culturallyaware, and community-based direct services to families, householdmembers and youth impacted by community violence at a school within theservice areas of Austin, Garfield Park and Humboldt Park. The directservices offered to families that are enrolled clients in the CommunitySupport Services program include, but are not limited to, clinical casemanagement, advocacy support, resource linkage, crisis intervention andstabilization, and other BUILD programs, and outsideproviders/resources. The(CWA)is part of the Prevention Department.The(CWA)reports directly to the Manager of Site Based PreventionPrograms.Responsibilities/duties are but not limited to:- Utilizes motivational interviewing to complete needs assessment and creates collaborative service plan reflecting clients self-identified biopsychosocial emotional immediate and long-term needs in conjunction with the school where you will be placed.- Develops and implements trauma-focused and culturally aware interventions to support clients in achieving self-identified goals.- Establishes a regular schedule of home visits, contacts, and follow-up phone calls to encourage the building of relationships with clients and the completion of service plans in conjunction with the school where you will be placed.- Connects violence-exposed individuals, youth, and families with comprehensive services that promote healing, foster life-skills, and aim to address risky behaviors resulting in increased exposure to violence and adverse outcomes. This is done in conjunction with the school assigned to. We work closely with the Counselor and Parent Coordinator.- Provides and assists in crisis intervention and stabilization support to ensure client and community safety- Works closely with the school community and BUILD program to ensure appropriate wraparound services such as individual/group therapy, justice system navigation and advocacy, mentorship, extracurricular programming, etc.- Participates in weekly team meetings with the site coordinator and manager of Site Based Prevention Programs- Represents BUILD to broaden community awareness and support by attending program-related community and committee meetings as needed- Maintains knowledge current in the field in way of participation of professional development opportunities, seminars and/or workshops- Attends departmental and agency-wide staff meetings, as scheduled and agency-wide events as required- Documents and reports program activities and outcomes and ensure progress toward annual program objectives in our evaluation system- Submits statistics and reports to corresponding managers on a bi-weekly and monthly basis and/or as needed- Maintains File Compliance as required and compliance with ETO Requirements- Minimum three years of experience working with inner-city youth in a human service setting, trauma-inform ed care, social service setting, or related field- Bachelors degree in social work or related education field preferred- Maintains confidential, respectful and appropriate relationships with program participants, all levels of agency staff and the various publics of the agency, demonstrating sensitivity to all ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds- Self-motivated leader with the ability to communicate in a friendly and informative manner with people from a wide variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles- Must be willing to provide community-based direct services- Operate professionally in the field on a flexible time schedule, which includes late evenings and weekends.- Proficiency with technology (Microsoft Office), tech integration into daily program operations and evaluation systems.- An automobile is required along with current insurance and a valid drivers license- Must successfully pass extensive background check- Bilingual English and Spanish preferred but not required

Created: 2026-04-24