Crisis Advocate

Life Span empowers survivors of domestic and sexual violence to demand safety as a human right through client-centered services and leads social change through accountability, community engagement, and systemic advocacy.  Life Span is interviewing for a Crisis Advocate position in our Chicago office.

Life Span is a nationally known leader in the provision of services to victims of violence and their children. Our comprehensive services include criminal court advocacy representation in civil protective order cases, expert representation in family law cases, and counseling for survivors and their children. Our work encompasses such issues as police domestic violence, immigration, employment issues, sexual assault civil no contact orders, the effects of trauma on clients and their children, teen dating violence, and the criminalization of survivors. Our agency has two sites, and services are available in nine languages including English, Spanish, Polish and Arabic. All services are free of charge. Our agency provides national leadership in policy work and systemic advocacy, and our staff has trained advocates, lawyers, judges, counselors and other professionals in Illinois and across the country on critical issues and innovative practices.

Life Span values diversity—in strengths, backgrounds and lived experiences.  It is essential that our staff and leadership reflect the communities that we serve.  We are committed to creating an anti-oppression framework and seek candidates who share this commitment.

Position Summary: Provide advocacy to victims of domestic violence through crisis intervention, explanation of rights and remedies, safety planning and coordination of services within the Life Span team. Life Span’s services are based on the idea of client empowerment, in which clients are provided with information on the services, resources, and institutional responses available to them, what their choices are and what possible outcomes will flow from those choices.  This position reports to the Advocacy Services Coordinator.

• Conducts client interviews.
• Provide direct service to clients, including:
• crisis intervention
• safety planning
• case management
• explain rights and remedies under the IDVA and the CNCO Act
• legal advocacy
• referrals
• Explains victims’ rights under state and federal law.
• Coordinates client service with other Life Span programs.
• Helps the client form a plan of action based on their options under the law.
• Advocate on behalf of clients with various systems including medical, child welfare, law enforcement and more.
• Provides clients with referrals to other needed services and ongoing support.
• Maintains case files.
• Maintains and provides client statistical information.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience required
• Experience working with victims of domestic or sexual violence.
• Court advocacy experience preferred.
• Bilingual – Fluent in Spanish preferred.

Location and Hours:  The Crisis Advocate position is a full-time, 40 hours per week position based in the Chicago Loop office.  Life Span is just steps away from the CTA El station pink line, orange, and green lines, and also accessible via the Metra railway, Union or Ogilvie stations.

Hybrid Remote Position: This is a hybrid remote position following onboarding and completion of training.

Compensation:  Life Span values staff as our most important resource and we offer a competitive salary dependent on experience.  Benefits include generous PTO and holidays, Summer Fridays, life/disability insurance;403b plan, health/dental insurance, pre-tax public transit, FSA and DCA benefit plans.

Loan Forgiveness Benefit:  Life Span is a qualifying employer for the federal PSLF program.

To Apply:   If bilingual please describe skill level. Send resume and cover letter to the hiring manager via email to hiring@life-span.org.      No Telephone Calls Please.