Human Trafficking Project Community Outreach Advocate

Life Span seeks a Human Trafficking Project Community Outreach Advocate to provide direct services to those who have experienced human trafficking. The advocate will also provide training and education to partners and work with community organizations to serve clients in their own neighborhoods. This is a hybrid-remote position based at our Chicago, Illinois office.

Life Span is a nationally known leader in the provision of services to survivors of violence and their children. Our comprehensive services include criminal court advocacy, representation in civil protective order cases, expert representation in family law cases, immigration services and counseling for survivors and their children. Our work encompasses such issues as police domestic violence, human trafficking, 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, one in Des Plaines and one in Chicago. Our services are available in many languages including English, Spanish, Polish and Arabic and 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.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain partner relationships with community organizations.
• Assess the need for HTP services at each location on an ongoing basis.
• Establish a set day and time to provide direct services to clients at each partner organization.
• Provide direct service to clients, including:

o crisis intervention;

o safety planning;

o case management including identification of referrals for clients;

o explain rights and remedies under the (IDVA) Illinois Domestic Violence Act, and the (CNCO) Civil No Contact Order Act;

o legal advocacy, including criminal court advocacy;

o convene client groups for support, and information.

• Develop and maintain additional collaborative partnerships.
• Conduct professional and public awareness education, training and technical assistance on human trafficking.
• Participate in community organizational meetings.
• Participate in HTP staff meetings.
• Maintain active participation in the Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force.
• Complete a 40-hour Domestic Violence training.
• Complete a 40-hour Sexual Assault training.
• Attend training on HT related topics.
• Maintain statistical service records and case file documentation on assigned cases.

Reports to: the Human Trafficking Project Coordinator.

Qualifications:

• Experience in anti-trafficking work is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in sociology or related field is preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish & English is preferred.
• Professional work experience is required.
• 40-hour DV Certified