Outreach Worker

LCLC reaches over 350 minors and emerging adults in the criminal justice system annually with the following services:

• Community Holistic Defense for Juveniles and Emerging Adults: Free legal representation for indigent clients grounded in holistic defense practices which acknowledge that quality of representation and criminal legal outcomes are improved for youth when their unique developmental needs are simultaneously addressed by an integrated, interdisciplinary team of attorneys and social service providers.

• Community Housing: LCLC owns and operates 20 units of studio style housing for emerging adult men, 18-25 years old, inside the Deer Community Justice Center. In addition, LCLC has created a network of approximately 275 private landlords and funders that place other LCLC clients and their families in subsidized affordable housing units.

• Restorative Justice Community Court: LCLC was the lead agency that gathered numerous community and cook county court stakeholders together to design and launch the first Restorative Justice Community Court in the country in North Lawndale in September 2017. This court is based upon the tradition of restorative justice circle keeping and other restorative justice practices to enable repair and community integration for emerging adult men, 18-25, facing qualifying felony criminal legal charges. LCLC hopes to add a juvenile call to this court to serve minors 17 and younger under the same model.

• Community Holistic Juvenile Diversion: Since 2020, LCLC has worked with the Mayor's office and the Chicago Police Department to close the Juvenile Intervention and Support Center (JISC) and create a new model of juvenile diversion for Chicago. LCLC is one of eight service providers in the city and focuses on serving youth from the west side diverted from the courts by the Chicago Police Department.

LCLC looks to continuously innovate our program portfolio to build upon new best practices for serving minors and emerging adults and better serve our communities.
Position Summary
LCLC's Outreach Worker is responsible for helping to reduce community violence and working with juveniles and emerging adults, 25 and under, who are of the highest risk of violence to help prevent shootings and retaliatory violence. More specifically, the responsibilities of outreach include but are not exclusive to being a part of the Community Holistic Defense team working in collaboration with attorneys and case managers identifying new potential clients and engaging existing clients in services, maintaining a caseload of 15 clients, mediating conflict, canvassing, monitoring and responding to community violence, serving as a liaison between LCLC and the community, and promoting the LCLC way of working to transform the lives of young people we serve and the criminal justice system as a whole. This individual will work on a rotating schedule of 10a-6p Mon-Fri; Tues-Saturday(DR1) 10a-6p along with being on call to respond to community violence up until 9p. Travel is required.
Responsibilities

• Work with Juveniles and Emerging Adults (25 and under) who are of the highest risk of violence successfully engaging and/or re-engaging them in services and maintaining a caseload of up to 15 clients.
• Maintains contact with clients on a weekly basis, at minimum.
• Participates in Holistic Intake process with attorney and case management & completes eligibility screen for outreach services.
• Complete the safety assessment and safety intervention plan that will be used to help identify appropriate services, safety risks, and needed resources, sharing findings with case management & legal.
• Complete all required documentation in a timely manner utilizing the agency database.
• Ensures timely information about potential and current clients and their safety is clearly identified and communicated, both verbally and in writing, to attorneys, case managers and Director.
• Encourage and assist clients with completing individual goals identified in their work with case management.
• Demonstrates supportive behavior and act as a role model displaying positive appropriate interactions.
• Works with clients individually and in group setting on violence prevention skills (i.e., anger management, conflict resolution).
• Coordinates and facilitates activities for workshops and groups for clients (peace circles, recreation, life skills).
• Have knowledge and a clear understanding of street dynamics, trauma and the effects of trauma and operate from that perspective when interacting with clients, their families and the community.
• Gain and maintain the trust of the community to help prevent shootings and retaliatory violence.
• Serves as support and advocate for the clients and their families, identifying and relaying the need for resources to case management.
• Canvassing the community and working in other unstructured situations.
• Collaborate and network with other Outreach programs and workers to coordinate strategic responses to violence.
• Monitor and respond to shootings or other forms of community violence in North Lawndale received through CPIC notifications, Citizens app and word of mouth as well as responding to violence in surrounding communities when necessary.
• Willingness to work later hours during the week and during the weekends.
• Coordinates and lead community events for clients, their families and North Lawndale community.
• Market and promote the work of LCLC in the North Lawndale community magnifying our Holistic services to attract and identify potential clients in services.
• Attend regular staff meetings, partner meetings, supervision meetings, community meetings as instructed by Outreach Supervisor and/or Director.
• Appear in court on behalf of clients with attorneys as needed/directed.
• Participates in media opportunities as requested
• Participates in all mandatory training and undertakes any training and professional development as required to ensure effective work.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Writing and communication skills (written and verbal).
• Ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds.
• Basic computer skills. Ability to learn new software and databases quickly.
• Skilled in working one-on-one and in groups with high-risk juveniles and/or emerging adults to resolve conflicts and promote prosocial behaviors.
• Possesses knowledge and understanding of street dynamics, trauma and the effects of trauma and operate from that perspective when interacting with clients, their families and the community.
• Emotional maturity, good judgment, integrity, tolerance of differing points of view and beliefs, and commitment to nonviolence.
• Willingness to learn and commit to the principles of nonviolence, restorative justice and trauma-informed practices.
• High degree of cultural competency.

Required Education and Experience

• No pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, child abuse, or domestic violence.
• High School Diploma/GED required.
• Significant experience (2+ years) working with high-risk, justice involved, and/or street involved juveniles and/or emerging adults, preferred.
• Firsthand knowledge of North Lawndale and other communities served and knowledge of current street conflicts.
• Some experience or training in crisis intervention, conflict resolution/mediation, and trauma preferred.
• Experience working on a team.
• Experience working with justice involved individuals a plus
• Valid Illinois Driver's License, insurance, and good driving record.
• Access to a vehicle

Professionalism and Work Conduct

• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of LCLC.
• Always acts in a professional manner and maintains appropriate boundaries with clients.
• Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments to others.
• Reports to work, meetings, training, and job-related activities prepared and on time.
• Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of participants and coworkers.
• Accepts feedback and ideas from team and supervisor and is constructive when giving feedback and ideas to others.
• Discusses alternative problem solving and is open to new ideas and ways of doing things.

Work Environment/Travel
While performing the duties of this job, the employee works mostly in the field with some occasional work in an office environment that is quiet to moderately loud, depending on the work area. Some local, county, or state travel may be required, including overnight stays and the suburban Cook County area. Other travel of distance (may be required. Must possess and maintain an applicable Illinois Driver License, clean driving record, and auto insurance that meets state requirements.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger; reach with hands and arms; climb and descend stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear. The employee may occasionally be required to lift or move up to 25 pounds. Requires normal range of motion, hearing and vision. The Outreach Supervisor will spend 60% - 70% of the time in the field with team, clients and community and 30% - 40% of the time focused on other duties and programmatic needs.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
It is required full-time work week, as designated by the LCLC Employee Handbook, with periodic longer hours, including potential evenings, weekends, and odd hours.
Lawndale Christian Legal Center is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and organizational needs. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative of those we serve.
North Lawndale, Austin, East Garfield Park, and Little Village residents, minorities, and individuals impacted by the criminal justice system encouraged to apply.