Court advocate

Metropolitan Family Services empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Partmentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan Family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities.

Metropolitan is Illinois’ first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 163,000 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston / Skokie, the southwest suburbs and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness and empowerment.

We are now hiring for a Full-time Court Advocate to join our Midway Domestic Violence Courthouse team!

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS :

• Conducts in-person intake of all victims, gathering information regarding domestic violence situation, client needs, and creating a case file on each client.



• Attends related policy meetings and participates in all team meetings.


• Develops and maintains relationships with courthouse staff including but not limited to state’s attorneys, investigator, victim witness, legal aid attorneys, private attorneys, etc.


• Listens to the victim, assess his / her needs, and provide victim with options and resources. Completes safety and legality plans, assesses needs, and refers appropriately.


• Provide crisis intervention, court and legal options, referrals, and emotional support.


• Assist in preparing orders of protection, providing domestic violence education, and Illinois Domestic Violence Act (IDVA) education.


• Maintains contact (in person, phone calls, and electronic correspondence) with client to assess needs and provide support.


• Accompanies each victim to all court proceedings during the pendency of the case. Intervenes on victim’s behalf when necessary.

Monitors court proceedings when victim is excused from court.

• Ensures professional relationships with clients and create an atmosphere of empathy and support.


• Updates and enhances knowledge of community resources and materials relevant to the clients we serve.


• Prepares all case files and required paperwork for documentation for funders.


• Present information on Court Advocacy project as appropriate.

QUALIFICATIONS :

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredit college or university, required.


• Minimum of 1 year experience in court advocacy or with victims of domestic violence, required.


• Knowledge or an interest in working with domestic violence victims, required .


• 40 hour domestic violence training required within two months of hire, required.


• Bilingual in Spanish & English, Required.


• Experience demonstrating working knowledge of legal systems and concepts.


• Must be able to handle working in high-paced, stressful environments.


• Employment with MFS requiresproof of vaccination or an approved Medical exemption, required.


• Must be able to multi-task and have experience working with people from diverse cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.


• Strong writing, record keeping, organizational, and communications skills.


• Must participate in quality improvement activities.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS :

MFS staff are required to provide proof of vaccination or have an approved Medical exemption prior to starting employment.

If an approvedMedical is obtained, weekly testing is required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS :

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch.


• The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing and viewing a computer terminal.


• The employee may occasionally lift and / or move up to 25 pounds.

Metropolitan Family Services offers a very generous benefits packet to our professionals :

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medical Coverage : HMO, Traditional PPO, or PPO w / HSA contributions.


• Dental and Vision Insurance Options


• 11 paid Holidays


• Paid Time Off (PTO)


• 401K Plan


• Training and Professional Development Plan with E- Learning


• Wellness Initiative Program


• Employee Assistance Network

Equal Opportunity Employer / Protected Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Last updated : 2022-09-18