Center on Halsted Careers - Chicago's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center

Youth Regional Council (YRC) Coordinator     POSTED: 02/22/10

Career Development Specialist     POSTED: 02/15/10

Case Manager for Homeless Youth Program Part Time (Mornings)     POSTED: 01/15/10

Youth Career Development Center Program Intern     POSTED: 11/02/09

Homesharing Manager     POSTED: 10/23/09

Position Title: Youth Regional Council (YRC) Coordinator Department: Youth Program

Reports to: Director of Youth Program

Classification status: Exempt

Mission: In a safe and nurturing environment, the Center on Halsted serves as a catalyst for the LGBT community that links and provides resources and enriches life experience.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Oversee the implementation of Youth Regional Council (YRC) goals and objectives through serving as the Region 1 Coordinator. (Region 1 encompasses the area of Chicago bounded by Belmont to Howard, the Lake to O’Hare.)
Communicate regularly with YRC members about upcoming meetings, trainings, and other opportunities.
Assist with planning annual regional events including securing event location, convening planning committee, promoting event, and evaluating its impact.
Oversee Region 1 Community Assessment and Planning Process including the convening of meetings, creation of committees, monitoring of work plan and its progress, and communicating results to funder.
Communicate regularly with Region 1 Aldermen or their representatives to inform them of program activities.
Conduct outreach to potential YRC members via in-person and phone contact.
Provide information and referrals throughout the Region. Serve as information and referral hub for the Region assuring that members know how to access and update the City of Chicago program locator.
Regularly forward relevant information to YRC members.
Attend all required trainings and meetings as scheduled by funding organization.
Participate in all staff meetings and departmental meetings.
Other Duties as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in social science/human services field required.
2 – 4 years experience in community assessment, program design, or non-profit management required.
Interest and commitment to coalition building and community engagement.
Excellent writing and communication skills required.
Bilingual (Spanish) ability is desirable.
Experience working in diverse communities is required.
Experience and commitment to working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, is strongly preferred.
Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.
Working knowledge of and proficiency in Microsoft operating system (Word, Excel, Outlook) and internet is required.

To Apply:
Please email or fax resume, cover letter, and 1 page writing sample answering the following questions: What would you identify as the most pressing needs of young people ages 13-24 in Region 1 of Chicago. On what information do you base your assessment? (Region 1 includes the area of Belmont north to Howard, and the Lake west to O’Hare.)

Ben Gannon
Executive Assistant
3656 N. Halsted
Chicago, IL 60613
bgannon@centeronhalsted.org

No calls please.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Center on Halsted hires the most qualified candidates without regard to any person’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status or source of income.

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Position Title: Career Development Specialist Department: Youth Program

Reports to: Youth Program Vocational Manager

Classification status: Exempt

Supervision of: None.

Mission: In a safe and nurturing environment, the Center on Halsted serves as a catalyst for the LGBT community that links and provides resources and enriches life experience.

Essential Functions: Provide educational and vocational services to youth ages 14-24 through the Youth Ready Chicago Career Development Center. Major areas of responsibility include recruitment of youth, assessing new participants, teaching of vocational curriculum, record keeping on participants’ progress, and appropriate placement in jobs and/or internships.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Recruit youth for educational/vocational assessment;
Conduct informational meetings with interested youth and assess individual readiness for the program.
Refer those youth deemed not ready to enter YCDC for remedial work through case management.
Provide one-to-one educational/vocational assessment services to youth who make the commitment to complete the program.
Teach 30 hour job readiness curriculum to groups of youth throughout Region 1.
Provide vocational and educational development services to youth, including recruitment, intake, work readiness skills development, resume, job search and interviewing skills.
Work with YCDC team to evaluate and adjust curriculum according to the targeted youth population.
Develop Individualized Educational Vocational plans with each participant.
Maintain appropriate records for each participant.
Work with each participant through each stage of progression toward completion.
Work with YCDC graduates and Career Development Specialist to secure a job or internship.
Participate in outreach activities.
Assist with daily programming responsibilities.
Participate in all staff meetings.
Participate in supervision meetings.
Maintain client confidentiality.
Serve as an agency representative to appropriate community groups, agencies and organizations.
Other Duties as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications:

Minimum bachelor’s degree in vocational counseling, social science/human services field.
Bilingual (Spanish) ability is desirable.
2 – 3 years experience working in a vocational program or related field.
Experience training and/or teaching and/or group facilitation is required.
Experience and commitment to working with at-risk youth, including youth who are homeless, in the foster-care system, juvenile offenders and/or who may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, is required.
Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.
Working knowledge of computers is essential.
Strong commitment to personal and professional development required.

To Apply:
Please email or fax resume, cover letter, and 1 page writing sample answering the following questions: What do you see as the barriers that youth face when seeking employment? (specifically, GLBTQ, at-risk and youth with unstable housing) As a trainer how would you address behaviors that could impede employment while still acting with compassion and holding youth accountable?

Send to:
Jesi Miller
Youth Program Vocational Manager
3656 N. Halsted
Chicago, IL 60613
jmiller@centeronhalsted.org

No calls please.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Center on Halsted hires the most qualified candidates without regard to any person’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status or source of income.

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Position Title: Case Manager for Homeless Youth Program Part Time (Mornings) Department: Youth Program

Reports to: Director of Homeless Youth Services

Classification status: Exempt

Supervision of: None.

Mission: In a safe and nurturing environment, the Center on Halsted serves as a catalyst for the LGBT community that links and provides resources and enriches life experience.

Essential Functions: Oversees the program providing a safe space and services for youth who are homeless. Assures the completion of intakes and risk assessments for youth who are homeless. Assures all clients in need have been assigned a case manager. Provides individual and group counseling, and prevention case management. Provides individual and group education on HIV/STD prevention, drug and alcohol use/abuse; safety/violence prevention; mental health issues including strengthening self-esteem.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Provide clients with comprehensive case management and supportive services needed to meet the goals outlined in their individual service plans.
Provide counseling and mentoring clients in both individual and group settings.
Deliver life skills training through both formal and informal techniques to address important skills such as conflict resolution, financial management and budgeting, health and nutrition, mental and emotional health, safe sex, etc.
Refer clients to other supportive services as needed, including housing, food pantries, clothing closets, legal aid services, substance abuse and mental health counseling, etc.
Work with clients to address barriers to obtaining and maintaining stable housing.
Assist clients in obtaining financial assistance as needed.
Support clients in their housing search and assist them in obtaining appropriate documentation as required.
Advocating for clients as needed to obtain wrap around services.
Maintain excellent and open communication with clients and following-up with clients on a regular basis.
Assist in the oversight of the Youth Program space, volunteers and services while youth who are homeless are being served.
Engage and support participants in COH’s Youth Career Development Center program by: assessing potential participants to determine eligibility and identify strengths and needs, and to engage new participants in the career development program.
Work with participants to address barriers to obtaining and maintaining stable employment or entering vocational training programs and institutions of higher education.
Utilize COH’s program evaluation tools and systems to track and monitor client information and outcome measures to evaluate client progress.
Document all interactions with clients in the program’s record keeping system and compiles monthly and quarterly reports on client service provision as requested.
Contribute to the overall success of COH by attending weekly staff meetings, case review meetings and other staff trainings, working in team approach to develop new programs, and working consistently within COH’s mission, vision, and values.
Other duties as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications:

Masters degree in social work or related field.
Bilingual (Spanish) ability is strongly favored.
Experience working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, is strongly preferred.
Experience working with homeless and other at-risk youth is strongly preferred.
Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.
Working knowledge of computers essential.
Strong commitment to personal and professional development required.

Send resumes to:
Alicia Vega
Youth Program Director
3656 N. Halsted
Chicago, IL 60613
avega@centeronhalsted.org

No calls please.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Center on Halsted hires the most qualified candidates without regard to any person’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status or source of income.

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Position Title: Youth Career Development Center Program Intern Department: Youth Program

Mission: In a safe and nurturing environment, the Center on Halsted serves as a catalyst for the LGBT community that links and provides resources and enriches life experience.

Eligible Candidates: Bachelor's & Master's level students

Position Description: Support YCDC staff who provide educational and vocational services to youth in the Region 1 Youth Career Development Center. Areas of responsibility include assistance with recruitment of youth, providing job readiness skills training, collect, collate, and file YCDC information. Other projects will include assisting in the recruitment, implementation and follow-up with youth mentoring program. Interns will also have the opportunity to assist in Youth program/YCDC outreach activities and monitor the youth space as needed.

The Youth Career Development Center (YCDC) at Center on Halsted is a DCYS city-funded program whose mission is to provide job readiness training for young adults ages 14-21. We assist the participants in developing and strengthening the skills that will foster success and self-sufficiency, both in the workplace and their personal lives. The graduates of our 30 hour program learn soft skills, such as interviewing skills, resume and cover letter writing, goal setting, money management and budgeting, professional etiquette, conflict resolution, and job development.

Position Cycle & Duration: Open recruitment unless otherwise stated

Placement Date(s): Flexible timeline /5-20 hours per week

Schedule: There is a great deal of flexibility within the Youth Program. YCDC Trainings are scheduled throughout the day and also evenings and weekends.

Supervision Structure: Interns meet with their primary supervisor for one hour of individual supervision on a weekly basis.

Application process: Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis. Complete applications include:
1) cover letter (specifically addressing interest in our site and population),
2) resume,
3) one letter of reference,
4) writing sample (may be a case report or academic paper, not to exceed two pages).

Send to:
Jesi Miller,MPA
Youth Career Development Center Manager
Center on Halsted
3656 North Halsted Street
Chicago, Illinois 60613

Confirmation on receipt of completed applications will be provided via email.

For additional information contact: Jesi Miller at 773.472.6469 or jmiller@centeronhalsted.org

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Position Title: Homesharing Manager Department: SAGE

Reports to: Senior Director of Public Programs

Classification status: Exempt

Supervision of: none

Mission: In a safe and nurturing environment, the Center on Halsted serves as a catalyst for the LGBT community that links and provides resources and enriches life experience.

Essential Functions: Oversees the program matching seniors who wish to share their home with individuals seeking reduced rent. This innovative program, the first of it’s kind marketed specifically to the LGBT community, The Homesharing Manager oversees all aspects of the program from phone interviews, in-house assessments, negotiating specifics of each match, in-person introductions and monthly monitoring. As this is a new program, the manager will design policies and procedures under the supervision of the SAGE Director, market the program to seniors and senior care providers and present on program results at conferences and professional meetings. Additionally, the Homesharing manager is a referral source for seniors seeking information about mental health services, benefits, end of life care, financial management, emergency assistance, chronic illness and caregiving.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Match homeshareers with homeseekers through an assessment and interview process.
Assist both parties in negotiating specfics of the match in regard to use of shared space, overnight guests, and financial responsibilites.
Monitor all matches on a monthly basis and provide mediation and intervention as necessary to preserve the sustainability of the match.
Keep accurate records of referrals and matches.
Connect homesharers and homeseeking to resources as needed.
Assist clients in obtaining financial assistance as needed.
Attend community meetings and senior resource events to promote the program among seniors and senior care providers.
Advocating for clients as needed to obtain wrap around services.
Maintain excellent and open communication with clients and following-up with clients on a regular basis.
Assist in the oversight of the Friendly Visitor program, volunteers and interns.
Modify policies and procedures in response to shifting economic environment and funding availability.
Utilize COH’s program evaluation tools and systems to track and monitor client information and outcome measures to evaluate matches.
Document all interactions with clients in the program’s record keeping system and compiles monthly and quarterly reports on client service provision as requested.
Contribute to the overall success of COH by attending weekly staff meetings, case review meetings and other staff trainings, working in team approach to develop new programs, and working consistently within COH’s mission, vision, and values.
Other duties as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications:

Masters degree in social work or related field.
Bilingual (Spanish) ability is strongly favored.
Experience working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth, is strongly preferred.
Experience working with older adults strongly preferred.
Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team.
Demonstrated working knowledge of computers essential in particular Microsoft Office Suite, Excel and Powerpoint.
Strong commitment to personal and professional development required.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Excellent presentation skills.
Knowledge of Chicago geography and senior services helpful.
Experience in senior housing.
Valid drivers license and insurance, regular access to a car.

Send resumes to:
Serena Worthington
Senior Director of Public Programs
3656 N. Halsted
Chicago, IL 60613
sworthington@centeronhalsted.org

No calls please.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Center on Halsted hires the most qualified candidates without regard to any person’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status or source of income.

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