Community Associate Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Kenneth Young Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit dedicated to providing comprehensive outpatient behavioral health services to individuals of all walks of life. Located in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, we offer a wide range of services including outpatient therapeutic care, recovery-oriented support, community prevention, LGBTQ+ outreach, older adult services, and crisis intervention. Our team welcomes and celebrates unique perspectives and represents the diversity and vitality of our local communities. Join our team to grow in your career while building stronger, healthier communities.

Kenneth Young Center offers arobust benefit package that is highly competitive to the market and offers all full-time employees the following:

• 403(b) plan with organizational matching
• Medical Insurance (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois - BCBS)
• Dental (BCBS), and Vision Insurance (BCBS) with low employee premiums
• Long Term and Short Term Disability (BCBS), no cost to employee
• Flexible Spending Account (with annual rollover)
• Basic life insurance (50k) paid forby the organization and option for additional voluntary coverage for self, spouse, or dependents (BCBS)
• Incentive program with potential for quarterly bonuses
• Opportunity for annual bonus and salary increase (discretionary based on annual KYC financial audit)
• Eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

To further promote an active and healthy work/ life balance,KYCalso offers agenerous amount of paid time off and staff holidays.

• 4weeks of Paid Time Off (With increases based on seniority)
• 8 Paid Organization-Wide Holidays
• 3Personal Floating Holidays annually

KYC’s Community Collaboration Division is looking for an outgoing, energetic individual who enjoys working with youth and advocates for culturally relevant LGBTQ+, BIPOC-centered youth programs, community-based programming, and youth leadership development projects. Must thrive working in a highly participatory team environment.

Programs address populations ages 11-24 and their influencers by building resiliency protective factors across domains (individual, family, community, society) to reduce risks for problematic substance use, violence, high-risk sexual behaviors, school drop-out, irresponsible gambling, bias-based bullying, and violence, and other high-risk and harmful interpersonal behaviors and community health problems behaviors.

Program also address deliverables aimed at reaching the three goals: (1) reduce the past 30-day alcohol rates among 8th-12th graders in suburban, other urban, and rural areas of Illinois (excluding the City of Chicago) (2) reduce the non-medical use of prescription drugs among 8th-12th graders and adults, and (3) increase IYS participation (schools and number of students). The grant will support universal and selected services serving youth in grades 6th-12th, their parents and the community-at‑large. The target populations will be served through an array of prevention services including youth prevention education, communication campaigns, information dissemination, awareness activities, and providing information about resources.

The position primarily entails the planning and implementing strategies to decrease and prevent youth violenceand increase community collaboration, conducting educational workshops and presentations, coordinating youth-led and community-led workgroups, assisting with community outreach at community health fairs and festivals, implementing in-person and online evidence-based curriculum, and creating content and resources for newsletters and social media. The position is grant-funded and is subject to the availability of funds from the state of Illinois.

The position is not a work-from-home position. A DCFS background check must be cleared to confirm a job offer for this position. Reliable, insured transportation is necessary for community outreach, presentations, meetings, and community engagement. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment where objectives may pivot due to unforeseen circumstances.

650 E. Algonquin Road, Suite 104, Schaumburg, IL

Cook County (Non-Chicago)

• Focus prevention services on positive youth development programming as assigned by the CC grant: Substance Use Prevention Services (SUPS), and other grants as assigned.
• Work collaboratively within a team to utilize SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework process to plan and implement evidence-based and best-practice strategies in schools and community settings according to the annual work plan
• Plan, facilitate, and/or support the Area Project Board, Youth Committees, and Community Committees and events.
• Work collaboratively with various community sectors, as determined by program requirements and community needs.
• Research and develop/health promotion messages and communication campaigns addressing the goals of the grant.
• Plan, create, facilitate and evaluate ongoing prevention activities with program participants.
• Assist with community outreach at community health fairs and festivals, and other outreach events identified.
• Provide translations for clients, families, and Kenneth Young Center on as a needed basis
• Accurately collect quantitative and qualitative data, complete reports and other documents required by KYC or the funder.
• Attending mandated training and workshops.
• Meet with a supervisor as scheduled.
• Participate in required and supplemental professional development opportunities.
• Follow best practices as defined by the project’s funder.
• In compliance with grant rules, proactively plan and collaborate in all community efforts with other division projects with shared objectives for greater reach.
• Participate in agency-wide meetings
• Other duties as assigned.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in a shared office setting and routinely uses standard office equipment.
• Travel between offices, and meeting outside of Illinois and to other locations in the community will happen on a regular basis.
• At times it will be necessary to attend meetings and events in the evening and on weekends.

• Have a valid driver’s license, own vehicle, and proof of insurance.
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee will travel by automobile and is exposed to changing weather and road conditions.
• The employee must travel by personal automobile to and from Suburban Cook County locations several times monthly and occasional meetings/training in and around KYC’s catchment area.
• The employee is required to travel to statewide meetings and training courses in Chicago, Springfield, Bloomington, or Joliet (sometimes requiring overnight travel).
• Some out-of-state travel to national training may be required.
• The employee must be able to transport youth or clients safely in their vehicle or KYC‑rented vehicle as needed

• 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.
• Employees are occasionally required to carry, move, or transport program materials, boxes, audiovisual equipment, office products/equipment/supplies, furniture, or other objects weighing up to 40 lbs. while conducting division/community programs.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls, and to reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, talk and hear.
• The employee must be able to work a full 7.5 day/5 days a week for a stretch of 16 weeks delivering content in a school or community setting with high-energy youth.
• The employee must be able to physically assist with community events that may entail loud noises, lights, and changing temperatures.
• A bachelor's degree in social services, education, related field or relevant work/life experience is desired.
• Experience in substance use and delinquency prevention fields preferred.
• 2 years' experience working with youth (ages 11-18) preferred.
• Experience using Microsoft Office and Google Drive.

Non-Exempt, Full-Time, hourly, 37.5 hours per week

Ability to work beyond traditional working hours and schedules including evenings and weekends.

Kenneth Young Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer