Metropolitan Family Services empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, 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 117,000 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness and empowerment. For 100 years, LAS and Metropolitan Family Services have partnered to provide the most comprehensive legal and social services to the most vulnerable people in our communities.
We are now hiring a two bilingual (English/Spanish) Outreach Workers to join The Individual Rights & Social Justice Practice Group in our Legal Aid Society team! The Outreach workers will Paralegal will engage in direct outreach activities to agricultural workers and other workers in low wage fields to educate workers on their rights and identify potential employment violations or situations of human trafficking.
The Individual Rights & Social Justice (IRSJ) practice group provides legal representation to victims of crime and currently has projects that focus on services to victims of human trafficking, immigrant victims of crimes, and victims of wage theft. In addition, IRSJ engages in numerous direct outreach, training, and technical assistance throughout Illinois. As part of a trauma informed practice we believe in reducing barriers to assist client, which includes being willing to meet with clients in safe locations outside of main office locations.
This is a part time temporary/seasonal position. Number of hours, days of week, and work hours will vary from week to week as determined by program need. We expect most weeks will range 25-30 hours, and expect most hours will be in evening and/or weekend.
Individuals with experience working in agricultural settings encouraged to apply.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- In coordination with the Outreach Coordinator, Supervising Attorney, and/or Managing Attorney works within collaborative partnership to develop and implement initiative, which strengthen and support programs or services that assist or identify victims of labor exploitation or human trafficking.
- Engage in direct outreach efforts to agricultural workers and other workers.
- Through education efforts to worker and by building trust and rapport with workers, identifies situations where there are wage/labor violations and/or human trafficking is occurring.
- Travels throughout the state to engage in direct outreach efforts
- Works nontraditional hours (evenings, weekends) to participate in effective outreach
- Promotes a better understanding of anti-trafficking problem in Illinois; the recruitment methods used by traffickers; and resources available to survivors of human trafficking through community forums and training activities
- Using the Vera-Screening tools and other methods identified as effective by the Practice Group, screen potential client for indicators on human trafficking, conduct detailed assessment as available and appropriate.
- Maintains and completes records regarding information about each outreach, training, and technical assistance activity conducted. Creates and maintains detailed records of each potential victim of trafficking or labor exploitation including demographic information, type of trafficking, and steps taken to connect client to services.
- Works effectively with diverse staff and service population
- Other Duties as Assigned
QUALIFICATIONS:
- High School Diploma/GED. At least one year experience in related field
- Bilingual in English/Spanish.
- Strong communications skills.
- This position involves travel within Illinois. Valid driver’s license, liability insurance and good driving record required.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule including some evenings and/or weekends as needed.
- This position requires lifting/carrying boxes and materials that can weigh up to 30 pounds.
- Must be able to learn and use required software and other technology
- Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- MFS staff are required to provide proof of vaccination or have an approved medical exemption prior to starting employment. If an approved medical exemption 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 50 pounds.
SALARY:
- Compensation is commensurate with years of related experience, position requirements, and candidate qualifications. The compensation is $25 hourly.
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)