As a Medical Advocate, you'll play an important role in connecting survivors with critical support services while strengthening partnerships with local hospitals and healthcare professionals. This position combines direct survivor advocacy, crisis intervention, community outreach, and education to help ensure individuals experiencing domestic violence receive the care, resources, and support they deserve.
What You'll Do
- Provide Survivor Support: Deliver compassionate, trauma-informed crisis intervention, emotional support, safety planning, and referrals to individuals impacted by domestic violence in hospital and medical settings.
- Conduct Domestic Violence Screenings: Perform routine screenings in emergency departments and other participating hospital departments, collaborating with medical teams to coordinate appropriate interventions and follow-up services.
- Educate Healthcare Professionals: Develop and deliver domestic violence education, training, and workshops to hospital personnel and other healthcare providers.
- Build Hospital Partnerships: Establish and maintain strong relationships with hospital teams, departments, and community healthcare partners to strengthen collaboration and expand the Medical Advocacy Program.
- Lead Outreach Efforts: Conduct targeted outreach to increase awareness of domestic violence services, encourage referrals, and identify opportunities for additional training and consultation.
- Support Program Growth: Participate in meetings and presentations with prospective hospital partners to expand access to medical advocacy services.
- Provide Medical Advocacy Coverage: Respond to requests for advocacy services at participating hospitals and other medical facilities as needed, including assigned on-call responsibilities.
- Maintain Accurate Documentation: Track program activities, maintain confidential client and service records, and prepare monthly reports in accordance with program requirements.
- Collaborate with Program Leadership: Meet regularly with the program supervisor to review program activities, service delivery, documentation, and compliance with established standards and goals.
What We're Looking For
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Work, or a related field required.
- Minimum of one year of experience working with individuals or families in crisis required.
- Previous experience in domestic violence advocacy or survivor support preferred.
Skills & Qualifications
- Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to develop trust with survivors, healthcare professionals, and community partners.
- Ability to provide compassionate, nonjudgmental support to individuals at varying stages of readiness to seek assistance or make changes.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking and facilitating educational presentations.
- Strong organizational, project management, and documentation skills.
- Ability to work effectively and professionally in hospital and other medical environments.
- Adaptability and flexibility when working in shared spaces and environments outside of CCSS's direct control.
- Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
- Commitment to confidentiality, trauma-informed care, and survivor-centered services.
Position ScheduleThis is a part-time, 24-hour-per-week position with the following regular schedule:Monday, Wednesday, and Friday | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Why Join CCSS?At Crisis Center for South Suburbia, we believe everyone deserves to live free from violence. Our team works every day to provide safety, advocacy, education, and resources to individuals and families impacted by domestic violence.
As a Medical Advocate, you'll have the opportunity to make a direct impact on survivors' lives while helping healthcare professionals better recognize and respond to domestic violence. You'll join a dedicated, mission-driven team committed to compassion, collaboration, and meaningful community change.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The Crisis Center for South Suburbia has been providing hope and services to victims of domestic violence for over 40 years through housing, counseling, advocacy, outreach and prevention programs. We are a non-profit community organization that provides emergency shelter and other essential services for individuals and families victimized by domestic violence and addresses the societal issues that contribute to domestic violence. With a staff of more than 50 employees and a budget of over four million dollars, the Crisis Center continues to grow while offering free services to Chicago’s south suburban communities.