Assistant Advocate - Pathfinders (SEJ Program)

Assistant Advocates at Pathfinders assistwith the physical and counseling needs of adolescents ages 11-17 and families in crisis as well as helping to oversee the activities for a 24-hour runaway and homeless youth shelter.  

Responsibilities: 

1. Initiate and complete youth intake interview processes, which includes initial meetings, service explanations, assessments, and the development of shelter contracts.   
2. Provide support, care, supervision, and guidance for youth, which includes meeting physical, emotional, and crisis needs. Provide positive role modeling, reinforce positive behavior and administer appropriate discipline as needed under the direction of the YFA on shift. Ensure that meals are properly prepared and in compliance with established nutritional standards.   
3. Develop professional skills in empathy, relationship building, active listening and trauma informed care by participating in the day-to-day activities of resident youth.   
4. Accurately complete and maintain client files and program documentation.   
5. Tour the facility and grounds daily to ensure a safe environment and compliance with licensing regulations. Maintain status about current equipment and furnishings in the house and report problems to the Youth and Family Advocate (YFA) on shift. 
6. Provide daily prevention education group activities for residents. Provide resident youth with basic independent living skill on an individual or group basis. 
7. Provide telephone crisis counseling, information, and referral to meet the needs of youth, adults, and other community agencies. 
8. Other duties as assigned.  

Qualifications: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

1. Individual must possess a high school diploma or equivalent. 
2. Individual must be 20 years or older. 
3. Possess experience/interest in working with teens and/or their families. 
4. Be emotionally stable. 
5. Possess an open-minded attitude and a willingness to work with a diverse population regarding race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation. 
6. Willingness to work cooperatively with paid staff and accept supervision. 
7. Demonstrate professional boundaries and ethical standards to best meet the needs of the clients. 

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an Assistant Advocate (AA) to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• While performing the duties of this job, the AA is regularly required to stand; to use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects; and to talk or hear. The AA is frequently required to walk and climb stairs.   
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. 
• The AA is occasionally required to sit; to reach above shoulders; to climb or balance; to stoop, kneel, or crouch; and to taste or smell. 
• The AA must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.   

Work Environment: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an Assistant Advocate encounters while performing the essential function of this position. 

• While performing the duties of this position, the AA occasionally works near moving mechanical parts: in high, precarious places, and in outside weather conditions; and is occasionally exposed to household cleaning products, fumes and chemicals and risk of electric shock. 
• The AA may be exposed to some physical risks from clients. 
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  

Training:   

Scheduled orientation and training sessions, on-going training with the assigned supervisor during the shift. 

Evaluation:   

Evaluation consists of on-going interaction and feedback between Assistant Advocate and supervisor, aimed at helping the Assistant Advocates' job performance. The Assistant Advocate will have the opportunity to participate in the written evaluation of their experience and training provided by on-shift supervisors. 

Commitment:   

Position requires a ‘semester’ commitment (approximately 4-5 months) or a specific time agreed upon with the Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager. Assistant Advocates are expected to work a minimum of one 4½ -hour shift per week. AAs are required to work all scheduled shifts. AAs are responsible for finding coverage for their shifts in advance if they are requesting time off and/or communicating with their assigned supervisor during unforeseen absences.   

Benefits:   

Ability to grow, learn and experience situations effecting adolescents and their families. Opportunity to assist Pathfinders in providing quality services to youth and families. 

This internship is part of the Lawrence University Social & Environmental Justice Cohort, which provides an opportunity for Lawrentians to explore social and environmental justice impact careers, gain professional experience, and develop as leaders. Students complete a full-time summer 2025 internship with an identified social and/or environmental justice impact organization in Milwaukee or Appleton, while participating in ongoing reflection with fellow students, Professor Jason Brozek, the Career Center, community leaders and alumni.  Students may apply for as many positions as they are qualified for and interested in. Each student in the SEJ program will receive a $5k stipend to help cover housing and transportation costs and living expenses. For additional details and to see other SEJ opportunities, please see the SEJ Cohort webpage.

• Before applying, you must meet with a Career Center staff member for a resume review, or your resume must achieve green status in VMOCK.  If your resume does not meet professional expectations, you may be asked to resubmit your resume.  Please make an appointment with the Career Center here on Handshake.
• Once your resume is approved, you will then apply directly to one or more of the designated SEJ Internship options in Handshake by February 14, 2025 at 11:55 p.m. A separate application should be prepared for each position.
• Complete this form to indicate your transportation needs. The form only needs to be submitted once.