Youth Engagement Specialist

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Staten Island Justice Center (SIJC) offers an array of programming for both youth and adults in Staten Island, focusing on engaging those with current or past justice involvement.

SIJC operates two mentorship programs the Advocacy, Intervene and Mentor (AIM) Program. AIM is a six- to nine-month court-mandated community-based mentoring program that provides one-on-one and group mentorship.

SIJC is seeking a Youth Engagement Specialist who will work with AIM programming. Reporting to the Associate Director, Youth and Family programs, the Youth Engagement Specialist will develop and oversee mentorship programming activities including group workshops and individual mentorship sessions.

These activities will take place virtually, on-site, and in the community. The Youth Engagement Specialist will work individually and with a team to assist participants in addressing the individual and societal factors that may impact their behavior.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to :

• Engage in one-on-one relationships with mentees and their families, including, but not limited to, scheduling and facilitating individual mentorship meetings in participant's homes and in the community several times per week, and scheduling and participating in family events and outings;
• Develop, facilitate, and coordinate group programming including, but not limited to, twice-weekly workshops, community benefit projects, and group outings;
• Oversee all elements of case planning for mentees, including scheduling and participating in meetings related to mentees' well-being, as well as family team meetings, school meetings, meetings with external service providers, court appearances, and probation meetings, among others;
• Act as agency point person for client’s support system such as family members, neighborhood supports, and school staff and provide case management services to families, as needed;
• Provide referrals related to health, school, employment, pro-social and civic engagement as needed;
• Provide 24 / 7 crisis management services as part of a rotating on-call schedule;
• When relevant, consistently monitor all aspects of youth compliance with probation and court mandates, disposition orders, and maintain consistent communication with family and criminal court stakeholders;
• Utilize online databases to track participant activities and outcomes;
• Act as a community liaison for the Staten Island Justice Center by developing and maintaining thriving relationships with community partners and attending community meetings and events which may take place in evenings and on weekends;
• Provide coverage and support for other SIJC youth programming, as needed;
• Participate in staff meetings and staff development activities at SIJC, as required;
• Perform other duties as necessary to support the Staten Island Justice Center and department activities; and
• Additional tasks, as needed.

Qualifications : A high school diploma with 2-5 years of experience working with youth from marginalized communities and / or youth who have been involved in the juvenile or criminal system, or equivalent lived experience in a related area, preferably as a criminal justice practitioner is required.

Strong knowledge of community resources in the North Shore of Staten Island is a plus. For this role, candidate must be able to seek direction and advice when necessary and make independent decisions when possible.

Good judgement, a trauma-informed approach, excellent communication, and organizational and multi-tasking abilities are a must for this role.

The ideal candidate will have a strong ability to balance participation in a collaborative work environment with independent work.

Computer literacy and knowledge of the juvenile justice system preferred. Candidates must have the ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and be able to provide crisis management as needed.

Car and driver’s license is preferred. The ideal candidate will be comfortable with technology and video platforms such as Zoom.

Position Type : Full-time.

Position Location : Staten Island, NY.

Compensation : The compensation range for this position is $52,000 - $54,000 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA.

We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans.

We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.