Bilingual Outreach Specialist

Center for Alternative•New York, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

CASES is currently seeking an Outreach Specialist for our Supervised Released Program. The Outreach Specialist plays a vital role in connecting with individuals facing pretrial supervision to support their compliance and personal growth. We are seeking a candidate with exceptional skills in motivational interviewing, problem-solving, and trauma-informed care. The ideal candidate will demonstrate cultural competency, a commitment to anti-racist practices, and the ability to engage participants with high needs effectively within the community. Strong organizational abilities and the capacity to work independently in community settings are also essential for success in this role. CASES’ Supervised Release Program (SRP) annually diverts 7,500 people otherwise facing pretrial detention at Rikers Island to community-based supervision and support services. Program participants include youth and young adults, people with substance use disorders and mental illnesses, and individuals who are homeless. SRP participants have not been found guilty of a crime and are not mandated to engage in treatment or other services. This requires staff to tactfully deliver approaches to help participants tap into their intrinsic motivation to leverage their strengths and skills for meaningful life improvements while fulfilling all court requirements. Fluency in both Spanish and English is required for this position.

Requirements

High School Diploma with 1-2 years of work experience
Strong interpersonal skills
Bilingual Spanish/English

Nice To Haves

Conflict management and de-escalation skills

Responsibilities

Support enhanced pretrial supervision activities including announced and unannounced home visits in response to concerns raised by the pretrial team
Accompany pretrial team members on scheduled community visits and outreach activities
Conduct outreach and enforcement activities to facilitate positive outcomes for participants with high risks and high needs
Support participants to comply with the supervised release conditions
Conduct outreach to locate and engage participants that fail to attend in-person and virtual supervision appointments
Facilitate effective collaboration with staff delivering court services to ensure the court receives accurate information, participants attend court dates, and satisfy conditions of supervision
Work in the community to investigate information to reengage the participant to voluntarily surrender when warrants are executed
Utilize problem solving, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed practices to help motivate and engage participants subject to violations, warrants and program termination
Return participants voluntarily to court that are subject to violations and program termination
Provide culturally competent and anti-racist services 1) in accordance with CASES’ policies and the delivery of excellent court services to address the needs of youth and young adults, adults, and individuals with behavioral health needs and 2) that are responsive to the race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, and criminal legal history of program participants
Ensure timely, complete, and accurate documentation in the case record database including outreach progress notes in accordance with confidentiality regulations
Participate in staff supervision, case review, staff meetings, and in-service trainings to develop motivational interviewing, trauma-informed, outreach, case management, and self-care competence
Any other duties as required by the Program Director and other supervisory staff