Community Engagement Specialist

Center for Alternative • New York, NY

6d • $47,380 - $53,560 • Onsite

About The Position

CASES’ Supervised Release Program (SRP) annually diverts 2,500 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. About 88% of SRP participants identify as Black and Latinx. The program serves individuals of all gender identities and sexual orientations. While many SRP participants experience significant behavioral health and other service needs, they have not been found guilty of a crime and have limited obligation to engage in program services. This context requires SRP community staff to expertly deliver culturally competent and trauma-informed approaches to help participants tap into their intrinsic motivation as they recognize and leverage their strengths and skills, typically including remarkable resilience. Community staff—including through mobile outreach in participants’ community settings—help participants fulfill Supervised Release Program court-mandated supervision. SRP community staff seek to leverage the pretrial supervision period—typically lasting about 5-6 months—to help participants identify their goals and access services to support meaningful life improvements while fulfilling all court requirements and avoiding detention and incarceration.

Requirements

• High school diploma or HSE required
• Lived Experience working in systems and communities impacted by social support systems is required
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Respect for confidentiality
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Highly proficient in word processing and spreadsheet applications (MS Word, Excel), experience with PowerPoint
• Must be a self-starter and able to work independently

Nice To Haves

• Conflict management and de-escalation skills preferred
• Credible Messenger training preferred

Responsibilities

• Build authentic, long-term mentorship relationships with pretrial participants to support individuals to develop and commit to their own individual plans for change and growth
• Engage with participants using cultural sensitivity skills and establish mutuality through connectivity in order to motivate participants
• Serve as a broker to connect participants to pro-social activities, positive peer groups, as well as formal and informal community supports
• Facilitate peer support networks for youth participants to support these participants to maintain their commitment to positive behavior change and their identified goals
• Accompany participants to court dates, waiting with participant for court appearance and advocating for participant, if appropriate
• Provide advocacy and mentorship to support participants to address their needs, navigate systems, and progress successfully through pretrial supervision
• Engage participants who are at increased risk for poor pretrial supervision outcomes, complementing the work of case coordinators to promote participant engagement and trust with supervision
• Support the development of community provider networks conducting outreach to community providers and grassroot neighborhood groups to ensure participants have access to a range of services to address income support, clothing/food, education, vocational, employment, trauma, mental health, substance use, employment, healthcare, cultural, spiritual, care management, and housing needs
• Visit service provider facilities, assess the quality of services, and contribute to the list of referrals
• Facilitate meetings for participants to receive services and accompany participants to facilities, if appropriate and necessary
• Serve as an accountability partner for participants and bridge between participants and other staff members

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Vacation and Paid Time Off – starting at 25 days-off annually, plus an additional summer self-care day.
• 12 Paid Holidays per year.
• Retirement 403(b) Competitive matching up to 6%.
• Employee Referral Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED