Outreach Worker - BRAG North

Good Shepherd Services•Bronx, NY

About The Position

The Outreach Worker works with program staff, community residents, businesses, and community-based organizations to implement strategies to reduce and prevent shootings and killings in selected hot-spot areas within the Bronx 47th Precinct: Woodlawn, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, Baychester, Edenwald, Olinville, and Fishbay. The role assists the Program Director with regular mobilization and public education activities, staff supervision, and community outreach. It also builds partnerships between community and public-safety organizations to connect neighborhoods with existing City Hall initiatives. The position maintains and supports a caseload of high-risk participants through regular contact, risk-reduction planning, referrals, advocacy, and case management. The Outreach Worker builds trusted relationships in the community, identifies and mediates emerging conflicts, works to prevent retaliatory shootings, and mobilizes residents around violence reduction. The role requires timely documentation, ongoing communication with supervisors, participation in meetings and training, and use of trauma-informed practice. The position is based at 233rd/Boston Road in the Bronx, is 35 hours per week, and is non-exempt. The Outreach Worker reports to the Outreach Worker Supervisor, Cure Violence Bronx, and must provide 24-hour on-call availability as directed.

Requirements

In-depth knowledge of the Bronx 47th Precinct neighborhoods.
Experience and direct knowledge of at-risk youth and gang involvement.
Ability to communicate effectively with gang members and other high-risk individuals and gain their trust.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Computer literacy and ability to enter notes and activities into databases using handheld devices and office computers.
Ability to work a highly flexible schedule that includes late evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Ability to pass drug screening.
Must not be under current criminal justice supervision.
Commitment to positive community change and to working from a strength-based, trauma-informed youth and family development perspective.
Ability to use public transportation.
Ability to travel intensively, stand and walk for long periods, lift 25 pounds, bend, and otherwise be physically active.

Nice To Haves

Residence within the Bronx 47th Precinct area.
Criminal justice history.
Valid, clean New York State driver’s license.
Bilingual Spanish-English skills.

Responsibilities

Maintain an active caseload of 10 to 15 participants and perform admission-criteria screenings for approval.
Contact participants monthly through three visits in or near their homes, three additional face-to-face meetings, and eight substantive phone conversations.
Develop Risk Reduction Plans and track progress for updates.
Connect participants with community opportunities and provider programs, case-manage referrals, and advocate for participants when necessary.
Build a network with other outreach program workers and document detailed participant case notes.
Build trusted relationships with high-risk community members and the people who know them, and be present on the streets to intervene when needed and identify emerging conflicts.
Gather information about potential conflicts, attend or convene gang mediation meetings, and work with perpetrators and gang leaders to resolve conflicts.
Meet daily with high-risk individuals to discuss problems that arise.
Engage youth and young adults in an age-appropriate manner and follow agency guidelines and ethics for participant treatment.
Help prevent retaliatory shootings by meeting with shooting victims and their families, providing mediation and assistance, making relevant referrals, and maintaining contact.
Mobilize the community around violence reduction by distributing public education materials, building relationships with community leaders, and attending community responses to shootings.
Keep a daily log of contacts and resolved conflicts and enter information promptly into the prescribed database using handheld devices or office computers.
Remain in contact with the Outreach Worker Supervisor and/or Director for accountability and guidance.
Attend staff and other directed meetings, and participate in prescribed training, including conflict mediation, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed practice.
Learn and use trauma-informed practice, which may include tools from the Sanctuary Model.
Perform other duties as assigned.