Youth Mentor-REGIONS Site Secure Residential Treatment Program, Phase II

Community Partners in Action•Hamden, CT

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Community Partners in Action (CPA), founded nearly 150 years ago, is dedicated to criminal justice reform and preserving the dignity of individuals. CPA serves over 4,000 individuals annually through programs focused on reentry and housing, youth initiatives, a Prison Arts Program, and alternatives to incarceration. The organization is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable workplace and addressing racial inequities within the criminal justice system. The REGIONS Site Secure Program is a secure residential treatment program for up to 16 male youth. Its mission is to provide a home-like, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, gender-specific, linguistically appropriate, strengths-based, and relationship-driven environment to improve the youth's social, physical, and emotional well-being. The program aims to therapeutically intervene in the cycle of offending, reduce risk factors, and prevent transitions into the adult justice system. The treatment philosophy is individualized, focusing on developing positive self-image, effective coping skills, confidence, positive relationships, and behavioral changes. The high-risk youth in this program may have a history of violence, be at significant risk for future violence, pose a risk to public safety, and exhibit chronic patterns of violent offenses. They may present with complex needs and a history of poor treatment engagement. Their risk of AWOL is high, with a low amenability to treatment, and elopement could lead to violent or public safety offenses.

Requirements

Associate’s degree or higher with experience working with at risk or court-involved adolescents and in residential treatment programs.
Understanding and knowledge of gender-specific, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate issues and needs.
Strong interpersonal, communication, emotional intelligence, decision making and crisis management skills.
Ability to interact effectively with a multi-cultural population.
Must share the belief that people can change and individuals in need deserve quality services and an opportunity to succeed.
Must be willing to work in a hardware secure environment.
Must have and maintain a valid CT driver’s license and have reliable transportation.
Must be able to transport clients to appointments and into the community in mechanical restraints.
Must have the capacity to become medication and SCM (Safe Crisis Management) certified.
Must be able to work additional hours and/or overtime as needed.
Selected candidates will be required to complete and pass a mandatory 120-hour training curriculum within their first year of employment.
Thereafter, employees must complete a minimum of 40 hours of training annually.
Required trainings will include, but are not limited to: Ethics and Boundaries, Suicide Prevention, First Aid / CPR / AED, Safe Crisis Management, PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act), DCF Mandated Reporting, Additional trainings relevant to assigned job functions.
The training program includes Safe Crisis Management, which involves both verbal de-escalation techniques and physical restraint methods used to maintain the safety of both youth and staff during crisis situations.
Work Environment Note: Candidates should be aware that the position may involve exposure to assaultive or abusive behavior from youth, and there is a potential risk of injury. Exposure to communicable diseases is also possible due to the nature of the work.

Nice To Haves

A Bachelor’s degree in the criminal justice field with a related internship may be considered in lieu of work experience.
Bi-lingual ability (Spanish/English) preferred.
Candidates with lived experience are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Provide direct supervision and care and assist youth with daily activities including school and groups.
Maintain a safe, secure, strengths-based, gender responsive, trauma informed, linguistically appropriate and culturally sensitive environment.
Maintain accountability for the location of youth at all times; have knowledge of and implement all agency/program policies and procedures governing facility operations.
Mediate and resolve youth problems. Handle all situations in a manner consistent with relational and strengths-based practices, and in accordance with policies and procedures.
As necessary, utilize approved verbal and/or physical de-escalation techniques to eliminate youth’s harm to self, harm to others, significant property/program destruction and escape, maintaining communication with necessary parties.
Utilize program behavior motivational procedures as needed.
Use DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) Coaching with the youth and conduct groups to eliminate negative behaviors.
Monitor youth visiting, maintaining professional boundaries with youth and their families/visitors.
Maintain and complete accurate logs and forms as required.
Facilitate therapeutic programming under the supervision of the Rehabilitation Therapist.
Reinforce the youth’s individual treatment plan and assist with discharge planning as part of the REGIONS treatment team.
Conduct both formal and informal counts, and complete internal and external facility security and safety checks.
Complete all pre-post assignments.
Knowledge of universal precautions and related issues including risk of communicable diseases.
Serve as role model to youth and staff modeling pro-social behaviors.
Promote a culture of respect, empathy, mutual support, belonging and work to eliminate any unconscious bias or discrimination in our beliefs, rules and systems.
Establish and maintain professional boundaries with all staff, youth and providers.
Participate in all required training.
Conduct “Pat Downs” of Youth and Visitors to maintain security.
Become proficient with the use of mechanical restraints and apply when necessary (e.g., during youth transport).
Perform all other duties as required.