Per Diem Youth Mentor REGIONS Staff Secure Program

Community Partners in Action • Hartford, CT

7d • $20 - $20 • Onsite

About The Position

Community Partners in Action is hiring a per diem Youth Mentor for its REGIONS Staff Secure Residential Treatment Program for Male Youth in Hartford, Connecticut. The program provides residential treatment for up to eight male youth in a home-like, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, gender-specific, linguistically appropriate, strengths-based, and relationship-driven environment. Its treatment approach is individualized and aims to improve youth social, physical, and emotional well-being; develop coping skills, confidence, positive relationships, and behavioral change; and support successful return to the community.

The Youth Mentor provides direct supervision and care, supports daily activities, helps maintain a safe environment, and contributes to therapeutic programming and treatment plans. The position requires a commitment to at least 24 hours per month, availability for all shifts, weekends, and holidays, and willingness to work additional hours and likely mandatory overtime. Selected candidates must pass approximately seven weeks of pre-service training and then complete facility shadowing. Training includes suicide prevention, CPR, First Aid, Safe Crisis Management, and approved restraint techniques. The role carries possible risk of injury from assaultive or abusive youth and possible exposure to communicable diseases.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED or higher.
• Experience working with at-risk or court-involved adolescents and in residential treatment programs; an associate or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a related internship may be considered instead of work experience.
• 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 multicultural population.
• Share the belief that people can change and that individuals in need deserve quality services and an opportunity to succeed.
• Maintain a valid Connecticut driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Ability to transport clients to appointments and into the community.
• Capacity to become medication and Safe Crisis Management certified.
• Commit to working a minimum of 24 hours per month and be able and willing to work all shifts, including evenings and/or nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Willingness to work additional hours and/or overtime as needed; mandatory overtime is likely.
• Attend and pass all phases of approximately seven weeks of pre-service training and complete facility shadowing.
• Ability to perform duties that may involve risk of injury from assaultive or abusive youth and possible exposure to communicable diseases.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual Spanish/English ability is preferred.
• Individuals 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, strengths-based, gender-responsive, trauma-informed, linguistically appropriate, and culturally sensitive environment.
• Maintain accountability for youth locations and follow agency and program policies and procedures governing facility operations.
• Mediate and resolve youth problems using relational and strengths-based practices and, as needed, approved verbal or physical intervention skills.
• De-escalate situations and use restraint techniques when needed if a youth exhibits risk of harm to self or others; do not restrain to prevent AWOL or minor property destruction.
• Use program behavior-motivation procedures as needed.
• Use Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) coaching with youth and conduct groups to eliminate negative behaviors.
• Monitor youth visits and maintain professional boundaries with youth and their families or visitors.
• Maintain and complete accurate logs and forms.
• Facilitate therapeutic programming under the supervision of the Rehabilitation Therapist.
• Reinforce each youth’s individual treatment plan and assist with discharge planning as part of the REGIONS treatment team.
• Conduct formal and informal counts and internal and external facility security and safety checks.
• Complete all pre- and post-assignments.
• Apply knowledge of universal precautions and related communicable-disease issues.
• Model pro-social behaviors for youth and staff.
• Establish and maintain professional boundaries with staff, youth, and providers.
• Participate in all required training.
• Conduct pat-downs of youth and visitors to maintain security.
• Perform other duties as required.

Benefits

• May be eligible to participate in a 401(k) plan after 60 days of employment, depending on hours worked in the plan year.
• Sick leave accrued based on hours worked.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program.
• Supportive workplace environment focused on employee health, wellness, and meaningful work.
• Comprehensive benefits and generous paid time off; eligibility varies by work schedule.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED