Per Diem Youth Mentor REGIONS Staff Secure Program

Community Partners in Action • Hartford, CT

22h • 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 residential program serves up to eight youth and provides a home-like, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, gender-specific, linguistically appropriate, strengths-based, and relationship-driven environment. Its treatment approach aims to support youth’s social, physical, and emotional well-being, build coping skills and positive relationships, promote behavioral change, and help youth return to their communities better equipped to succeed.

The Youth Mentor provides direct supervision and care, assists youth with daily activities, supports therapeutic programming and treatment plans, and helps maintain facility safety and security. The role requires a commitment to at least 24 hours per month and availability for all shifts, including evenings and/or nights, weekends, and holidays. Mandatory overtime is likely. The position pays $20.00 per hour.

Selected candidates must attend and pass all phases of approximately seven weeks of pre-service training, followed by shadowing at the facility. Training covers skills including suicide prevention, CPR, First Aid, Safe Crisis Management, and approved restraint techniques. The role involves 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 in lieu 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.
• Belief that people can change and that individuals in need deserve quality services and an opportunity to succeed.
• 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.
• Ability and willingness to work all shifts, including evening and/or night shifts, weekends, and holidays, and to work additional hours and/or overtime as needed.
• Must attend and pass all phases of approximately seven weeks of pre-service training and subsequent facility shadowing.

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 consistent with policies and procedures.
• Use approved verbal or physical intervention skills as necessary, including de-escalation and restraint when needed to prevent harm to self or others; do not restrain to prevent AWOL or minor property destruction.
• Use program behavior-motivation procedures as needed.
• Use DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) 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 as required.
• 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 complete internal and external facility security and safety checks.
• Complete all pre-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 the 401(k) plan after 60 days of employment, depending on hours worked in the plan year.
• Sick leave earned based on hours worked.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program.
• Supportive workplace environment focused on employee health, wellness, and meaningful work.
• The agency describes comprehensive benefits and generous paid time off; benefit eligibility varies by work schedule.

What This Job Offers

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