Youth Worker-Young Mothers Program

Roca, Inc • Hartford, CT

8d

About The Position

Roca’s work is based on the theory that young people, when re-engaged through positive and intensive relationships, can change their behaviors and develop life, education, and employment skills to disrupt the cycles of poverty and incarceration.  Roca’s Intervention Model engages the highest-risk 16-24 year olds in a long-term process of behavior change and skill building opportunities. Understanding that meaningful change doesn’t happen overnight, we deliver an Intervention Model that is four years long and allows for relapse during the process. We know that lasting change requires a safe space to grow and to flex newly acquired decision-making skills. If a young person is seeking change or can make it through our model without relapsing, then they are not a candidate for Roca and can likely be served by a less intense program.

The Youth Worker will report to the Director of Roca Hartford and have the primary responsibility of engaging 20-25 very high-risk young mothers through relationships and programming as well as working with community partners (DCF, Probation, and other community-based providers) within the City of Hartford. The successful Youth worker will work closely with team members, supervisors, and others within the organization to ensure that each young person is driving to outcomes of economic independence and living out of harm’s way. We strive to meet short and intermediate term outcomes for Young Mothers including but not limited to: Increased Gains in Emotional Regulation, Increased Utilization of Early Childhood Services, Reduced Negative Systems Involvement, and in the long term: No Re-Incarcerations and Retained Employment.

Requirements

• BA preferred/Equivalent experience accepted--Minimum of three years of direct service work with high risk young people, preferably teen mothers.
• Understanding and experience working with street involved high risk young people.
• Capacity for creative problem-solving, conflict resolution, violence prevention 
• Strong written and oral communication skills. 
• Capacity to think and act intentionally and strategically to help young people change behaviors.
• Creative problem solving and thinking.
• Excellent at organizing, managing and completing multiple complex projects and tasks simultaneously with thoroughness, accuracy, timeliness and good humor.
• Self-motivation, initiative, sound judgment, and commitment to ongoing learning are essential.
• Ability to work as a part of a team.
• Ability to travel around the service area
• Computer Literacy
• Valid state issued driver’s license 
• Criminal background and current driving record check
• Willingness and ability to work outside of normal business hours, and Holidays and/or weekends as needed.
• Ability to work with diverse cultures
• Strong attendance and high energy

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a caseload of young people and build transformation relationships in alignment with Roca’s intervention model.
• Demonstrate the ability to provide additional types of educational/vocational/life skills programming, including but not limited to educational supports, financial literacy, workforce readiness, parenting and child development, healthy habits, driver’s education, and/or help with job placement.
• Strategically plan workweek schedules— including outreach lists for contact, programming needs, identifying if YP needs additional assistance and CBT coaching and constructive use of Track Books.
• Facilitate, apply, practice, and demonstrate Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT) using Roca’s Intervention Model. Consistently exercise and application of Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT).
• Assist and role model in the process of obtaining and sustaining employment through job search and overall workforce professionalism.
• Engage with other aspects of work, such as but not limited to, family and criminal court engagement, work behind the wall/in residential programs, peacemaking circles, work with the community, productive and professional participation in meetings, etc. 
• Ensure accurate and timely entry of case notes into ETO (Efforts to Outcome system) daily. Analyze and interpret ETO data as it relates to young people and understanding how data relates to a young person’s progress. Adapt outreach efforts in accordance of data collected in ETO.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level