Community Engagement Specialist

Job Title: Community Engagement Specialist

Job Summary:

CASES Supervised Release Program (SRP) annually diverts 2500 people otherwise facing pretrial detention at Rikers Island to community-based supervision and support services. Program participants include youth and young adults people with substance use disorders and mental illnesses and individuals who are homeless. About 88% of SRP participants identify as Black and Latinx. The program serves individuals of all gender identities and sexual orientations. While many SRP participants experience significant behavioral health and other service needs they have not been found guilty of a crime and have limited obligation to engage in program services.

This context requires SRP community staff to expertly deliver culturally competent and trauma-informed approaches to help participants tap into their intrinsic motivation as they recognize and leverage their strengths and skills typically including remarkable resilience. Community staffincluding through mobile outreach in participants community settingshelp participants fulfill Supervised Release Program court-mandated supervision. SRP community staff seek to leverage the pretrial supervision periodtypically lasting about 5-6 monthsto help participants identify their goals and access services to support meaningful life improvements while fulfilling all court requirements and avoiding detention and incarceration.

Salary: The salary for the Community Engagement Specialist position is $47380 (Uncertified) - $53560 (Certified) per year.

Shift Hours: This position isfull-time Monday - Friday from 9AM to 5PM.

Location Address: 25 Chapel Street 11th Floor Brooklyn NY 11201.

Workplace Flexibility:On-site

What you will be doing:

• Build authentic long-term mentorship relationships with pretrial participants to support individuals to develop and commit to their own individual plans for change and growth
• Engage with participants using cultural sensitivity skills and establish mutuality through connectivity in order to motivate participants
• Serve as a broker to connect participants to pro-social activities positive peer groups as well as formal and informal community supports
• Facilitate peer support networks for youth participants to support these participants to maintain their commitment to positive behavior change and their identified goals
• Accompany participants to court dates waiting with participant for court appearance and advocating for participant if appropriate
• Provide advocacy and mentorship to support participants to address their needs navigate systems and progress successfully through pretrial supervision
• Engage participants who are at increased risk for poor pretrial supervision outcomes complementing the work of case coordinators to promote participant engagement and trust with supervision
• Support the development of community provider networks conducting outreach to community providers and grassroot neighborhood groups to ensure participants have access to a range of services to address income support clothing/food education vocational employment trauma mental health substance use employment healthcare cultural spiritual care management and housing needs
• Visit service provider facilities assess the quality of services and contribute to the list of referrals
• Facilitate meetings for participants to receive services and accompany participants to facilities if appropriate and necessary
• Serve as an accountability partner for participants and bridge between participants and other staff members

What we are looking for:

• High school diploma or HSE
• Lived Experience working in systems and communities impacted by social support systems is
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Respect for confidentiality
• Strong interpersonal skills
• 
  
• Highly proficient in word processing and spreadsheet applications (MS Word Excel) experience with PowerPoint
• Must be a self-starter and able to work independently

Additional skills we are looking for preferred but are not essential skills:

• Conflict management and de-escalation skills preferred
• Credible Messenger training preferred

Employee Benefits:

CASES cares about employee wellbeing and we offer a comprehensive benefits package to support you and your family including:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Vacation and Paid Time Off starting at 25 days-off annually plus an additional summer self-care day.
• 12 Paid Holidays per year.
• Retirement 403(b) Competitive matching up to 6%.
• Employee Referral Program Visit to learn more about benefits offered by the CASES.

Our Values

At CASES we like to move with PURPOSE which reflects our values:

PEOPLEHold peoples stories with dignity

UNITY Commit to a shared mission

RESPECT Celebrate the strength of diversity

PROGRESS Always work to improve

OPTIMIZE Make the best use of resources

SOLUTIONS Work together to solve problems

EMPATHYSeek to understand others

Although we would love to learn about the skills of every candidate only selected candidates that are selected will receive a response. We encourage you to apply for any position(s) you feel you are qualified for.

CASES is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with CASES is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position without regard to race color ethnic or national origin age religion creed gender sexual orientation disability or marital military or citizenship status. We also actively recruit individuals with prior involvement in the criminal legal system.