Credible Messenger

TIDES FAMILY SERVICES INC; Pawtucket (RI); On-site; USD 40,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

Tides Family Services is seeking a Credible Messenger to mentor justice-involved youth using lived experience to guide decisions and link them to resources. The role emphasizes building trust, providing support, and promoting positive life choices in community-based settings.

Responsibilities include extensive weekly mentoring, collaboration with clinical staff, and engagement with guardians and systems to improve outcomes for youth at high risk.

Qualifications

• Lived experience with juvenile/criminal justice systems.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to non-violent conflict resolution and youth development.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and on-call as needed.

Responsibilities

• Establish caring, authentic relationships with youth.
• Provide mentoring for 10+ hours per week per youth.
• Use lived experience to offer guidance and resources.
• Promote non-violent conflict resolution techniques.
• Implement Transformative Mentoring to improve well-being.
• Assist in increasing educational and vocational opportunities.
• Foster restorative justice and community connections.
• Support trauma-informed care and youth navigation of challenges.
• Provide mentoring in community settings, schools, or placements.
• Collaborate with supervisors, case managers, and staff.
• Engage with DCYF, Family Court, and stakeholders.
• Support family participation and build natural supports.

Skills

Lived experience mentoring

Strong communication

Interpersonal skills

Flexibility - evenings/weekends

Cultural competence

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Description

Tides Family Services is a nonprofit organization that is committed to providing comprehensive support and resources to children, adolescents, and families facing various challenges. The overall mission of Tides is to provide services and supports that allow youth to live in a community-based setting. An "Agency Without Walls" our services are delivered in homes, communities, schools...wherever our youth are.

Position Summary

Tides Family Services (TFS) is hiring for a Credible Messenger, aiming to support justice-involved youth at the highest risk for incarceration, reincarceration, or death. Credible Messengers are mentors who have overcome their involvement in the juvenile or criminal justice systems. They use their lived experience to establish credibility with youth, offering guidance, support, and resources to help them make positive life choices, develop essential skills, and break the cycle of criminal behavior.

Essential Functions

• Establish and maintain caring, authentic relationships with youth.
• Provide intensive mentoring, dedicating ten or more hours per week per youth.
• Use lived experiences to offer guidance, support, and resources.
• Promote non-violent conflict resolution techniques and peaceful alternatives to violence.
• Implement Transformative Mentoring to improve social and emotional well-being.
• Assist in increasing youth’s educational and vocational opportunities.
• Foster restorative justice by creating positive connections between youth and their communities.
• Address trauma, build resilience, and promote positive self-identity.
• Focus on real-time skill development and help youth navigate challenges.
• Provide mentoring in community-based settings, the RI Training School, or other out-of-home placements.
• Provide flexible scheduling, allowing for day, evening, and weekend access including participation in an on-call rotation.
• Provide transportation when needed and assist with logistical needs to ensure youth can access services.
• Collaborate with clinical supervisors, case managers, and other TFS staff.
• Engage with DCYF, Family Court, and other key stakeholders to provide holistic support.
• Support family participation and help youth establish a network of natural support in the community.
• Participate in comprehensive training provided by TFS and collaborative partners.
• Additional duties as assigned in support of the Tides Family Services mission.

Requirements

• Lived experience with the juvenile or criminal justice systems and demonstrated sustained rehabilitation.
• High school diploma or GED preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to build caring, authentic relationships with youth.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to promoting non-violent conflict resolution and positive youth development.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and on-call as needed.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn various clinical philosophies, including Positive Youth Development, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Restorative Justice.
• Cultural competence and sensitivity to the diverse needs of the youth served.
• Bilingual or multilingual capabilities.
• Experience working with high-risk youth populations.
• Understanding of trauma-informed care and its application in service delivery.

Salary Range

$40,000-$43,000

Compensation will be determined based on the candidate’s experience, education, language capacity, skills, and other qualifications relevant to the role, in alignment with organizational parity guidelines and market conditions.

The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to satisfactorily perform essential duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Tides Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values our diverse workforce and encourages all mission driven candidates to apply. We are a PBN Best Place to Work recipient, a Safe Zone Certified Employer, and a Veteran Friendly Employer. Join our team!