Outreach Worker - BRAG North

Good Shepherd Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Good Shepherd Services in New York, NY is seeking an Outreach Worker Supervisor to manage a high-risk caseload and provide trauma-informed advocacy. The role involves engaging youth and families, coordinating with community programs, and maintaining strong links with the Cure Violence Bronx team.

The position requires flexibility to work evenings and weekends, along with a willingness to travel and participate in training.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Bronx 47th Precinct neighborhoods.
• Residence within the area strongly preferred.
• Experience and direct knowledge of at-risk youth and gang involvement.
• Able to communicate effectively with gang members and high-risk individuals and gain trust.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer literate and able to enter notes into databases via handheld devices and office computers.
• Ability to work a highly flexible schedule including late evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Ability to pass drug screening.
• Criminal justice history preferred but may not be under current supervision.
• Committed to working toward positive community change.
• Commitment to a trauma-informed youth and family development perspective.
• Valid NYS driver’s license strongly preferred.
• Ability to use public transportation.
• Travel intensively, stand and walk for long periods, lift 25 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an active caseload of 10–15 participants at all times.
• Perform Admission Criteria Screenings for approval.
• Conduct monthly contact with participants (3 visits near home; 3 in-person meetings; 8 substantive phone conversations).
• Develop Risk Reduction Plans and track progress.
• Linkage and support for participants to access community programs and referrals.
• Lead advocacy for participants and build networks with outreach workers.
• Be present on the streets to develop trust and intervene in conflicts when necessary.
• Attend community events to mobilize violence reduction efforts.
• Maintain daily log of contacts and document resolved conflicts in the database.

Skills

Communication

Trauma-informed approach

Mediation

Flexibility

Bilingual Spanish-English

Tools

Handheld devices

Databases entry

Job description

Major Duties

• Maintain an active caseload of a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 15 participants at all times.
• Perform Admission Criteria Screenings for approval.
• Conduct frequent contact with participants on a monthly basis as follows:
• Three (3) visits in or near home.
• Three (3) additional face-to-face meetings.
• Eight (8) substantive phone conversations.
• Develop Risk Reduction Plans and track progress for update.
• Serve as linkages and support for participants to enhance their use of opportunities and provider programs in the community (i.e., job training/placement, GED/TASC, Therapy, Drug Treatment, Mentoring, etc.) and case manage their referrals.
• Lead advocacy for participants when necessary.
• Build network with other outreach program workers.
• Form relationships with the highest risk persons in the community, as well as the people who know them.
• Be present on the streets with such individuals to develop relationships of trust and safety, from which to be able to intervene in the moment if necessary and to learn about emerging conflicts.
• Acquire information on potential conflicts in the area, attending or convening gang mediation meetings and working with perpetrators and gang leaders to resolve conflicts that arise between gangs or individuals.
• Meet with high-risk individuals on a daily basis to discuss problems that arise.
• Provide age-appropriate engagement and interaction with youth and young adults encountered and adhere to all agency guidelines and ethics regarding treatment of participants.
• Help prevent retaliatory shootings by meeting with a shooting’s victim and the victim’s family in the hospital, or elsewhere, to calm the situation, providing mediation and assistance, including referral to any relevant support and mediation resources, and remain in contact.
• Mobilize the community around violence reduction by distributing public education materials, developing relationships with key community leaders, and attending community responses to shootings.
• Keep a daily log of contacts with high-risk individuals and document conflicts resolved information.
• Enter all such information timely into the prescribed database on handheld devices or office computers.
• Be in contact with Outreach Worker Supervisor and/or Director at all times to be accountable for effective use of time and to receive guidance and direction.
• Provide 24 hour on call availability as directed by Director/Outreach Worker Supervisor.
• Attend all staff meetings timely, and attend other internal and external meetings as directed.
• Participate in training programs prescribed by DOHMH and by GSS supervisors, including conflict mediation, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed practice, and other tools for effective work.
• Lean and use trauma-informed practice (TIP), which may include tools from the Sanctuary Model of TIP.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• An in-depth knowledge of the Bronx 47th Precinct neighborhoods.
• Residence within the area strongly preferred.
• Experience and direct knowledge of at-risk youth and gang involvement.
• Ideal candidate is someone very close to the streets with the ability to communicate effectively with gang members and other high-risk individuals, and able to gain trust of the highest risk individuals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer literate and able to enter notes and activities into databases via handheld devices and office computers.
• Ability to work a highly flexible schedule that includes late evenings, weekends and holidays
• Ability to pass drug screening.
• Criminal justice history preferred but may not be under current criminal justice supervision.
• Committed to working toward positive community change.
• Commitment to work from a strength based, trauma informed youth and family development perspective.
• Valid, clean NYS driver’s license strongly preferred.
• Ability to use public transportation.
• Ability to travel intensively, stand and walk for long periods, able to lift 25 lbs, bend and lift and be otherwise physically active.
• Bilingual Spanish-English a plus.

Reports to: OUTREACH WORKER SUPERVISOR, Cure Violence Bronx

Hours: 35 hours/week, Non-Exempt

General Requirements: All staff are expected to be committed to the mission, vision, and values of Good Shepherd Services, which includes involvement in quality improvement activities and a willingness and ability to work within a culturally diverse environment.

Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.