Violence Intervention Specialist

Community for New Direction; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Community for New Direction seeks an Intervention Specialist to serve as a liaison among youth, parents, and teachers, delivering strategies for violence intervention and crisis response for high-risk youth aged 14-23 in Columbus, Ohio. The role focuses on de-escalation, conflict resolution, and connecting youth with community services.

You will mentor youth, coordinate group activities, and document progress while participating in professional development to enhance practice and outcomes for

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience in social services.
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.
• Understanding violence intervention and gang awareness.
• 3–5 years full-time counseling or social services experience with youth and gang remediation.

Responsibilities

• Respond to neighborhood, gang, youth, and family conflicts using Neighborhood Violence Intervention process.
• Mentor and guide youth individually and in groups using behavior management.
• Address conflicts with crisis intervention methods including de-escalation.
• Facilitate youth learning of pro-social, academic, and vocational skills.
• Provide gang remediation activities and anti-bullying and violence reduction interventions.
• Recruit, transport, and mentor a minimum of 50 youth ages 14–23.
• Link clients to services to meet needs and facilitate substance abuse prevention.
• Participate as community liaison as assigned by Intervention Case Manager.
• Maintain daily/weekly/monthly records and document progress.
• Attend staff meetings, trainings, and professional development.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Critical thinking

Organizational skills

Crisis intervention

Youth outreach

Bilingual English/Spanish

Confidential documentation

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social/behavioral sciences

High school diploma with 3 years social services experience

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY:

Intervention Specialist will work as a liaison between youth, parents, and teachers providing high-risk youth with strategies for violence intervention and crisis response actions that include responding to specific gang-related confrontation, mediating, and diffusing hostile tensions, and promoting conflict resolution and peace by building activities in the community and surrounding neighborhoods. These individuals will work with primarily youth and young adults aged 14-23.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Community Intervention Workers will respond to neighborhood, gang, youth, and family conflicts within assigned areas using the Neighborhood Violence Intervention process.
2. Mentor and guide youth individually and in groups while using a behavior management system to shape youth behavior.
3. Address conflicts with crisis intervention methods such as verbal de-escalation, reframing strategies, and physical de-escalation techniques, using the least amount of physical intervention necessary.
4. Facilitate youth learning of pro-social, academic, and vocational skills
5. Work with youth to provide gang remediation activities and anti-bullying and violence reduction interventions.
6. Facilitate youth group meetings in the residential unit and elsewhere.
7. Will be responsible for recruitment, transportation and mentoring to a minimum of 50 youth and young adults ages 14 to 23.
8. Link the client to existing services to meet his/her needs within the community to facilitate substance abuse prevention services as needed.
9. Participate as a community liaison as assigned by the Intervention Case Manager.
10. Observe youth and maintain appropriate daily, weekly, and monthly record keeping and document progress every six months.
11. Work with youth to provide gang remediation activities and anti-bullying and violence reduction interventions.
12. Participate in staff meetings, committees, attend professional development conferences, trainings, webinars/seminars as needed to enhance your knowledge, broaden your horizon, and obtain continued education.
13. Performs other duties as assigned to promote the overall mission and vision of CND.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Education: A bachelor’s degree in the social/behavioral sciences or related field is preferred, or a high school diploma or equivalent with three years of professional experience in the social service field. Bilingual English/Spanish a plus. Must possess a basic understanding of violence intervention and gang awareness and its related problems.

Any combination of training, education, and experience equivalent to considerable (3 - 5 years) full-time employment in progressively responsible counseling or social services, particularly involving youth and gang remediation activity.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

The goal of the intervention is to off-ramp people at the early stages of extremist behavior who are identified and referred by law enforcement. Our model is informed by best practices from psychology, and will utilize a strength-based, systemic, home-and-field-based approach that will produce long-term, sustainable results.

1. High level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations and documentation.
2. Ability to analyze, think critically, and solve problems.
3. Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
4. Experience and/or cultural competency with violent extremist ideology and gang affiliation experience.
5. Demonstrated commitment to youth/family/community violence prevention and intervention, preferably as a street outreach worker or similar position.
6. Commitment to learning, creating positive change, and enabling others to learn.
7. Ability to review and understand basic crime data and trends.
8. Strong verbal communication skills
9. Ability to work with diverse population.Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.

Computer Skills

Proficient in use of personal computer and related software (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint) use of office equipment (e.g., fax, copier, printer).

Other Requirements

Must possess a valid Ohio driver's license; must pass a criminal background check and a pre-employment drug screen.