Violence Prevention Advocate - temporary (part-time)

City of Roanoke; Roanoke (VA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

The City of Roanoke is seeking Violence Prevention Advocates to collaborate on activities and programs for at-risk youth and young adults ages 14–34. This part-time, grant-funded role supports community norm and behavior change and requires travel across the city during evenings and weekends to reach high-risk neighborhoods.

Responsibilities include managing a caseload, mediating conflicts, canvassing, responding to shootings, linking participants to services, and documenting all activities with

Qualifications

• GED or higher required or equivalent experience.
• Associate’s degree preferred.
• At least two years’ experience with at-risk youth or gang members.
• Must have valid Virginia driver’s license and good driving record.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of at-risk individuals and provide frequent contact, support, and mentorship.
• Mediating conflicts and preventing retaliation between individuals/groups.
• Canvassing, responding to shootings, and community outreach/ mobilization.
• Document all activities timely using designated tracking software.

Skills

Caseload management

Conflict mediation

Community outreach

Travel required

Education

GED or higher

Associate’s degree preferred

Tools

Tracking software

Job description

The City of Roanoke is seeking Violence Prevention Advocates. The Violence Prevention Advocate will assist in the coordination of activities and programs for at-risk youth and young adults. The Violence Prevention Advocates are a key ingredient to the success of the initiative and are instrumental to supporting both community norm change and positive behavior change among high-risk individuals ages 14 - 34. Major responsibilities include creating and maintaining close contact with a caseload of individuals at high risk for violence, mediating conflicts, canvassing, responding to shootings, community outreach and mobilization, identifying resources and linking participants to support, and accurately documenting all activities in a timely manner. Individuals must be comfortable with traveling and working at the community level throughout the city during peak hours when conflicts and shootings are likely. This might involve working at the community level late evenings as well as over the weekends. This initiative strives to connect with individuals when the risk for gun violence is elevated.

High school diploma or general education degree (GED) and a minimum of 2 years of professional experience working with adolescents, or an equivalent combination of training and related experience may substitute for the professional experience. Associate’s degree preferred. At least one-year experience working with at-risk youth and gang members and experience or training in crisis intervention. Must have valid VA driver’s license, insurance, and a good driving record. Work up to 20-hours per week.

The Violence Prevention Advocate is a part-time hourly position reporting directly to the Youth and Gang Manager and provides no direct supervision to other staff. This position is a Grant Funded position and works no more than twenty (20) hours per week.

The City of Roanoke is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA/M/F/Disability Employer

To elevate the performance of the organization, we are committed to respecting, celebrating, and embracing the collective mixture of differences and similarities between our employees as a rich tapestry. Our behaviors will demonstrate open communication, and we will seek opportunities to learn, recognizing and rewarding actions that promote acceptance while suspending judgment. By doing this, we will foster an inclusive, open work environment that delivers excellent service and creates a more vibrant and inviting community.

• Work individually and as a team to prevent shootings in the target neighborhoods.
• Identify and create a caseload of high-risk individuals, providing frequent contact, support, and mentorship and link them to opportunities and assistance programs in the community.

• When necessary, refer participants and/ or high-risk individuals to a range of services in a timely manner, follow up on progress and outcome, and collaborate with City of Roanoke staff and partners as needed.
• Identify and diffuse “hot spots” for violence and prioritize individuals with the highest need for intervention, working closely with other City of Roanoke staff and partners to refer to other team members and resources when needed.
• Distribute and track public education materials in the target areas.
• Work to intervene in circumstances in which violence is likely.
• Assist in mediating situations and preventing retaliation between individuals and groups.
• Attend vigils for shooting victims in the assigned area to support victims and community members and increase program visibility.
• Attend community meetings and events as needed.
• Timely documentation of all activities and prevented violence using designated tracking software to maintain accountability, support data reporting requirements, and facilitate presentations and publications.
• Provide accurate and detailed updates of the week's activities.
• Other duties as assigned

High school diploma or general education degree (GED) and a minimum of 2 years of professional experience working with adolescents, or an equivalent combination of training and related experience may substitute for the professional experience. Associate’s degree preferred. At least one-year experience working with at-risk youth and gang members and experience or training in crisis intervention. Must have valid VA driver’s license, insurance, and a good driving record.

• - Must possess a valid State of Virginia driver’s license.
• Must be able to possess and maintain acceptably clear background checks through Child Protective Services, FBI, and State NCIC and drug screening.
• Must maintain a minimum of liability insurance on personal vehicle, as required by the State of Virginia.
• Must be able to drive for long periods.
• Must be able to work beyond normal work schedule - including nights, weekends, and holidays.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This is a job description and not an individualized position description. A job description defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but it is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.