Youth Advocate

Youth Justice Network; New York (NY); On-site; USD 48,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative organization dedicated to transforming the lives of young people impacted by the justice system is seeking passionate Youth Advocates. In this vital role, you will provide mentorship, case management, and support to youth transitioning from custody back into their communities. Your work will involve building strong relationships with young individuals, their families, and local organizations to create a robust support network. This position offers an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of young people while working in a collaborative and caring environment that values integrity and personal growth. Join a team that believes in the potential of every youth and is committed to fostering positive change.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with experience working with youth populations.
• Two years of experience in community settings providing crisis support.

Responsibilities

• Serve as mentor and case manager for justice-impacted youth.
• Collaborate with community organizations to support youth reintegration.

Skills

Youth Mentoring

Case Management

Crisis Support

Interpersonal Skills

Documentation Skills

Communication Skills

Cultural Competence

Team Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Online Database Systems

Job description

Youth Justice Network (formerly known as Friends of Island Academy) was founded in 1990 on the school floors of Rikers Island to anchor, support and develop capacity among young people newly released from jail in New York City. Our mission is to break cycles of incarceration and build an equitable justice system by providing young people with individualized advocacy, mentorship, and opportunities to grow, thrive, and lead. Youth Justice Network builds on connections developed with young people whose lives have intersected with the justice system, and leverages those relationships to provide post-release, neighborhood-based supportive services. Young people become members of Youth Justice Network for the long-term and develop personal milestones and goals in the arenas of health and well-being, education, employment, youth leadership and community participation.

Position Background

As part of Youth Justice Network’s advocacy team, Youth Advocates are at the core of implementing an innovative system of pre-release planning and neighborhood-based aftercare and support for the youngest people admitted to and released from DOC and ACS custody in New York City. Youth Advocates serve as mentor, case manager, navigator, facilitator and coach to individual youth with whom they first connect upon admission to facilities. The primary work of the Youth Advocate takes place in the New York City neighborhoods to which these youth return.

Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week)

Reports to: Director of Advocacy and Support Services, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island

Location: Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island

Objectives of this Role

1. Work closely with the Shifting Gears team weekly to conduct outreach across Staten Island and connect justice-impacted youth to YJN services using our advocacy model as the foundation.
2. Reach out to the youth's significant other/family and other potential support systems available to the youth; to develop a healthy rapport and create a support system for the young adult.
3. Build relationships via teleconferencing with young people who are in custody and anticipate release to the Staten Island community.
4. Continuously engage with the youth and sustain regular communication as they navigate challenges within the system, including Rikers Island, the criminal justice system, and post-release supports in the community.
5. Gather relevant information to create an individualized plan that includes reaching out to community organizations that will serve the young people while in the community or upon release.
6. Collaborate with local community-based organizations, faith-based services, local precincts, and human resource agencies to establish a network of support and resources for the youth.
7. Gauge young person’s readiness to make positive changes/improvements in their life.
8. Collaborate with the in-house court advocacy team to identify young people who need additional support at court, and assist young people with following through on this plan.
9. Facilitate and support youth enrollment, engagement, and academic advancement.
10. Provide one-on-one and group mentoring in the Staten Island community or from the Brooklyn YJN hub to build relationships and support young people toward achieving positive youth outcomes.
11. Connect youth to post-release neighborhood-based services, both in-house and through partner organizations, to support individual progress in overall youth development and to leverage natural supports and services in the neighborhood on behalf of youth members.
12. Daily documentation of outreach, follow-up, individualized youth plans, and youth progress in the online database system.

Requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree required and relevant experience working with youth population.
2. Two years of experience with youth and young adults who are systems involved (i.e. juvenile justice, child welfare, etc.).
3. Two years of experience working in a community-based setting providing crisis support and/or case management.
4. Integrity, flexibility and a profound commitment to the youth we serve.
5. Committed to working collegially and in a team-based setting.
6. Experience/training in youth development.
7. Strong interpersonal skills, cultural competence, and an understanding and belief in strengths-based youth development philosophy.
8. Strong oral and written communication skills.
9. Skilled in meticulous documentation and an eye for detail; proficient in Microsoft Excel.
10. Experience in data entry on online database systems or a willingness to learn online database systems.
11. Individuals with prior criminal justice involvement are encouraged to apply but must be able to gain clearance on Rikers Island (no contact with the criminal justice system for two years, including parole or probation).
12. Physical ability to travel extensively throughout the five boroughs and Rikers via walking and public transportation.
13. Occasional evenings and weekends required for youth development activities/events.

Preferred

1. Experience in education, conflict resolution, and/or counseling.
2. Experience with or understanding of trauma-informed practices.
3. Bilingual; Spanish.
4. Experience working with DOCCs, DOC, and ACS systems and facilities.
5. Experience in program start-up and/or working in a secure/custodial setting is strongly preferred.

Youth Justice Network is privileged to have a profoundly committed and caring staff - one that believes unconditionally in our youth members' ability to do right and do well. We take our work very seriously, but we strive to make time for joy and self-care. We look for staff from all walks of life who have integrity, humor, and a strong work ethic, and who are passionate about young people and committed to addressing the harms caused by incarceration.

Start Date: As soon as possible

Annual Salary Range: $48,000 - $50,000

For internal equity, we are unable to go outside of the salary posted.

Please send a resume and cover letter to [e-mail] and [e-mail] (Tahirah Wornum, Finance and Administration Coordinator).

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to: