Overview
Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity, and each year, Rising Ground is a positive force in the lives of more than 25,000 individuals. We do this through 50 programs in 70 locations throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity shows not just through our work with supported persons, but is integral to the building of a strong staff that reflects the communities we serve.
Aftercare specifically for youth leaving placement in a residential program, we work with youth and their families to ensure a successful reintegration into the home, the family, and the community. We work with youth and their families to move beyond past behaviors, family dynamics, and social influences that led to their court involvement and create a new narrative moving forward. In our Aftercare supports, we use the evidence-based Family Functional Therapy model, supported by 30 years of clinical research to help youth with substance abuse challenges and delinquent and antisocial behaviors by engaging the family.
Aftercare Mentors will serve as “credible messengers” to provide direct support for youth who are discharged from non-secure placement programs. Mentors will receive training in motivational interviewing and mentoring youth to help them address areas such as goal setting, life skills, social and emotional development, personal and family relationships, and other aspects of participants' lives. Mentors will speak with assigned youth at least once per week while the youth is on aftercare, and they will arrange for the youth to do monthly community service. Mentors will report to the Lead Mentor, and they will provide biweekly reports on the youths’ progress to the assigned Aftercare Specialist.
Responsibilities
* Meet/speak individually with up to 8 designated mentees at least once a week, with 1 weekend a month available for activities with mentees that have not been met with (based on youth’s YLS need level).
* Be available to work a flexible schedule based on mentee need in the home or facility.
* Be available to provide emotional support, guidance, and advice to mentees 24/7 via phone (on-call) for crisis intervention.
* Participate in Elevated Risk Conferences, Community Conferences, court appearances and meetings for mentees as needed.
* Document all contacts with mentees via the “Aftercare Mentor Activity Log” sheet and enter into CONNECTIONS (CNNX) within 5 days of contact.
* Conduct weekly visits to Non-Secure Placement (NSP) and Limited-Secure Placement (LSP) to pre-engage youth prior to release.
* Participate in weekly (individual and group supervisions) with supervisor and Aftercare Case planning team.
* Assist mentees in personal development and growth by utilizing ITM (Integrated Treatment Model) resources.
* Attend quarterly ITM Booster trainings.
* Complete weekly emails to Aftercare Specialist-Case planner/MST-FIT in a timely manner detailing activities conducted with mentees.
* Participate/cover at least 1 treatment team meeting per month (within the NSP and LSP facilities) and document information shared via “Aftercare Treatment Team Coverage form”.
* Create relationships with businesses and organizations in the local community, as well as the community affairs officer at local police precincts.
* Arrange community service for youth to participate in at least monthly.
* Attending initial and ongoing training and other technical assistance or professional development activities identified by Sheltering Arms Children & Family Services, ACS or OCFS.
* Stays abreast to developments in the juvenile justice system.
* Support the principles of the Integrated Treatment Model with the goal of teaching young people to make positive, lasting changes in their behavior by preparing them to be self-sufficient through education and work experience.
* Other related tasks that may be assigned.
Daily schedule and hours will fluctuate to meet the needs of the team and mentees. The mentors are expected to be available to mentees by phone and be flexible to schedule sessions at times that work best for the mentee, which include both during the day, after-school/evening times and weekends on occasion.
Travel: The Aftercare team provides services to families who reside in the 5 boroughs of NYC. The Mentors provide their own transportation and work-related travel expenses will be reimbursed.
Qualifications
* High School Diploma or GED required.
* Firsthand knowledge of the justice system required.
* Experience working with local youth or court-involved youth preferred.
* Knowledge and understanding of positive youth development preferred.
Salary: 47,000.00/ Annually
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