Mediation Specialist - BRAG DOE

About the role

The B.R.A.G. DOE Program is a school-based services component designed to provide culturally competent programming to at-risk youth to reduce the likelihood of their involvement in violence in their school or community and increase their engagement at school as measured through attendance, academic progress, and other measures. The Mediation Specialist (MS) provides attendance outreach and individual and group counseling to students and assists in implementing other aspects of the B.R.A.G./DOE partnership school program to promote the education and leadership goals of the students. The program can also include school-wide activities to assist in changing the culture around violence and to assist schools in their response to incidents that occur in the school or community. Target participants should reside in or near the target Community-Based Violence Intervention (CVI) catchment area, and be selected based on their risk for, and previously documented engagement in, violence or other infractions in the school or community in consultation with the principal and the local CVI provider.

Responsibilities

• Support at-risk youth in their efforts to demonstrate an improvement in overall attendance, academic achievement and reduce incidents of violence or other infractions in school or within the community.
• Responsible for a caseload of students, including maintaining their attendance and educational progress and providing regular individual counseling meetings.
• Provide attendance outreach, counseling and family support to help students attain a satisfactory attendance rate. This includes home or work site visits and requires use of public transportation and the ability to walk up stairs.
• The MS and Safe Passages Outreach Worker (SPOW) team will provide Safe Passage activities during dismissal.
• The MS and SPOW will be available to facilitate conflict intervention and mediation during the school day in partnership.
• Plan and facilitate advisory group sessions.
• Support student recruitment efforts and conduct intake assessments and interviews.
• Support student progress and development by providing student and family with continuous feedback and resources to meet the individual needs of students and ensure success.
• Work as part of a collaborative team of B.R.A.G./DOE faculty to support student progress.
• Provide crisis intervention, conflict mediation, and social-emotional support.
• Assist with referrals to outside resources, including CVI, employment, emergency shelter, day care and additional social and educational services.
• Ensure timely completion of documentation of work, statistics and ensure accuracy. Actively engage in individual and team use of data to inform practice.
• Responsible for program orientation to the school for students and families.
• Engage students' families to support positive outcomes for the student; assist families with identified needs.
• Participate in staff meetings, overnight retreats, and staff development. Occasional evening and Saturday hours required.
• In collaboration with school faculty, develop and implement student enrichment and leadership activities.
• Provide students with job and career development activities such as resume and cover letter writing, preparing for job applications and interview and learning about positive work habits.
• In conjunction with the coordinator, conduct employment preparation workshops.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school graduation or equivalent and five years of experience in community work or community-centered activities in an area related to the duties as described.
• Experience and knowledge of at-risk and gang-involved young people, including skills for working effectively with at-risk teenagers and young adults.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly, effectively and collaboratively with all levels of staff, program participants and community members.
• Proficiency with computers and handheld devices, including the ability to use databases and common office programs.
• Ability to work a highly flexible schedule that includes late evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Ability to walk 30 blocks and travel by public transportation.
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred.
• Valid driver's license preferred.
• Experience working with adolescents, individually and in groups.
• Commitment to working as a member of an interdisciplinary school team.
• Must have a commitment to work from a strength-based or youth and family development perspective.

Pay

$50,000 - $54,000/year

Schedule

35 hours/week, Non-Exempt