Senior Youth Worker

About the role

The Education, Career, and Enrichment (ECE) department at CASES specializes in serving youth and young adults impacted by the criminal legal system. The Assertive Community Engagement & Success (ACES) program seeks a Youth Worker that can develop transformative relationships with participants of an innovative South Bronx and Harlem neighborhood-based program for young men who may not have started but can strive to overcome threatening environments and system involvement to find the path to educational achievement, vocational training, and employment. The young people ACES serves will be engaged in high-risk behaviors. Services through ACES happen primarily in the community. ACES serves young men ages 16-24 who reside in East Harlem and the South Bronx. By developing long-term, multi-year relationships with young people, CASES will meet the young people where they are (literally, with extensive services in the community) to open new opportunities. The safety of our participants and staff is paramount as we continue to see our work make an impact and grow.

Responsibilities

• Develop trusting/transformative relationships with youth referred and found eligible for the program
• Be the first point of contact for new referrals
• Have contact with youth 2-3 times per week in person in the community
• Develop a strong relationship with the communities served by ACES
• Escort participants to appointments
• Participate and co-facilitate in-office programming including Peace Circles
• Manage the stress related to the intensity of the work by adopting self-care strategies, effectively utilizing supervision and team meetings, and participating in team building and team stress reduction activities
• Effectively use program database to track work and ensure program performance is effectively measured
• Other duties as assigned by the Supervisor or Director
• Attend trips and activities with the participants and staff
• Participate in Trainings internal and external
• Meet weekly for supervision
• Be a designated driver as needed

Requirements

• Deep passion for working with youth and young adults impacted by the criminal legal system with the understanding that ACES participants are not mandated and will require a new approach to youth work
• A willingness to adhere to an evolving model with the understanding that ACES is intended to be different from other programming
• A belief that ACES participants, community members and team members have the ability and capacity for change
• Strong communication skills
• An understanding of whom ACES serves and the environments they live in