Youth Mentor - 2nd Shift

Program Description

The REGIONS Staff Secure Program is a residential treatment program for up to 8 male youth. The mission is to provide a home-like environment with a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, gender-specific, linguistically appropriate, strengths-based, and relationship-driven milieu to help youth improve their social, physical, and emotional well-being.

Position Requirements

• A high school diploma/GED or higher with experience working with at-risk or court-involved adolescents and in residential treatment programs
• An associate or bachelor’s degree in the criminal justice field with a related internship may be considered in lieu of work experience
• Understanding and knowledge of gender-specific, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and linguistically appropriate issues and needs
• Strong interpersonal, communication, emotional intelligence, decision-making, and crisis management skills
• Ability to interact effectively with a multi-cultural population
• Must share the belief that people can change and individuals in need deserve quality services and an opportunity to succeed
• Must have and maintain a valid CT driver’s license and have reliable transportation
• Must be able to transport clients to appointments and into the community, have the capacity to become medication and SCM (Safe Crisis Management) certified, and work additional hours and/or overtime as needed
• Bi-lingual ability (Spanish/English) preferred
• Candidates with lived experience are encouraged to apply

Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision and care and assist youth with daily activities including school and groups
• Maintain a safe, strengths-based, gender-responsive, trauma-informed, linguistically appropriate, and culturally sensitive environment
• Promote a culture of respect, empathy, mutual support, and belonging, working to eliminate any unconscious bias or discrimination in our beliefs, rules, and systems
• Maintain accountability for the location of youth at all times; have knowledge of and implement all agency/program policies and procedures governing facility operations
• Mediate and resolve youth problems. Handle all situations in a manner consistent with relational and strengths-based practices, and in accordance with policies and procedures
• As necessary, utilize approved verbal and/or physical de-escalation techniques to eliminate youth’s harm to self, harm to others, significant property/program destruction, and escape, maintaining communication with necessary parties
• Utilize program behavior motivational procedures as needed
• Use DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) Coaching with the youth and conduct groups to eliminate negative behaviors
• Monitor youth visiting, maintaining professional boundaries with youth and their families/visitors
• Maintain and complete accurate logs and forms as required
• Facilitate therapeutic programming under the supervision of the Rehabilitation Therapist
• Reinforce the youth’s individual treatment plan and assist with discharge planning as part of the REGIONS treatment team
• Conduct both formal and informal counts, and complete internal and external facility security and safety checks
• Complete all pre-post assignments
• Knowledge of universal precautions and related issues including risk of communicable diseases
• Serve as role model to youth and staff modeling pro-social behaviors
• Establish and maintain professional boundaries with all staff, youth, and providers
• Participate in all required trainings
• Conduct “Pat Downs” of Youth and Visitors to maintain security
• Perform all other duties as required

Agency Description

Community Partners in Action (CPA) is one of the oldest organizations of its kind in the country, founded nearly 150 years ago to champion criminal justice reform and advocate for preserving the dignity of those in and out of prison. Through programs that include reentry and housing, youth initiatives, a nationally recognized Prison Arts Program, and holistic alternatives to incarceration, CPA provides a long-term impact that positively transforms individuals and society at large. Annually serving over 4,000 individuals throughout Connecticut, CPA's work is possible due to partnerships with and support from individuals, government, private funders, organizations, and businesses.

CPA is guided by its BEDI (Belonging, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) culture. The organization is committed to building and maintaining an inclusive, equitable workplace and compelled to have a constructive impact on criminal justice reform in CT that ends racial inequities and ensures the humanity and dignity of those interacting with the system. Read more about their BEDI journey at https://cpa-ct.org/our-bedi-journey/.

What CPA Brings to the Table

• A culture of belonging, equity, diversity, and inclusion for all employees
• Medical and Dental insurance through Cigna
• 401k eligibility after 60 days of employment
• Life Insurance, Short-and Long-Term Disability at no cost to you
• Generous vacation, personal, and sick time
• 13 paid holidays
• A commitment to employee health & wellness
• The opportunity to make a difference and be a part of a team dedicated to systemic change and criminal justice reform