441 East 148th Street, Bronx, NY 10455
Mentor Advocate
AIM Program
Full Time
General Job Description
The AIM Advocate Mentor will be a credible messenger (formerly gang-involved and/or formerly incarcerated) who leads a mentoring and advocacy-based intervention for justice-involved ATP youth, as part of the BronxConnect AIM Program. Through weekly small-group and one-on-one activities and enrichment opportunities, Advocate Mentors will engage and assist youth (between the ages of 13 and 18) with their emotional, social, and professional development, with the long-term goal of transforming attitudes and behaviors that could lead to further criminal justice involvement down the line.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Coordinate and collaborate with youth’s Probation Officer to track youth’s progress towards their individualized achievement plan
- Conduct youth intake and provide mentorship to youth
- Provide advocacy and mentorship for four to six youth at any given time
- Form key part of youth’s “family team” that will guide youth and foster self-esteem, socialization and civic engagement
- Make referrals to community partners to ensure youth is fully supported
- Follow up with referral agencies to ensure youth’s social service, health and mental health needs are being met
- Conduct home visits when required to engage / reengage participants.
- Monitor and draft notes on activities and youth progress, including court-mandated requirements
- Attend court appointments concerning youth when required.
- Monitor youth compliance in program activities and services
- Meet with youth during non-traditional hours during the week / weekend.
- Be available by phone for support on a 24/7 basis, advice, and guidance.
- Participate in regularly scheduled on-going trainings and supervision.
- Develop and maintain community partnerships, including relationships with juvenile justice agencies, other service providers, and community resources
- Promote the work of BronxConnect through personal and professional contacts.
- Monitor attainment of programmatic outcomes, including submitting documentation for funding for events, activities, etc.
- Provide case management and group coordination where necessary
- Write daily, weekly, and monthly notes, as necessary, and submit to Records Administrator and AIM Director.
- Complete trainings and ongoing professional development opportunities
- Attend AIM team meetings and collaborate with ACS / Cure Violence Team.
This position works closely with staff and participants ages 13-22 who are in non-secure facilities regulated by ACS. The AIM mentor role bridges the gap between both programs by interacting working in various spaces to ensure a warm handoff and transition of youth back into the community. AIM mentor collaborates with ACS staff when required. Candidate will need to have ACS clearance to co-facilitate groups in some ACS regulated facilities and may:
- Attend case conferences and assist with transition of youth ages 13-22 from ACS regulated facilities (NSD, NSP) to integrate into their communities when required.
- Conducts 2-3 workshops at ACS Facilities, and as needed. Facilitating creates opportunities for sharing experiences while conducting workshops. Sessions deal with decision-making, conflict mediation with youth involved in reported incidents and assist participants with conflict resolution strategies.
- Collaborates to create prosocial activities and trips with participants.
- Engage youth’s family and conduct family visits to learn more about the youth’s family and help them engage in efforts to bring out positive change.
- Assists youth with re-entry back to the community by participating with case conference meetings with ACS providers.
- Credible messenger assists in establishing a referral and continuity plan for youth at the Cure Violence Facility identified by ACS programs.
- Conducts outreach to other community-based Cure Violence providers located near the youth’s home, school and/or work collaboratively with those providers leading up to their discharge.
- Meets with the youth at the schools servicing non-secure facilities.
- Collaborates with ACS staff who identify youth with low tolerance, frustrations and those prone to violence and teach the youth strategies on how to recognize the triggers to help them develop the skills needed without resorting to violence.
- Other related duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- Candidate has experience working utilizing positive youth development
- Experience with programming for youth, including leading small group activities
- Formerly incarcerated applicants are encouraged to apply to this position.
- Excellent observational, listening, assessment, problem-solving, and communication skills; ability to work as a member of a team
- Comfortable working in a South Bronx community-based setting
- Comfortable with community based, people of color agencies
- Comfortable working in a faith-based agency
- Excellent spoken and written presentation skills
- Attention to detail and ability to maintain written documentation
- Experience working with Latino & African-American families
- Fluency in Spanish a plus
- Applicants from the South Bronx, or similar urban areas, are encouraged to apply
- Must possess a passion for urban youth and for justice.
- Experience and familiarity with Family and Supreme Court systems and probation a plus.
- Candidate must clear ACS background.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: $45,000.00 - $52,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Education:
Experience:
- mentor advocate: 2 years (Preferred)
Language:
Shift availability:
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: In person
