Scaling Community Violence Intervention (CVI) for a Safer Chicago (SC2) is an expanding network of donors, anti-violence practitioners, and community stakeholders dedicated to enhancing CVI in the neighborhoods of Chicago most affected by violence. New Life Centers is partnering with six local community-based organizations; Central States SER, Enlace, Hope Culture, Erie House, Universidad Popular, and Beyond the Ball as The Pathways to Peace. The Pathways to Peace program aims to serve 75% of the highest-risk individuals in the area over five years through comprehensive street outreach, case management, education, employment, and behavioral health services.
Position Summary
The Director position is full-time, 40 hours per week (exempt, benefits available). The Director will work to gain trust of the community and the highest risk individuals to help provide linkages and robust accompaniment to prosocial alternatives including activities, jobs, education, case management, and social services. The Director is responsible for overseeing a team that reaches out to the highest risk individuals in the community and working with them to prevent violence by mediating conflicts, modeling prosocial behaviors, engaging them in positive activities and accompaniment through the case management process. The Director position is responsible for overseeing the SC2 Little Village team. Some weekends and some on-call in response to crisis situations will be required. Flexible schedule required. Focus neighborhoods may include Little Village, Pilsen, and Brighton Park. May require some local travel (reimbursable). Pay commensurate with experience. This position is in-person.
Job Responsibilities
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Works with outreach colleagues and supervisor to identify potential participants who are the highest risk individuals, and the people who know them.
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Assures Coordinators have materials, budget, spaces, administrative assistance, etc. to accomplish goals successfully.
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Serves as the primary point of contact for SC2 LV.
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Helps staff problem-solve difficult situations and strategize about conflict mediations (provide needed guidance and follow-up).
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Works to build staff morale, keep team motivated (reminds them of why we do what we do).
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Monitors outreach staff training needs; communicate training needs to the Director of Restorative Justice Programs; assists in developing action plans to address training needs.
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Reports all outreach activities in weekly Supervision sessions with Senior Director of Restorative Justice Programs.
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Attends community-wide meetings as needed.
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Is always aware of location of team during work hours for safety purposes.
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Monitors crime reports for patterns/communicates information with team.
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Confirms participant information to prevent duplication or ghost entries, checks caseload numbers and confirms risk levels for all outreach staff (spot checks).
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Conducts tailored supervision sessions with each outreach worker as needed to improve documentation.
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Follows all program stipend guidelines and tracking requirements and submits required paperwork by deadlines.
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Submits all required finance information by deadlines as required.
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Assures all information for the project is effectively communicated with appropriate staff and participants at agency level.
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Maintains communication with NLC leadership to assure a cohesive working environment.
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Is timely and responsive to project Program Coordinator, Data and IT specialist and Finance Manager when requests and communications are made.
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Participates in concerns or conversations considering participant safety when planning programming and activities.
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Monitors team to assure timely and accurate submission of all daily paperwork/tasks including case-notes, daily logs, receipts, attendance, etc.
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Orders necessary materials and equipment for programming.
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Will work with team to provide the best quality of programming across sites by sharing best practices, resources, ideas, planning process, and participating in programming and activities when necessary.
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Works to intervene in circumstances in which violence is likely.
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Works as a member of a team, communicating all relevant information to team members and supervisors instantly.
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Effectively engages with project partners and demonstrates willingness to address challenges as a collaborative.
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Works closely with referring partners and any other stakeholders to ensure that goals are met.
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Attends all trainings and orientations with partners and funders.
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Investigates causes of shootings to assist in mediating situations and preventing retaliation between individuals and groups and provides documentation.
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Identifies and diffuses “hot spots” for shootings and violence (conducting line of sight surveys with residents and key stakeholders to identify areas frequented by high-risk clients) and provides documentation.
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Strategizes with outreach team and supervisor to develop ongoing strategy to respond to conflicts and violence, noting important anniversary dates or other key events.
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Outreach to the community (individually and as a team member) to build strong relationships with youth, residents, businesses, and community groups.
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Maintains positive relationships with stakeholders.
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Documents shootings, retaliations, and other acts of violence prevented, and conflicts mediated.
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Provides support and advocacy to the victims of violence and their families through home visits, phone calls, criminal justice advocacy, and referrals to other support organizations.
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Participates in required evaluations.
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Demonstrates New Life Centers’ values.
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Attends required meetings and trainings.
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Other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.
Skills & Qualifications
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Must become a Certified Mandated Reporter. Training provided.
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Must pass a background check, must not have any pending cases.
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Must pass a Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System background check.
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Must pass a National Sex Offender Registry background check.
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Must have a working phone and phone number.
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One year experience working in the human services field in a capacity that involves direct services to at-risk youth.
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Cross-cultural competency.
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Firsthand knowledge of the specific the Little Village, Pilsen, and/or the Brighton Park community area and knowledge of current street conflicts.
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Emotional maturity; good judgment; integrity; tolerance of differing points of view and beliefs.
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Experience or training in crisis intervention preferred.
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Willingness to learn and commit to the principles of nonviolence, restorative justice and trauma-informed practices.
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Ability to work one-on-one and in groups with high-risk individuals to resolve conflicts and promote prosocial behaviors
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Willingness to work on the street and in other unstructured situations
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Ability to communicate effectively both written and verbally.
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Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.
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Must be willing to be trained, and proficiently utilize database(s) and information tracking systems relevant to duties.
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Must keep confidentiality of participant information.
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Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
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Valid Illinois driver’s license, insurance, good driving record, access to a vehicle. Subject to driving background check.
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Bilingual English/Spanish preferred but not required.
How to Apply
Please submit the following materials
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Cover letter indicating your experience and interest in the position
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Resume
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List of three references with contact information (minimum 2 professional references, email and phone number included)
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Please mention the name of any New Life Centers staff who referred the position to you if applicable.
New Life Centers provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. New Life Centers complies with applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.
