Outreach Worker : B.R.A.G. Northwest Cure Violence Bronx - Good Shepherd Services

Good Shepherd Services is a leading multi-service agency with more than 85 programs that serve over 30,000 youth and families each year – and builds on their strengths to help them gain skills for success.  At Good Shepherd we respect the dignity and worth of every person and reject intolerance, inequity and injustice in whatever form it may take. Voted one of the top 100 places to work in NYC by Crain’s New York, Good Shepherd Services offers a fantastic work environment, a collaborative team dedicated to fulfilling our mission, and an amazing array of benefits. Join our team and help make a difference! 

Cure Violence Bronx works with community residents, businesses and community-based organizations to reduce and prevent shootings and killings in defined hot spots within the 52nd Precinct, which comprises: Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Norwood, Bronx Park, and University Heights. The Outreach Worker develops strong relationships with people in the neighborhood who are known to be or likely to be involved in gun violence, to learn about and mediate issues and conflicts with the goal of stopping escalation to gun violence. He/she must be comfortable on the streets when and where violence is likely to erupt, and must have and maintain the confidence of gang members and other perpetrators of violence.

Reports to:          Outreach Worker Supervisor, B.R.A.G. NORTHWEST Cure Violence Bronx

Location:           Fordham Road, Bronx, NY

Hours:               40 hours/week, Non-Exempt

Salary:               $44,600-$49,600/Yr.  

Major Duties:

•  Maintain an active caseload of a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 15 participants at all times.
• Perform Admission Criteria Screenings for approval.
• Conduct frequent contact with participants on a monthly basis as follows:
  • Three (3) visits in or near home.
  • Three (3) additional face-to-face meetings.
  • Eight (8) substantive phone conversations.
  • Risk Reduction Plans
  • Facilitate Groups
• Develop Risk Reduction Plans and track progress for update.
• Serve as linkages and support for participants to enhance their use of opportunities and provider programs in the community (i.e., job training/placement, GED/TASC, Therapy, Drug Treatment, Mentoring, etc.) and case manage their referrals.
• Lead advocacy for participants when necessary.
• Build network with other outreach program workers.
• Document detailed participant’s case notes.
• Form relationships with the highest risk persons in the community, as well as the people who know them.
• Be present on the streets with such individuals to develop relationships of trust and safety, from which to be able to intervene in the moment if necessary and to learn about emerging conflicts.
• Acquire information on potential conflicts in the area, attending or convening gang mediation meetings and working with perpetrators and gang leaders to resolve conflicts that arise between gangs or individuals.
• Meet with high-risk individuals on a daily basis to discuss problems that arise.
• Provide age-appropriate engagement and interaction with youth and young adults encountered and adhere to all agency guidelines and ethics regarding treatment of participants.
• Help prevent retaliatory shootings by meeting with a shooting’s victim and the victim’s family in the hospital, or elsewhere, to calm the situation, providing mediation and assistance, including referral to any relevant support and mediation resources, and remain in contact.
• Mobilize the community around violence reduction by distributing public education materials, developing relationships with key community leaders, and attending community responses to shootings.
• Keep a daily log of contacts with high-risk individuals and document conflicts resolved information.
• Enter all such information timely into the prescribed database on handheld devices or office computers.
• Be in contact with Outreach Worker Supervisor and/or Program Director at all times to be accountable for effective use of time and to receive guidance and direction.
• Provide 24 hour on call availability as directed by program supervisors.
• Attend all staff meetings timely, and attend other internal and external meetings as directed.
• Participate in training programs prescribed by DOHMH and by GSS supervisors, including conflict mediation, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed practice, and other tools for effective work.
• Lean and use trauma-informed practice (TIP), which may include tools from the Sanctuary Model of TIP.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: 

• An in-depth knowledge of the Bronx 52^nd Precinct neighborhoods.
• Residence within the area strongly preferred.
• Experience and direct knowledge of at-risk youth and gang involvement.
• Ideal candidate is someone very close to the streets with the ability to communicate effectively with gang members and other high-risk individuals, and able to gain trust of the highest risk individuals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer literate and able to enter notes and activities into databases via handheld devices and office computers.
• Ability to work a highly flexible schedule that includes late evenings, weekends and holidays
• Ability to pass drug screening.
• No pending criminal cases or convictions for sexual assault, child abuse or domestic violence.
• Criminal justice history preferred but may not be under current criminal justice supervision.
• Committed to working toward positive community change.
• Commitment to work from a strength based, trauma informed youth and family development perspective.
• Valid, clean NYS driver’s license strongly preferred.
• Ability to use public transportation.
• Ability to travel intensively, stand and walk for long periods, able to lift 25 lbs., bend and lift and be otherwise physically active.
• Bilingual Spanish-English a plus.

Good Shepherd Services is a leading multi-service agency with more than 85 programs that serve over 30,000 youth and families each year – and builds on their strengths to help them gain skills for success.  At Good Shepherd we respect the dignity and worth of every person and reject intolerance, inequity and injustice in whatever form it may take. Voted one of the top 100 places to work in NYC by Crain’s New York, Good Shepherd Services offers a fantastic work environment, a collaborative team dedicated to fulfilling our mission, and an amazing array of benefits. Join our team and help make a difference!

General Requirements: All staff are expected to be committed to the mission, vision, and values of Good Shepherd Services, which includes involvement in quality improvement activities and a willingness and ability to work within a culturally diverse environment.

Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors.  We do not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. 

Good Shepherd Services is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission. Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

We are committed to providing a workplace that is accessible and accommodating to employees with disabilities. As part of our commitment to providing a barrier-free recruitment and selection process, we will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates with disabilities. If you require any accommodations to participate in the hiring process, please inform us of your needs in advance. We value diversity and inclusivity in our workplace and encourage applicants of all abilities to apply.