Youth Mentor - Community Partners in Action

Youth Mentor: Hamden REGIONS Site Secure Residential Treatment Program for Male Youth, Hamden, CT

COMPENSATION:  $25.85 - $26.33/Hour

SHIFT: 1st Shift (8:00 AM – 4:00 PM)

AGENCY DESCRIPTION:

One of the oldest organizations of its kind in the country, Community Partners in Action (CPA) was founded nearly 150 years ago to champion criminal justice reform and advocate for preserving the dignity of those in and out of prison. Through our programs that include reentry and housing, youth initiatives, a nationally recognized Prison Arts Program, and holistic alternatives to incarceration, we provide a long-term impact that positively transforms individuals and society at large. Annually serving nearly 7,000 individuals throughout Connecticut, our work is possible due to partnerships with and support from individuals, government, private funders, organizations, and businesses.

CPA launched our BEDI (Belonging, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Journey in June 2020.  Led by a task force that includes board members, our executive leadership team, program managers and staff who act as BEDI Ambassadors from each of our programs, WE ARE 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 our BEDI journey at Our Commitment to Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion - CPA (cpa-ct.org)

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The REGIONS Site Secure Program is a secure residential treatment program for up to 16 male youth. The mission of the program is to provide a home-like environment with a trauma-informed, culturally responsive, gender-specific, linguistically appropriate, strengths-based, and relationship-driven milieu for the youth to help them improve their social, physical and emotional well-being. Our vision is to therapeutically intervene in the cycle of offending to reduce the youth's risk factors and prevent them from transitioning into the adult justice system. Our treatment philosophy is one that is individualized, designed to help the youth develop a positive self-image, learn effective coping skills, experience success, gain confidence, build positive relationships, achieve behavioral changes and re-enter their communities better equipped to succeed. 

The high-risk youth in this program will likely have a history of violence and be of significant risk for future violence.  They may be a significant risk to public safety and demonstrate chronic and persistent patterns of violent or public safety offenses.  The youth may present with multiple complex needs that are challenging to treat and a history of poor treatment attitude and response.  The youth may exhibit escalating antisocial sophistication.  Their AWOL risk is high in context of low treatment amenability and if they elope, they will likely engage in violent or public safety offenses.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate will have an Associate's degree or higher with experience working with at risk or court-involved adolescents and in residential treatment programs.  A 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 be willing to work in a hardware secure environment.  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 in mechanical restraints, 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.

Selected candidates will be required to attend and pass all phases of an approximately 7 week pre-service training (during 1^st shift hours) followed by a course of shadowing in the facility. Skills to be acquired include handcuffing, suicide prevention, CPR, First Aid, Safe Crisis Management, and other skills relevant to the care and custody of juveniles as well as the safety and security of staff. The pre-service training will include the proper application of approved restraint techniques. Incumbents should be aware that there is a risk of injury from assaultive or abusive juveniles and exposure to communicable diseases is possible.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide direct supervision and care and assist youth with daily activities including school and groups. 
• Maintain a safe, secure, strengths-based, gender responsive, trauma informed, linguistically appropriate and culturally sensitive environment.  
• 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 intervention skills.
• De-escalate and use of restraint techniques when needed to eliminate harm to self, others, significant property/program destruction and prevention of escape.
• 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.
• Become proficient with the use of mechanical restraints and apply when necessary (e.g., during youth transport).
• Perform all other duties as required.

Applicants must be able and willing to work evening and/or night shifts, weekends and holidays. Mandatory overtime is likely.

An Equal Opportunity Employer Committed to Affirmative Action