Resource Navigator

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit www.innovatingjustice.org.  

The Center is a 900-employee, $130 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs

The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

Policy & Expert Assistance

The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area. 

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Bronx Community Solutions (BCS) is seeking a Resource Navigator, who will report to the Clinical Director with the support of the Safety and Empowerment Social Worker. The Resource Navigator will be stationed in the Family Justice Center (FJC), 198 East 161st Street, 2nd Floor and Bronx Criminal Court, 215 E 161st Street, 2nd Floor. They will work closely with individuals seeking assistance and requiring services at the FJC for any type of domestic and gender-based violence. They must be prepared to provide information on programs and services, screen clients, address immediate client needs, and liaise with FJC staff, BCS staff and stakeholders.

Responsibilities will include but not limited to: 

Family Justice Center Responsibilities:

• Welcome clients to the FJC and provide a detailed overview of the FJC service delivery model, including confidentiality policies, onsite referral process, and available services;
• Screen clients to assess whether the FJC services are the best fit for clients' needs;
• Provide service referrals, linkages, and warm hand-offs, as appropriate, if it is determined that FJC services are not the best fit for the client;
• Address immediate client needs, provide crisis intervention and support the client in navigating the FJC service model;
• Work with clients to determine appropriate onsite referrals for case management;
• Complete appropriate forms, including the FJC Referral and Consent Forms and communicate any pertinent information to the partner staff member to help best meet clients’ needs;
• Provide risk assessment, safety planning and advocacy as needed and appropriate when there is no case manager available to see the client with client follow-up;
• Maintain communication with clients waiting at the Center after screening to answer questions;
• Speak with Program Provider supervisor and/or FJC administrative staff if a client is distressed, and work collaboratively with the reception staff at the District Attorney’s Office to refer appropriate clients and make appointments for those clients, as needed;
• Enter client visit information into the FJC Application daily, and track additional demographic or service -related data or client needs as requested by End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV);
• Contact clients after their visits to complete the surveys and reconnect them to any needed follow-up services as appropriate;
• Complete required onboarding trainings (i.e., identifying client needs and working with trauma survivors); and
• Additional tasks as necessary.

Bronx Community Solutions Responsibilities:

• Communicate with court staff in identifying appropriate alternatives to incarceration sentencing options;
• Conduct in-court screenings, program outreach and/or refer for clinical assessments to determine appropriate sentencing options;
• Assist clinical staff with longer term non-treatment case management responsibilities including court tracking; program outreach and compliance reporting to court stakeholders;
• Maintain appropriate client information in electronic databases;
• Attend all staff meetings and trainings, as scheduled;
• Assist with other relevant BCS programming and administrative tasks, as necessary; and
• Additional tasks as needed.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have an Associate's degree and at least two (2) years of relevant work experience (i.e. experience working with survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, providing advocacy services), as well as an understanding of the dynamics and complexities of domestic and gender based-violence. Candidate must be skilled communicator able to work in multi-disciplinary setting and maintain strong relationships with multiple agencies and organizations both onsite and in the community. Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred. Excellent written skills are required. Candidate must be a skilled communicator able to work in a multi-disciplinary setting and maintain strong relationships with multiple agencies and organizations both onsite and in the community.

Position Type: Full Time. Monday to Friday from 9am - 5pm.

Position Location: Bronx, NY

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $52,000 - $57,000 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. While the Center does not require vaccination, we strongly recommend that all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up to date.

In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment verification form upon hire. Please refer to the job posting for relevant contact information. If contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.