Temporary Youth Engagement Coordinator
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, $100 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
The Staten Island Justice Center (SIJC) offers an array of programming for both youth and adults in Staten Island, focusing on engaging those with current or past justice involvement or at-risk of justice-involvement. SIJC operates diversion, alternative to detention and incarceration, supervised release, reentry, mental health & wellness, workforce development, peer-led restorative justice and leadership development programs. The Justice Center’s Youth and Family Programs department provides trauma-informed approaches to assist young people in self-empowerment and re-engaging in education, work and community.
SIJC is seeking a Temporary Youth Engagement Coordinator who will work with youth program participants ages 12 to 24. Reporting to the Program Manager, Community Programs, the Temporary Youth Engagement Coordinator will work individually and with a team in planning, developing and facilitating group programming that are tailored to the specific needs of youth that center youth voice and youth-led spaces. This incorporates restorative justice practices, skill-building workshops, civic engagement, and mentorship opportunities as tools of empowerment for young people. These activities will take place virtually, on-site, and in the community with an overarching goal to keep people out of the criminal justice system by promoting wellness, leadership, and community safety.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Coordinate and facilitate group programming including, but not limited to, community engagement projects, group outings, weekly clinically informed group sessions, restorative justice circles, and workshops on topics related to positive youth development and skill-building, and leadership development;
- Ensure group sessions and monthly meetings are scheduled, referrals and follow-up appointments are tracked, case management notes of participant activities are accurate and timely, and participant program goals are being achieved;
- Craft engagement plans for new youth participants and act as agency point person for youth support system: locate and facilitate referrals to community-based services and communication with service providers, to ensure appropriate follow-up;
- Compile, track and report on participants' success with program requirements and with program outcomes in collaboration with the Program Manager;
- Oversee program development, including building curricula, outreach and recruitment, and strategic planning with support from Program Manager;
- Provide coverage and support for other SIJC youth programming as needed;
- Participate in SIJC all-staff meetings, committees, and staff development activities;
- Spearhead events and special initiatives at SIJC and in the community;
- Attend SIJC events or community meetings after hours or on weekends; and
- Perform other activities and duties, as assigned.
Position Type: Temporary for 3-6 months.
Position Location: Staten Island, NY.
Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $58,500 - $61,800 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package which includes comprehensive healthcare with a national network.
The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as such, we do not discriminate on the basis of 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 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our aim is to create a supportive and respectful environment where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, feels valued and included.
As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the requirement of the COVID-19 vaccination for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. Accordingly, the Center does not require all new hires be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus; however, the Center recommends all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up-to-date on the vaccination.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete an employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. Kindly refer to the job posting for the relevant contact information. If the contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from making inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.