Overview
Career Advocate Jobs in New York, New York, USA at Youth Justice Network
Location: New York
Youth Justice Network (formerly known as Friends of Island Academy) was founded in 1990 on the school floors of Rikers Island to anchor, support and develop capacity among young people newly released from jail in New York City. Our mission is to break cycles of incarceration and build an equitable justice system by providing young people with individualizedadvocacy, mentorship, and opportunities to grow, thrive, and lead.
Youth Justice Network builds on connections developed with young people whose lives have intersected with the justice system, and leverages those relationships to provide neighborhood-based supportive services. Young people become members of Youth Justice Network for the long-term and develop personal milestones and goals in the arenas of health and well-being,education, employment, youthleadershipand community participation.
Position Background and Description
Through a new 3-year award from the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), Youth Justice Network will provide workforce development and wraparound services to underemployed or unemployed participants involved in the criminal justice system and/or impacted by community violence.
In keeping with DYCD’s objectives, our goal is to provide pathways to employment and economic mobility for people who reside in communities where community violence is most prevalent, including neighborhoods identified as priority areas by the Gun ViolencePreventionTaskforce. YJN will offer pathways to job and career readiness, training for sustainable and emerging industries, internships, and supported job placement.
Lodged within Youth Justice Network’s Career Services team, this position will serve as mentor, case manager, navigator, facilitator and coach to for up to 40 young people annually, primarily between the ages 18 to 25 out of our Bronxadvocacyhub, with the goal of supporting their employmentadvancementand economic mobility.
Objectives of this Role
Essential Responsibilities
Build relationships with participants with the goal of promoting participant enrollment, engagement and retention
Co-create individualized plans with young people to prepare and center pathways developed around their work and career aspirations
Facilitate and connect participants with necessary wraparound services, opportunities, and exposure, both in-house and through partner organizations to support individual progress in overall developmental outcomes
Provide consistent and unconditional care and accountability through our YJN Bronx hub to build relationships and support young adults in achieving positive outcomes.
Leverage relationships with formal and informal Bronx community members/leaders, local vendors, faith-based supports.
Address and navigate system-related barriers on behalf of youth and families including justice, child welfare, public housing, benefits, IDs and documents to facilitate persistence and success.
Engage in and elevate youth-centered work, outcomes and partnerships
Work in tandem with program colleagues to center the participant, and ensure services are aligned, integrated, and in synch to best support individual’s goals
Maintain active, current documentation of enrollments, outreach, follow-up, individualized youth plans, and youth progress in DYCD and organization-wide database systems.
Qualifications and Expectations
Associate’s degree (Bachelor’s degree preferred) in social work or a related field, and…
Title: Career Advocate
Company: Youth Justice Network
Location: New York, New York, USA
Category: Social Work, Non-Profit & Social Impact
