Mediation Specialist - BRAG DOE

We are looking for a dynamic and compassionate Mediation Specialist to join our team. The B.R.A.G. DOE Program is a school-based services component designed to provide culturally competent programming to at-risk youth to reduce the likelihood of their involvement in violence in their school or community & increase their engagement at school as measured through attendance, academic progress, & other measures. The Mediation Specialist (MS) provides attendance outreach & individual & group counseling to students & assists in implementing other aspects of the B.R.A.G./DOE partnership school program to promote the education & leadership goals of the students. The program can also include school-wide activities to assist in changing the culture around violence & to assist schools in their response to incidents that occur in the school or community. Target participants should reside in or near the target Community-Based Violence Intervention (CVI) catchment area, & be selected based on their risk for, & previously documented engagement in, violence or other infractions in the school or community in consultation with the principal & the local CVI provider.

Reports to: ED-VOC/EMPLOYMENT COORDINATOR

Location: Jerome Ave./233^rd St./Boston Rd./Fordham Rd., Bronx, New York

Hours: 35 hours/week, Non-Exempt

Salary: $50,000 -$54,000/year

Major Duties:

• Support at-risk youth in their efforts to demonstrate an improvement in overall attendance, academic achievement & reduce incidents of violence or other infractions in school or within the community.
• Responsible for a caseload of students, including maintaining their attendance & educational progress & providing regular individual counseling meetings.
• Provide attendance outreach, counseling & family support to help students attain a satisfactory attendance rate. This includes home or work site visits & requires use of public transportation & the ability to walk up stairs.
• The MS & Safe Passages Outreach Worker (SPOW) team will provide Safe Passage activities during dismissal.
• The MS & SPOW will be available to facilitate conflict intervention & mediation during the school day in partnership.
• Plan & facilitate advisory group sessions.
• Support student recruitment efforts & conduct intake assessments & interviews.
• Support student progress & development by providing student & family with continuous feedback & resources to meet the individual needs of students & ensure success.
• Work as part of a collaborative team of B.R.A.G./DOE faculty to support student progress.
• Provide crisis intervention, conflict mediation, & social-emotional support.
• Assist with referrals to outside resources, including CVI, employment, emergency shelter, day care & additional social & educational services.
• Ensure timely completion of documentation of work, statistics & ensure accuracy. Actively engage in individual & team use of data to inform practice.
• Responsible for program orientation to the school for students & families.
• Engage students’ families to support positive outcomes for the student; assist families with identified needs.
• Participate in staff meetings, overnight retreats, & staff development. Occasional evening & Saturday hours required.
• In collaboration with school faculty, develop & implement student enrichment & leadership activities.
• Provide students with job & career development activities such as resume & cover letter writing, preparing for job applications & interview & learning about positive work habits.
• In conjunction with the coordinator, conduct employment preparation workshops.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• High school graduation or equivalent & five years of experience in community work or community-centered activities in an area related to the duties as described.
• Experience & knowledge of at-risk & gang-involved young people, including skills for working effectively with at-risk teenagers & young adults.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly, effectively & collaboratively with all levels of staff, program participants & community members.
• Proficiency with computers & handheld devices, including the ability to use databases & common office programs.
• Ability to work a highly flexible schedule that includes late evenings, weekends & holidays.
• Ability to walk 30 blocks & travel by public transportation.
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred.
• Valid driver’s license preferred.
• Experience working with adolescents, individually & in groups.
• Commitment to working as a member of an interdisciplinary school team.
• Must have a commitment to work from a strength-based or youth & family development perspective.