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 ( B elonging, E quity, D iversity, and I nclusion) 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 1st 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:
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