Reintegration Mentor - Community Partners in Action

Reintegration Mentor: REGIONS-Staff Secure Residential Treatment Program for Male Youth, Hartford, CT

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 (Belonging, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) 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 Staff Secure Program is a residential treatment program for up to 8 male youth. The mission of the program is to provide a home-like environment with a DBT 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 youth in this program may have a high violence risk but it is not likely to be chronic and/or had later onset.  The youth are not likely to have a history of violence nor be at risk for future violence.  They are at a reduced risk to public safety and if they AWOL their behavior is not likely to involve violence or public safety risk.  The youth in the REGIONS Staff Secure Program are amenable to treatment.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Reintegration Mentor is a member of the treatment team working in partnership with the Program Manager, Assistant Program Manager, Clinician, Family Support Specialist, Juvenile Probation Officer, DCF, Attorney, Guardian, and anyone involved in the care of the youths. In this partnership, the Reintegration Mentor helps to successfully reintegrate the youth and support the guardian with the youth's transition back into the community. The Reintegration Mentor is responsible for assisting the youth with developing goals and formulating ideas about what he needs to be successful once he returns to the community. The Reintegration Mentor will work closely with the family and probation to develop a plan of success for the youth which includes but is not limited to gaining employment, getting a state ID, Learners Permit or driver's license, engaging with pro-social activities and even participating in family or individual therapy. Within the program, the Reintegration Mentor facilitates weekly groups such as but not limited to Risks and Decisions, Boys Counsel and Mindfulness. Reintegration Mentors will continue to work with the youth and family for up to 12 months post discharge. The Reintegration Mentor may have to flex their schedules at times in order to engage with the youth in and out of the program, but only with management approval.  

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate will have a high school diploma/GED or higher and lived experience. Experience training and working with adolescents, residential treatment programs, mental health crisis intervention and family engagement. Knowledge of the juvenile justice system preferred. Candidates will have community connections, be willing to seek out new opportunities for the youths such as community service, network with community programs to bring new initiative to the program, assist youths gain employment while they are at the program and once they return home, assist with building youth resume, getting the youths to learn life skills and to help the youth attain their positive goals. Understanding and knowledge of a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), gender responsive approaches, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate issues and needs; knowledge of behavior motivation and psychosocial interventions; knowledge of child psychology and development. Strong emotional intelligence; ability to interact with multi-cultural populations; leadership, decision making, communication, interpersonal and organizational/ prioritization skills, adaptability, flexibility, resourcefulness and resiliency. Must share the belief that people can change and individuals in need deserve quality services and an opportunity to succeed. Familiarity with relevant state and federal laws.

Must have and maintain a valid CT driver's license and reliable transportation and be able to transport a youth to appointments for community reintegration efforts, to facilitate probation/attorney/DCF/family visitation and home passes when needed. The RM is also required to travel and transport the youth as needed during the 12-month post discharge period. An agency vehicle will be provided. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred. Requires flexible schedule including on- call hours, evening and weekend coverage for continued support of the adolescent based on the attainment of reentry goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• At time of referral, collaborate with Clinician to engage the youth, family and community resources in preparation for program admission.
• Facilitate youth and family team meetings with Clinician.
• Help facilitate youth and family participation in partnership with the Clinician, the Family Support Specialist, and the Juvenile Probation Officer.
• Work with family and other identified supportive individuals, empowering them to develop a support system.
• Reinforce the youth's individual treatment plan.
• Facilitate weekly groups such as risks and decisions, restorative justice, DBT therapy skills groups, mindfulness groups, and life skills groups.
• Provide family support that may include but not be limited to assisting the family and acquiring basic needs such as housing, food, mental health, or substance abuse treatment, etc.
• Provide daily DBT coaching with youth.
• Input data into PBS (Performance Based Standards) and CDCS (Contractor Data Collection System).
• Attend new admission orientation and monthly treatment meetings.
• Schedule and help facilitate family visits, earned outings, internships, job placements or interviews, family passes, etc.
• Review behavioral point tracking system with the youth weekly to go over behavioral issues, progress, and level applications.
• Maintain rewards store inventory and facilitate youth weekly shopping.

• Assist the family and Juvenile Probation Officer with the transition to community after-care services.
• Serve as a role model and reinforce the youth's individual treatment plan as well as provide continued support for the youth and family for up to 12 months after program completion.
• Establish meaningful, supportive and long-term connections with the community including community vocational opportunities and training.
• Analyze and evaluate the accomplishment of program objectives.
• Perform quality assurance audits to ensure compliance with applicable standards.
• Participate in and maintain SCM certification.
• Comply with all funding and reporting requirements.
• Establish and maintain professional boundaries with all staff, youth and providers.
• Serve as a role model to youth and staff modeling pro-social behaviors.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external providers.
• Provide on-call after hours duties for continued support of the youth based on the attainment of reentry goals.
• Participate in all required trainings.
• Perform all other duties assigned.

An Equal Opportunity Employer Committed to Affirmative Action