Pre-Release and Juvenile Justice Reentry Specialist

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Full Time Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, US

Salary Range: $76,000.00 To $80,000.00 Annually

Roca is an internationally recognized violence intervention and behavioral health program that works with the young people most likely to shoot or be shot. Founded in 1988 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, Roca now serves nearly 2,000 of the highest-risk young people each year across seven sites in Massachusetts, Baltimore (MD), and Hartford (CT).

Roca’s work is grounded in Rewire CBT, a breakthrough adaptation of cognitive behavioral therapy designed for young people living with trauma, disconnected from traditional services, and involved in/impacted by violence. Through relentless outreach, long-term relationships, and skill‑building, Roca helps youth move from reacting to choosing, from surviving to living.

Meanwhile, the Roca Impact Institute extends this reach nationally. Launched in 2020, the Institute trains community violence intervention staff, criminal justice agencies, and police officers in Rewire CBT, building trauma‑informed practices and systems change across the country. To date, the Institute has trained more than 10,000 staff across 100+ organizations in 24 states and D.C.

The Pre‑Release and Juvenile Justice Reentry Specialist works within the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services facilities to engage young people who are approaching release and prepare them for successful transition into Roca’s intervention model.

This role manages a flexible caseload of approximately 20 young people and is responsible for building relationships prior to release, introduction to Rewire CBT and Circles, coordinating reentry planning, addressing immediate basic needs and ensuring a warm handoff to the Youth Worker they will be assigned to.

The Pre‑Release and Juvenile Justice Reentry Specialist collaborates with families, facility staff and internal Roca staff to support continuity of care and long‑term engagement.

• Maintain a flexible caseload of young people who are nearing release from Maryland Department of Juvenile Services facilities.
• Meet regularly to deliver Rewire CBT, Circles, structured activities and one‑on‑one meetings when appropriate.
• Assess readiness for release and prepare participants for engagement with Roca programming.
• Meet with assigned DJS Case Management Specialists assigned to young people prior to release.

• Assess participants’ basic needs upon release, including housing stability, identification and documentation, healthcare access, education/employment readiness, and other immediate supports.
• Develop individualized reentry plans that address barriers to successful transition and promote sustained engagement post‑release.
• Complete Safety Profile and, in coordination with DJS Outreach Manager, work with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services and Baltimore Police Department to mitigate any potential risk.

• Meet with families, guardians, or other caregivers with whom the young person will reside after release.
• Support families in understanding Roca’s model, expectations, and available resources.
• Strengthen family and natural support systems to promote stability and successful reentry.
• Coordinate and facilitate in‑facility meetings with appropriate Roca staff to complete:
  • Eligibility and enrollment paperwork
  • Safety profiles
  • Transitional Employment Program (TEP) documentation
• Ensure all required paperwork and assessments are completed prior to release whenever possible.

• Schedule the young person’s first visit to the Roca building following release.
• Support a seamless transition from facility‑based engagement to community‑based services.
• Communicate effectively with internal teams to ensure continuity of care and shared understanding of participant needs and goals.

• Maintain accurate,…