Violence Prevention Outreach Worker

Violence Prevention Outreach Worker at City of Danville, VA summary:

The Violence Prevention Outreach Worker coordinates programs focused on preventing youth and gang violence by engaging with at-risk youth, providing access to social services, education, and job opportunities. The role involves conducting needs assessments, making referrals, advocating for youth, and collaborating with community organizations to support affected families. Tasks also include transporting youth, planning social activities, maintaining documentation, and providing reentry and job coaching services as needed.

Description The purpose of this position is to assist in the coordination of activities and programs for the prevention of youth and gang violence. This is accomplished by reaching out to identified gang members and linking them to services and institutions, and providing access to resources in an effort to reduce attachment of youth to gangs and gang activities. Transporting youth to and from various appointments and functions Plans and attends social and recreational activities.

Serves as advocate for the youth in securing social services, education, and job related opportunities. Performs needs assessment for youth and family members and provides information about services. Makes appropriate referrals and maintains detailed documentation of all contact with youth. This position reports to the Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Coordinator.

The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

• Identifies appropriate youth to participate in the project;
  Recruit and retain youth by providing access to job skills training; information resources, role modeling and encouragement;
  Serves as advocate for the targeted youth in securing services, education and job related opportunities;
  Assess needs of family members affected by the youth’s gang involvement and makes referrals to appropriate services.
• Networks with various organizations, schools, courts, probation offices, community residents, and grass roots organization to gather resources and information to offer the youth and their affected family members;
  Plans and attends social and recreational activities for the targeted youth.
• Creates and maintains records for each youth involved in project;
  Document all contact with youth and their families and compiles status reports.

• Provide reentry services for youth identified by Department of Juvenile Justice. Provide on-site/in-person job coaching support for Project Rebuild and Project Imagine
• Have a high degree of comfort working hands on in the community with a diverse group of community members
• Be able to train and support youth on developing excellent resumes and cover letters as well as providing assistance with filling out job applications
• Work collaboratively with partner agencies to meet the holistic needs of youth

• Performs additional duties as assigned

• Associate’s degree with knowledge of a specific vocational, administrative, or technical nature from a college, vocational or technical school.
• One year up to and including three years’ experience in social services, grassroots organizations, community advocacy, or youth intervention.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above

• Valid Driver’s License with acceptable driving record according to City Criteria

Intermediate knowledge to perform most work in normal situations. Comprehension of standard situations and includes knowledge of most of the significant aspects of the subject.

Intermediate-Ability to read papers, periodicals, journals, manuals, dictionaries, and thesauruses.

Basic-Ability to write simple sentences containing subject, verb, and object, and/or series of numbers, names, and addresses.

Intermediate-Ability to deal with a system of real numbers; and practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and…