Community Engagement Specialist

Job Details

Job Location
:
Supervised Release Service Center (Bronx) - Bronx, NY 10451

Position Type
:
Full-Time Non‑Exempt

Salary Range
: $27.47 - $30.22 Hourly

Title
:
Community Engagement Specialist

Unit
:
Supervised Release Program

Reports to
:
Community Engagement Specialist Supervisor

Status
:
Full time;
Regular;
Non‑Exempt

Salary Range
: $27.47 - $30.22 per hour [Approximately $50,000-$55,000 annually]

Location
: 502 East 163rd Street Bronx, NY 10451 (within all SRP Bronx location)

Days/Hours
:
Monday‑Friday, 9AM-5PM

Supervised Release offers an alternative to jail, providing pretrial supervision, case management, and voluntary social services to people charged with misdemeanor and non‑violent felony offenses. Program participants are monitored to ensure their appearance at court dates, and they receive referrals to community‑based programming. Under the Supervised Release Program (SRP), the Community Engagement Specialist (CES) will provide engagement of SRP participants, focusing primarily on clients who require additional supports to remain compliant with program mandates.

Engagement strategies may include warm hand‑offs, arranging transportation or other services to facilitate access, text messages or phone calls outside of mandated check‑ins, and coffee/snack purchases for clients to facilitate trust‑building.

Mission and Fit
:
Embodies Fortune’s mission and values and will be an effective member of the team in furthering both. The candidate should exhibit compassion and understanding for our participants (wherever they are in their re‑entry process) and embrace Fortune’s core value that none of us should be measured against the worst things we have done.

Communication/Human Services
:
The CM must be able to communicate effectively, with internal and external program staff, and participants. The CM must be able to maintain communication with these entities to ensure their clients are being assisted in a timely and effective manner. Ability to manage a high level of multi‑taskings, managing well under pressure, ability to manage emotional response, capable of providing innovative resources, and strong ability to use de‑escalation tactics while remaining motivational.

Time Management/Administrative Skills
:
The CM will receive many referrals, sometimes at one time, and must provide up to date and accurate information to the Court Advocates and CM Supervisors on their client’s progress and participation. The CM must maintain communication with these internal staff as well as any parties overseeing voluntary services that their clients are enrolled in. Additionally, the CM will need to conduct client screenings, and field calls from active clients and internal and external program staff.

Prioritizing the above is imperative in being able to manage the work. The CM will need efficient typing skills, strong software skills – knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, SharePoint, office suite, attention to detail, writing – documenting clear and concise accurate case notes.

Problem Solving/ Knowledge of Court and Conduct
:
The CM has the unique responsibility of being the main point of contact for the client, and sometimes the most trusted; they are at the forefront of managing a client’s needs and must be equipped with the ability to problem‑solve when issues arise. Comprehension of pretrial services, court‑based compliance measures, and proper reporting and documentation procedures. Fortune programming and proper court conduct and etiquette.

• Community navigation and advocacy to increase access to services and other support systems.
• Work closely with case management and social work teams to identify community barriers to returning to court or maintaining supervision schedule.
• Maintain partnerships with community‑based organizations that provide voluntary services to participants.
• Complete all necessary documentation and input data into case management database in a timely manner.
• Provide escorts to participants for court appearances and service providers (e.g. substance use, mental health, GED, job training, benefits, etc.).
• Facilitate psycho educational…