Case Manager

Youth Justice Network (formerly known as Friends of Island Academy) was founded in 1990 on the school floors of Rikers Island to anchor, support and develop capacity among young people newly released from jail in New York City. Our mission is to break cycles of incarceration and build an equitable justice system by providing young people with individualized advocacy, mentorship, and opportunities to grow, thrive, and lead.

Youth Justice Network builds on connections developed with young people whose lives have intersected with the justice system, and leverages those relationships to provide post-release, neighborhood-based supportive services. Young people become members of Youth Justice Network for the long-term and develop personal milestones and goals in the arenas of health and well-being, education, employment, youth leadership and community participation.

Through a new initiative from the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), Youth Justice Network will provide workforce development and wraparound services to underemployed or unemployed participants involved in the criminal justice system and/or impacted by community violence.

In keeping with DYCD’s objectives, our goal is to provide pathways to employment and economic mobility for people who reside in communities where community violence is most prevalent, including neighborhoods identified as priority areas by the Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce. YJN will offer pathways to job and career readiness, training for sustainable and emerging industries, internships, and supported job placement.

Lodged within Youth Justice Network’s Career Services team, this position will serve as mentor, case manager, navigator, facilitator and coach to for up to 40 young people annually, primarily between the ages 18 to 40 out of our Bronx advocacy hub, with the goal of supporting their employment advancement and economic mobility.

• Co-create individualized plans with young people to prepare and center pathways developed around their work and career aspirations
• Facilitate and connect participants with necessary wraparound services, opportunities, and exposure, both in-house and through partner organizations to support individual progress in overall developmental outcomes
• Provide consistent and unconditional care and accountability through our YJN Brooklyn hub to build relationships and support young adults in achieving positive outcomes.
• Leverage relationships with formal and informal Bronx community members/leaders, local vendors, faith-based supports.
• Address and navigate system-related barriers on behalf of youth and families including justice, child welfare, public housing, benefits, IDs and documents to facilitate persistence and success.

• Work in tandem with program colleagues to center the participant, and ensure services are aligned, integrated, and in synch to best support individual’s goals
• Maintain active, current documentation of enrollments, outreach, follow-up, individualized youth plans, and youth progress in DYCD and organization-wide database systems.

• Associate’s degree (Bachelor’s degree preferred) in social work or a related field, and experience working with City system such as justice, public assistance, child welfare, education, housing;
• Integrity, flexibility and a profound commitment to the youth we serve.
• Committed to working collegially and in a team-based setting.
• Strong interpersonal skills, cultural humility, and an understanding and belief in…