We Are Hiring!

Feb 25

CCFY is looking for a dedicated mentor to support our South Bronx Community Connections youth as they navigate punishing systems and the challenges of life. We’re excited to bring on someone who can specifically connect with the boys in our program and bring strong group facilitation skills to support their learning and growth. At CCFY, we build community through love, care, and deep relatability—that’s what makes us who we are. If you or someone you know is interested in this opportunity, check out the job description below and send your resume to jobs@cc-fy.org!

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Full Time South Bronx Community Connections Mentor

JOB DESCRIPTION

Organization

Community Connections for Youth (CCFY) is a non-profit organization in the South Bronx dedicated to ending youth incarceration. Through community-led alternatives to incarceration, we are on a mission to disrupt the youth prison pipeline by delivering direct support, advocacy, mentoring, training and building partnerships. Our dream is to see local communities take the lead in creating a future where no child is behind bars.

CCFY envisions a world in which incarceration is no longer a primary response to children when they do something wrong. Recognizing that overreliance on the juvenile justice system is harmful, ineffective, and costly, CCFY upholds the community as the most effective and reliable means for changing the trajectory for youth.

Our methods are based on the values of love, relationship-building, advocacy, presence, support and community-rootedness.

CCFY promotes supporting justice-facing youth through a three-pronged approach that includes:

(1) Being a Lifeline in the South Bronx: When someone from your hood shows up for you in your hardest moment, that can be a life-changing experience. We seek to do this for youth at-risk of entering deeper into the justice-system and their caregivers.

(2) Community Building and Connections: Leaning on restorative practice models, we believe that healing and repair are critical elements in the wellness that leads to freedom. We are an established community space where growth and connection happen.

(3) Equipping Change-Makers: Everyone can play a part in ensuring a world where no child is put behind bars. From program participants to community and system partners, we are an entity with experience in training, facilitating, and coaching others in creating a prison-free future.

Position

The Mentor is primarily responsible for supporting youth referred to South Bronx Community Connections (SBCC) a program that provides early intervention services to youth caught up in family court or potentially entering the system. The SBCC Mentor will be responsible for directly supporting youth through individual mentoring, group mentoring and facilitation, and community guidance. The SBCC Mentor is a liaison and advocate for youth within settings such as family court, schools/suspension hearings, probation and other programs. The Youth Mentor works collaboratively and in support of the Youth Program Coordinator, other Youth Mentors, Parent Coaches, and Family Members and other individuals in CCFY’s support network. The Youth Mentor will report to CCFY’s Youth Program Coordinator.

Responsibilities

Youth Referrals and Intake

Monitor referrals on Salesforce
Make contact with families and youth after referral
Conduct the Initial Intake Assessment for youth
Develop initial strengths-based positive youth development plans for youth

Transformative Mentoring

Work individually with youth as they navigate their social/emotional development
Provide support in crisis
Support youth through Positive Youth Development and Restorative Justice approaches

Co-Facilitate age and developmentally appropriate workshops for youth

Help develop workshops and check in with youth

Monitor and adjust positive youth development plans

Collaborate with community partners to identify internships, jobs, and other opportunities for youth

Family Support

Collaborate with Parent Coaches to support CCFY’s Parent Support Program and promote active participation in family engagement opportunities
Provide support at Family Court hearings and probation check-ins

Documentation / Data

Log work in the CCFY Salesforce Database
Support any research/evaluation as needed

Assist with any additional administrative and programmatic duties as needed including supporting other programs within the CCFY.Duties and responsibilities may change. All CCFY employees are encouraged to be flexible and responsive to changes in scope of duties.

Desired Qualifications

Experience providing mentoring and support to youth; South Bronx community preferred.
Competence in working with youth from diverse cultural backgrounds and worldviews
Ability to design, lead, and effectively facilitate interactive workshops rooted in youth development principles
Direct justice-involvement experience strongly preferred
Familiarity with Family Court and/or school suspension process and procedures
Familiarity with grassroots faith and neighborhood organizations and the South Bronx community a plus.
Excellent ability to engage young people from the community and model growth and maturity.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate program developments internally and externally.
Demonstrated commitment to youth development, community development, and social justice.
Ability to navigate digital platforms, such as Salesforce database, Google, Microsoft Office, or any other online collaboration tools
Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven and self-directed
Ability to maintain professionalism while interfacing with both system employees (i.e. Probation Officers, detention center staff) and community stakeholders.