Coordinator, Social Work

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation (formerly the Center for Court Innovation) is a non-profit organization that works with communities and justice systems to advance equity, increase safety, and help individuals and communities thrive. The Center's goal is to identify and resolve as early as possible the challenges that bring people into the criminal and civil legal systems. It does this in a number of ways—by developing and running programs that reduce the need for incarceration and enhance economic opportunity, conducting original research to identify what works, and sharing what we learn from our programming and research with those seeking to transform the justice system around the world.

The Center is an 800-employee, $100 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs

The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Court, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

Policy & Expert Assistance

The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Bronx Community Justice Center (BxCJC), one of the Center's newest projects, works to create a safer, more equitable Bronx through community-driven safety initiatives, violence prevention, youth opportunity, and economic development efforts. 

The Bronx Community Justice Center is seeking a Coordinator, Social Work to work with our Youth Initiatives. Reporting to the Senior Youth Programs Manager, the Social Work Coordinator will provide and coordinate therapeutic and individual support services, supervise social work interns, as well as support group programming and community-based projects in collaboration with young people living in the South Bronx.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide individual counseling and support to young people, with a focus on young people who have been most impacted by community violence;
• Provide holistic advocacy and case management;
• Provide crisis intervention support to social worker staff; 
• Create a plan to support violence prevention Outreach Workers and Violence Interrupters to engage and support individuals most impacted by community violence;
• Create innovative group programming to support community care and wellness; 
• Facilitate a range of workshops and programming to support young people;
• Support community wellness and healing through community-based events and activations;
• Form partnerships with community stakeholders, organizations, and agencies to strengthen systems of support for participants;
• Plan group curricula and facilitate therapeutic group sessions for participants;
• Provide clinical supervision to staff and social worker interns;
• Lead case conferencing meetings with non-clinical case management staff, as needed;
• Participate in agency staff meetings, self-care activities and trainings;
• Work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of violence interrupters, outreach workers, and community programs staff;
• Participate in promotion of programmatic resources, community outreach, and community engagement;
• Canvass community alongside the Save Our Streets South Bronx team and other staff at the BxCJC;
• Attend community stakeholder meetings, including community board, resident association, precinct council, and other related recurring meetings;
• Additional relevant tasks, as needed.

Qualifications:

• LMSW required with at least two years of relevant social work and individual practice experience;
• SIFI certified or eligible;
• Supervisory experience required;
• Candidate must have at least 4 years of experience working with youth;
• Commitment to anti-oppressive practice and creating space that centers BIPOC communities; 
• Commitment to youth-led practice and belief in the innate capacity of youth to positively impact their community;
• Extremely punctual and reliable, highly organized and detail-oriented;
• Strong problem solving skills;
• Excellent written & verbal communication skills;
• Ability to work evenings & weekends, as needed;
• Knowledge of youth engagement, victimization, community violence and intimate partner violence necessary;
• Understanding of the criminal justice system, ACS, and other related institutions;
• Understanding of Cure Violence projects desirable;
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and as part of a team;
• Experience with individual case management and counseling;
• Understanding of complex trauma reactions;
• Experience working with youth and families from marginalized communities and youth who have been impacted by criminal legal systems.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $66,490 - $77,900 and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.