Specialist, Fatherhood Support - UpNext Program

The Center for Court Innovation is a non-profit organization that works to create a more effective and humane justice system by performing original research and helping launch reforms by guiding justice innovators, nationally and internationally. The Center creates operating projects that have been documented to reduce the use of jail and prison, assist victims of crime, and strengthen communities.

Launched in 1993, the award-winning Midtown Community Court is one of the country’s first problem-solving courts. It provides alternatives to fines and jail as a response to low-level crime. Seeking to reduce crime and incarceration and increase public trust in justice, the Midtown Community Court works with neighborhood stakeholders to improve Midtown Manhattan. The court responds creatively to low-level offending, seeking sentences that are restorative to the victim, defendant, and community. The court’s onsite social services clinic and fatherhood and workforce development program are open to everyone—court participants as well as community members. Always growing in its reach, the court currently hears cases that originate in six NYPD precincts and serves as the Adolescent Diversion Part and Human Trafficking Intervention Court in Manhattan. Most recently, in response to a national opioid crisis, the court launched Manhattan’s Overdose Avoidance and Recovery (OAR) part. The OAR part seeks to connect individuals who are at risk of overdose to substance use treatment and supportive services.

The Midtown Community Court seeks a Fatherhood Support Specialist (FSS) to serve as a case manager and facilitator for UpNext, a family engagement and workforce development program for non-custodial fathers. Many of these fathers have had previous involvement with the criminal justice system, but it is not a requirement to join the program. The FSS plays an important role at UpNext in both the classroom providing instruction, but also providing individualist support and case management. In leading group facilitation, the FSS engages participants in conversations about culture, parenting techniques, concepts of toxic masculinity, navigating co-parenting challenges, establishing healthy social skills, and other topics focused on encouraging stronger skills in parenting and promoting healthy self-awareness.

As a case manager, the FSS works with fathers as they work on meeting goals that impact themselves and their families. Additionally, the FSS will have the opportunity to engage UpNext alumni after program graduation to keep them engaged with current programming and opportunities. The FSS will report to the UpNext Program Coordinator. 

Midtown Community Court strongly encourages and seeks applications from women, people of color, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide one-on-one case management and support services to participants (service plan, referrals, and follow up);
• Facilitate parenting classes including, but not limited to, sessions focused on fatherhood supports, healthy masculinity, positive childhood development, and healthy co-parenting relationships;
• Work with the Program Coordinator in organizing and facilitating a peer support group and co-parenting workshops;
• Maintain relationships with program alumni by organizing events and meetings, establishing mentor relationships, and maintaining data of alumni volunteers;
• Ensure thorough and accurate file-keeping and reporting on progress and compliance of clients;
• Input data to ensure proper tracking of client outcomes and measure program success;
• Participate in regular team, staff, and clinical meetings to coordinate program objectives and align on participant needs;
• Take an active role in developing new program initiatives, events, activities, and facilitation styles;
• Provide coverage for all program sections including employment workshops and cognitive behavioral therapy workshops when necessary;
• Assist in representing UpNext during site visits for court stakeholders, community partners, and other parties within the criminal justice network;
• Provide compliance and programmatic updates to referral partners regarding participant progress and collaborate with partners on treatment plans when appropriate;
• Attend court dates, Office of Child Support Services appointments, and other responsibilities with clients as needed;
• Provide enrollment and administrative coverage and conduct program intakes when necessary;
• Provide coverage for night classes weekly and weekend classes as needed;
• Attend evening and weekend community events;
• Collaborate and actively participate in broader Midtown Community Court projects and events;
• Perform other duties as assigned by Program Coordinator, Associate Director and Midtown Community Court Senior Management.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree or 3-4 years of related experience. Other qualifications include:

• Experience in reentry supports and fatherhood/family support services highly preferred;
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) strongly preferred;
• An interest in restorative practices and procedural justice a plus;
• Excellent written and verbal communication and computer skills required;
• Candidate must be outgoing, personable and professional and can think creatively and critically about their approach to helping people overcome barriers to family engagement and employment;
• Candidates must be a detail-oriented self-starter who takes initiative and can succeed in a high-paced environment; 
• Knowledge of reentry services, fatherhood support services, family court, intimate partner violence, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing a plus;
• Must be comfortable leading conversations related to criminal justice involvement, masculinity, trauma, power, and relationships with diverse client populations;
• Experience and commitment to creating, promoting, and maintaining a respectful, inclusive, and anti-racist work environment.