Youth Advocate (PhillyConnect)

PhillyConnect Youth Advocate

Full-time position

Shift Hours: Monday to Friday: 10 AM to 6 PM

General Job Description

The Mentor Advocate will be a credible messenger who leads a mentoring and advocacy-based intervention for justice-involved youth, as part of the Phillyconnect ATP Program. Through weekly small-group and one-on-one activities and enrichment opportunities, Mentor Advocates will engage and assist youth (between the ages of 14 and 17) with their emotional, social, and professional development. The long-term goal is to transform attitudes and behaviors that could lead to further criminal justice involvement down the line.

Credible Messengers are formerly gang-involved or formerly incarcerated/justice-involved or lived a life experience like our court-involved high-potential young people.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Coordinate and collaborate with the Philadelphia DAO Diversion Unit to track youth’s progress towards their Individualized Achievement Plan (IAP).
• Conduct youth intake and provide tailored youth-centered mentorship throughout their program experience.
• Provide advocacy and mentorship for four to six youth at any given time.
• Form a crucial part of the youth’s “family team” to guide youth and foster self-esteem, socialization, and civic engagement.
• Make referrals and follow up with community partners to ensure the youth is fully supported.
• Meet with youth during the week; conduct off-site visits, clean one-one offsite visits and home visits with Parent Coach.
• Attend all referral appointments and or court appointments concerning youth they supervise.
• Deliver relevant curriculum to youth in one-on-one or small group settings.
• Track activities in database and maintain case notes.
• Meet with youth during the week.
• Be available by phone for support on a 24/7 basis, advice, and guidance; provide constructive and appropriate feedback.
• Participate in regularly scheduled ongoing training and supervision.
• Develop and maintain community partnerships, including relationships with juvenile justice agencies, other service providers, and community resources.
• Promote and advance the work of PhillyConnect through personal and professional contacts.
• Monitor the attainment of programmatic outcomes.
• Administrative responsibilities, including submitting documentation for funding for events, activities, etc.
• Provide case management and group coordination where necessary.
• Attend team meetings and case conferences
• Other related duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Associates degree preferred. A Bachelors degree is a plus.
• Ideal candidate should have experience utilizing positive youth development models
• Experience administering similar programming for youth, including leading small group activities
• We encourage formerly incarcerated persons with a passion for urban youth and a commitment to justice to apply; indeed, this position is specially formulated for those who were formerly incarcerated or gang-involved.
• Excellent verbal and written presentation skills.
• Attention to detail and ability to maintain written documentation.
• Experience with written case management a plus.
• Experience working with Latino & African-American families
• Fluency in Spanish a plus.
• Philadelphia residents with experience in program development are encouraged to apply.
• Experience and familiarity with Family and Supreme Court systems

COVID-19 Precaution(s):

• Personal protective equipment provided or required
• Plastic shield at work stations
• Temperature screenings
• Social distancing guidelines in place
• Virtual meetings
• Sanitizing, disinfecting, or cleaning procedures in place

Hours per week:

• 30-39
• Some weekends