Training Specialist, Fatherhood Program

Hours: Full-Time (40 hours/week)

Reports to: Program Director, F2F

Location: Brooklyn, NYC

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION

Youth Justice Network (YJN) was founded as Friends of Island Academy in 1990 to anchor, support, and develop capacity among young people newly released from jail in New York City. YJN’s mission is to break cycles of incarceration and build an equitable justice system by providing individualized advocacy, mentorship, and opportunities for participants to grow, thrive, and lead.

Position Background & Overview

Funded by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), the Friends 2 Fathers (F2F) program enables low-income Bronx fathers to strengthen relationships with their children, deepen emotional engagement, and increase financial support. The Training Specialist is the program’s lead educator and group facilitator, responsible for delivering DYCD-mandated parenting curricula, steering support groups, and coordinating peer-support and family-focused activities. The role ensures fidelity to DYCD Fatherhood Initiative guidelines while modeling inclusive, strengths-based practice.

Essential Responsibilities

Curriculum Facilitation

• Lead the 15-module online ProFathering15 curriculum for Tier 1–2 fathers, including individualized tech orientations and quarterly “Fathering-in-Action” practice sessions.
• Co-facilitate the eight-session Supporting Father Involvement (SFI) curriculum for Tier 3 fathers and Tier 4 father–coparent pairs, maintaining model fidelity and trauma-informed practice.
• Administer DYCD pre/post Parenting Skills Knowledge Surveys and issue completion certificates.

Support Groups & Peer Coaching

• Plan and facilitate two 90-minute support-group sessions each week (one in-person, one hybrid), integrating skill-building, peer problem-solving, and culturally responsive discussion.
• Pair participants with alumni or volunteer fathers for ongoing peer mentorship; coach Peer Mentor in group-leadership techniques.

Workshops & Family Engagement

• Coordinate monthly and quarterly workshops (e.g., Intergenerational & Societal Skills, Community Involvement, Legal Services, Job Market, Financial Empowerment) in collaboration with partner agencies.
• Plan at least three annual family events/activities and guide fathers in leading two community projects each year, nurturing civic engagement and social capital.

Program Quality & Compliance

• Maintain attendance, milestone, and incentive records in DYCD’s Participant Tracking System (PTS); safeguard gift-card inventory.
• Complete the National Fatherhood Initiative Father-Friendly Check-Up; obtain/maintain Family Development Credential (FDC) or equivalent within first year.
• Participate in 12–15 hours of annual professional development and required mental-health trainings; attend DYCD learning community sessions.

Collaboration & Outreach

• Work closely with Family Development Coaches to align training content with Individual Service Plans (ISPs).
• Support outreach efforts—court waiting rooms, NYCHA events, community fairs—to recruit eligible fathers and coparents.

Qualifications

• Education/Experience – Bachelor’s degree in social work, education, human services, or related field OR a minimum of two (2) years’ successful experience within the past five (5) years facilitating parenting-skills training and support groups for low-income adults.
• Demonstrated knowledge of fatherhood programming best practices, adult-learning principles, and group facilitation.
• Commitment to racial, gender, and economic equity; ability to engage diverse Bronx communities with cultural humility.
• Strong interpersonal, presentation, and motivational skills; comfort discussing systemic racism, gender bias, and trauma.
• Proficiency with basic computer applications, virtual-meeting platforms, and data entry; ability to manage hybrid sessions.
• Availability for evening/weekend programming.
• Preferred: FDC credential; bilingual English/Spanish; lived experience as an actively engaged father; familiarity with DYCD Participant Tracking System.