Violence Interrupter - Chicago, United States - YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago

Description

The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago is hiring a full-time Violence Interrupters to work with our Youth Safety Violence Prevention Program (YSVP).

Violence Interrupters engage the individuals at highest risk of perpetrating violence and those that are most likely to be victimized and mediates any potential conflicts. Violence Interrupters engage and internally refer individuals, ages 15 and up, who are living in the chaos of violence with a goal of reducing their risk and increasing safety for them and their families. Violence Interrupters identify individuals through street outreach, referrals from hospitals, victim services programs, and community-based organizations.

Engaging and Supporting Participants:

• Operates from a trauma-informed lens that properly supports those that may have been traumatized.
• Immediately identifies potential conflicts that are escalating and engages all parties involved in conversations to mitigate potential violence.
• Immediately works to reduce likelihood of retaliatory incidents.
• Reaches out consistently to the highest risk individuals and successfully engages them in services.
• Demonstrates supportive behavior and role models positive appropriate interactions.
• Maintains communication and contact with each participant on a weekly basis, at minimum.
• Works with participants on violence prevention and risk reductions skills (i.e., anger management, conflict resolution, decreasing violent behavior, being mindful about their networks and other life skills).
• Assists and encourages participants to become involved in positive activities such arts, employment, and recreation.
• Documents service delivery for participants and mediations as outlined in program requirements.
• Performs other related tasks as required or assigned.

Professionalism and Work Conduct:

• Conducts themselves with integrity and demonstrates high ethical standards that are consistent with the organization's values
• Acts in a professional manner at all times and maintains appropriate boundaries with participants, their families and coworkers.
• Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments to others.
• Reports to work, meetings, training, and job-related activities prepared and as scheduled.
• Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and coworkers.
• Accepts feedback and ideas from team and supervisor and is constructive when sharing feedback and ideas with others.

Professional Development

• Attends regular supervision, team meetings, required training, and other professional workshops to enhance job skills.
• Sets annual developmental goals with supervisor to meet learning needs and interests, while also enhancing job performance and skills.

Education/Job Experience/Certification:

• Demonstrated ability and proficiency to do this work through a screening process.

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Experience working in high-risk communities and high-risk individuals.
• Knowledge of local community resources (services providers, programs)
• Has an understanding of trauma-informed practice.

Child Abuse Prevention:

Supports the YMCA's commitment to child abuse prevention by:

• Reporting any items that may provide a health or safety hazard to staff, members or guests to your supervisor
• Following all policies and procedures related to keeping children safe in our facilities and programs, including those related to the monitoring and supervision of children
• Reporting any suspicious behavior and violation of policy and procedures to your supervisor
• Completing all child abuse prevention training as required