Justice Involved Youth Career Coach

The primary objective of the Justice Involved Youth Career (JIYC) Coach is to provide rounded coaching and case management support to juvenile justice youth and those at-risk of entering the system. The EMERGE North4 Go program is to prevent juvenile crime and incarceration through, leadership development and mentoring to youth. The program builds on a community that will support youth development and helps our juvenile justice systems be more effective and compassionate. As a result, the JIYC Coach works collaboratively with Juvenile Justice partners to actively engage in reform efforts, to inspire at-risk youth and give them a chance to transform into positive community leaders.

The JIYC Coach will work with disconnected youth ages 14-24 years who have been involved with juvenile justice, are unstably housed/homeless, and have multiple barriers in their lives. The JIYC Coach will assist youth with obtaining HS Diploma or GED and assist graduates in exploring and enrolling in post-secondary or short-term training programs. The JIYC Coach will offer structured support and guidance and work with youth to set goals around education, building life skills and constructive uses of time, in order to prevent recidivism. This role will spend about 20% each week providing 1:1 check-ins with enrolled youth.

The JIYC Coach performs a wide range of duties including but not limited to the following:

• Provide intensive individualized advocacy by engaging with youth at least bi-weekly for a minimum of four hours per month to develop and implement education, career and life goals that address crime factors, allow youth to experiment with new identities and build life skills in a safe and supportive environment
• Provide crisis management and support and assist youth and their families with locating and referring to outside services to address identified needs
• Develop/implement MOU (including detailed referral processes) with justice system partners (MN DOC, Hennepin County DOCCR, possibly others) and establish communication plans with youth and justice system partners
• Meet with youth’s Probation Officer to make recommendations for and implement potential services for re-entry youth.
• Complete established intake paperwork and Individual Service Strategy (ISS), provide assessments, assist youth with developing training and internship goals, and navigate youth into services to achieve those goals.
• Assist in the development of program marketing materials
• Participate and engage in community events and meetings to build and maintain positive and productive relationships and understand the needs of the youth and the Minneapolis community
• Meet all data, reporting and evaluation requirements, including utilizing multiple database systems to maintain accurate and current case files and service plans and use program data to develop and implement programmatic changes and track program effectiveness.
• Perform any other tasks and duties necessary in order for the agency to meet its mission.

• Essential Job Function

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services education, social services, counseling or related field preferred or equivalent combination of post-secondary education and relevant work experience.

• Minimum one year experience working with at-risk youth.
• Minimum of one (1) year of case management, employment, job development and/or vocational counseling experience.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Ability to initiate, develop and maintain trusting relationships in a short period of time with youth, parents, those representing the juvenile justice system partners, other key external stakeholders, EMERGE volunteers and staff.
• Possess the passion to energetically promote EMERGE’s mission/vision and North4 Go Program components to attract, develop and retain youth and volunteer participation with EMERGE.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and motivate youth toward positive behavior changes using active listening and a strengths-based approach.
• Ability to assist in the facilitation of classes effectively with North4 Go youth, maintain classroom control and actively engage youth in each lesson.
• Ability to take excellent case notes and log hours/activities with youth during coaching sessions and input them into Client Track & Funder Required Database in a regular and timely fashion.
• Ability to understand how data informs programmatic changes and allows EMERGE to track program effectiveness.
• Ability to see the bigger picture of serving our youth and achieving overall agency goals while executing specific deliverables.
• Ability to be aware of one’s own emotions, perspectives, beliefs and identities, as well as respond respectfully to those of others.
• Ability to adapt to change and respect differences in a diverse environment.

• Ability to work youth friendly hours, including evenings and weekends

• Demonstrated skills in Microsoft Office 365, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Experience with data-base systems, specifically with Client Track and Workforce One database is a plus.

• Ability to work effectively in a mission-driven agency whose clients and staff reflect significant diversity with respect to race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, socio-economic status, nationality and religion.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.

• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Ability to travel between multiple agency locations.
• Valid MN Drivers’ License, access to reliable, insured transportation, and the ability to meet agency’s driving requirements including proof of insurance.

ECTC: Incumbent will have a private office/designated workspace in a typical office environment. The building is multiple floors and fully accessible and is smoke-free. Work will include regular local travel. Working hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8 am-5:00 pm, but will include evening and weekend hours. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, sometimes loud.