Amity Foundation, an internationally acclaimed Teaching, and Therapeutic Community is seeking compassionate and enthusiastic individuals with a desire to teach, learn and join our community as a
Credible Messenger Supervisor. This groundbreaking opportunity will allow you to work with our prison and re-entry programs helping the community and will also enhance your training and experience in the field.
About Amity:Amity Foundation is a safe place where people can change in an environment that fosters trust; where new values can be formed; responsibility developed, and lasting relationships built. Amity is dedicated to the inclusion and habilitation of people marginalized by addiction, homelessness, trauma, criminality, incarceration, poverty, racism, sexism, and violence. Amity is committed to research, development implementation, and dissemination of information regarding community building.
Remembrance, Resolution, Reconciliation, Restoration, Renewal About the Position:Relying on effective communication, listening, and conflict mediation skills, the Credible Messenger Supervisor is responsible to supervise Credible Messenger Associates (also referred to as “Credible Messengers”). Demonstrate and teach work with youth in individual and group settings to assist them in modifying and changing their behaviors because of personal demonstration and credibility. The Credible Messenger Supervisor supports and coaches Credible Messengers guiding and motivating at-risk youth to challenge and transform negative thinking, attitudes, and actions while promoting restorative justice, family involvement, community engagement, and planning for transition back to the community. These face-to-face services will be conducted in LA County Probation Facilities, Camps, and Secure Youth Treatment Facilities (SYTF’s). Likely as a part of the project will be designated unit or units at a Juvenile Hall(s)/Camp(s) as needed (Los Padrinos, Camp Glenn Rockey, Barry J., etc.). At-will shift work availability needed on a Monday thru Friday or Tuesday thru Saturday Schedule for 8 hour shifts “as needed” between the hours of 8AM to 7PM.This position supports policies and procedures governing the project, and supports appropriate strategies for the delivery of services, and works as part of a team to ensure contract compliance with Amity Foundation, the Department of Youth Development (DYD), and County of Los Angeles Juvenile Probation Department.
What You Will Do:
- Relies on unique relationships with at-risk youth to implement innovative approaches to restorative justice;
- Utilizes effective communication, listening, and conflict mediation skills to engage youth participants;
- Works in conjunction with staff to model positive behavior, including respect, support and encouragement during challenging and stressful situations;
- Provides youth with tools and skills needed for success;
- Works with youth in individual and group settings to modify behaviors;
- Uses lived experience to connect with at-risk youth, guiding and motivating individuals towards prosocial living;
- Promotes restorative justice, family involvement, community engagement, and re-integration in the community;
- Demonstrates significant personal growth and change since release from a correctional system;
- Partners with DYD/Probation staff to create an overall therapeutic environment focusing on developing the youths’ identity, family connections, and positive supportive community.
- Communicate effectively with DYD/Probation staff.
- Maintains sensitivity and objectivity under pressures generated by associate with participants;
- Protects and maintains participants’ health, safety, welfare, and confidentiality of records and information; and
- Models professionalism, effective work habits, and responsible living.
- Assists Project Director with supervision, training, and faculty/staff monitoring as needed.
- May be required to substitute or “cover” for Credible Messenger(s) shift coverage and/or caseload monitoring as needed.
What You Will Bring
- Ability to maintain sensitivity and objectivity under pressures generated by association with participants;
- Ability to provide genuine warmth, empathy and honest sensitivity to program participants to facilitate positive change;
- Ability to provide program participants with frequent acknowledgment and reinforcement for positive behaviors, as well as consistent and predictable feedback for negative behaviors, which may include reporting violations to DYD/Probation staff.
- Ability to develop a treatment alliance with participants;
- Ability to integrate, disseminate, and implement requirements, reporting timeframes and/or procedure changes as indicated by DYD/Probation.
- Ability to effectively supervise and train a multi-disciplinary team; and,
- Excellent interpersonal, written communications and typing skills.
- Required:
- Must have been previously incarcerated in an institutional setting or at-risk program in the community.
- Must have minimum of two (2) years of documented experience as a credible messenger counseling/working in a facility, community organization or treatment center working with incarcerated youth and at-risk youth;
- Must have previous experience facilitating individual and group sessions; assisting, guiding, and monitoring clients over time promoting and encouraging with their overall treatment progress; anti-social and at-risk behaviors that interfere with treatment and recovery.
- Must be able to work a flexible schedule. Hours are subject to change based on program needs;
- Must pass a background check administered by DYD/Probation/LA County.
- Preferred:
- Lived Experience (formerly incarcerated or justice involved) with demonstrated ability to live productive and law-abiding lives since discharge from the criminal justice system is required for this position.
- Previous work experience with at-risk youth and/or work with the Criminal Justice Involved in an incarceration setting.
- Previous work experience with at-risk youth and/or work with the Criminal Justice Involved in a housing/program setting.
- Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counselor Certification and/or registration.
- Occupational Mentor Certification Program (OMCP) experience in a correctional setting.
- Two (2) Years of Documented Supervision Experience.
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- Continuing Education/Training:
- Within specified contract timeframes, personnel file shall document evidence of participation in the following trainings:
- New Employee Orientation (Organizational and Institutional Orientation)
- Initial orientation to DYD/Probation policies and procedures provided by DYD/Probation
- Motivational Interviewing
- Monthly Training
- Additional training topics relevant to the delivery of treatment services may include:
- Required Curriculum
- Case management and record keeping requirements, including ARMS
- Appropriate, required individualized treatment/action plan documentation
- Working with participant in a secure facility setting
- Professional ethics and overfamiliarity
- Confidentiality (Title 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 2)
- Process group and cognitive skills group
- Counseling and other skills necessary to develop a treatment community within a prison setting
- Therapeutic community concepts
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Criminal justice treatment
- Gender responsive treatment
- Criminality
- Impact of trauma on SUD and criminality
- Treatment of trauma
- Treatment within a diverse offender population
- Issues impacting SUD and criminality
- Cultural Competency Training
- CPR Certification, First Aid Certification and an annual Tuberculosis (TB) test
- Sexual Harassment Prevention and Prison Rape Elimination Policy (PREA)
- Emergency Procedures
- Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (Title 45 CFR Part 164)
- Signed acknowledgement of Drug Free Workplace policy
- Participate in monthly, block, cross-training, curriculum trainings, technical assistance training or other training
What We Bring:
- Medical, Dental, Vision.
- Paid vacation, sick time, & holidays.
- 401K, HSA, & Life insurance programs.
- Organization committed to community action.
- Community oriented workplace.
