Youth Gang & Gun Violence Intervention Specialist

The Youth Gang & Gun Violence Intervention Specialist will provide direct services to youth using two evidence-based programs identified by the National Gang Center (NGC), which was created by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

This position will work in support of local crime prevention/intervention initiatives. This includes providing direct coordination and input into the strategic planning, implementation, management, and evaluation of the locality’s response to youth crime and gang prevention programs, services, and community groups including the implementation of OJJDP’s Comprehensive Gang Model’s Core Strategies: 

• Intervention, Prevention and Education
• Court Service Unit-Gang Awareness and Identification Programs
• Gang Resistance and Education Training 
• Aggression Replacement Training 

The Youth Gang & Gun Violence Intervention Specialist will also assist the Court Service Unit (CSU) and the City of Lynchburg through implementation of strategies and evaluation of programs, services, and community initiatives.  This position will assist the CSU and other internal and external stakeholders working on juvenile crime prevention with improving the efficiency and effectiveness of collaborations through responsibility for special projects and on-going tasks related to such management functions as staffing work groups, short and long-range planning, program evaluation, program development, and performance measurement.  They will execute key backbone functions of the locality’s crime prevention initiatives, provide education and consultation to key stakeholders and the community, and monitor and promote benchmarks of progress.  Performance of this work requires initiative, creativity, attention to detail, outstanding people and organizational skills, flexibility and the exercise of independent judgment.  The ability to use data strategically, identify and improve what works, and make recommendations regarding direct resources to support effective evidence-based strategies, programs and services is required.

This is a City of Lynchburg position housed in the 24^th CSU.  The 24^th District Court Service Unit is made up of a dedicated team of professionals working to support the strategic direction of County, City, and State governments through the commitment to excellence in public safety and accountability by providing effective prevention and intervention programs and services that improve the lives of youth, strengthening both families and communities.    ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following: 
 

• Work directly with youth, youth groups, to provide evidence-based programming in support of locality crime prevention initiatives
• Provide primary staff support to the locality for the implementation of crime and gang prevention programs, services and community groups 
• Assist in planning, developing, and executing strategies to achieve better outcomes for these youth and families 
• Participate in short and long-range planning related to locality crime prevention goals, strategies and action steps
• Build relationships with and among critical community partners and stakeholders 
• Assist in the development and enhancement of locality’s crime and gang prevention initiatives and activities, monitor policy adherence, and identify trends
• Coordinate evaluation activities for locality’s crime prevention initiatives, analyze data, review goals and objectives, and recommend improved efficiency and effectiveness measures 
• Respond to requests from community partners, CSU and City leadership, committees and other key stakeholders
• Support outreach to new and diverse community partners
• Represent the locality on various committees and task forces
• Provide workshops and outreach on crime prevention initiative implementation and outcomes
• Participate with cross-systems work to integrate efforts on the part of various entities (City, schools, non-profits and others) to achieve program and service goals
• Coordinate with Lynchburg Police Department to utilize juvenile crime data and intelligence information in order to strategically identify responses to youth gun and gang crime
• Perform related work as required within compliance of VJCCCA policies 

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Certification in Gang Resistance and Education Training and Aggression Replacement Training 
• General knowledge of the philosophy, objectives, and rationale of child and youth development programs and youth crime and gang prevention
• Good knowledge of the City of Lynchburg and the needs of its youth and families in order to develop and coordinate resources and programs
• Ability to collect, analyze, interpret and prepare data, and the ability to utilize this data to evaluate programs and community needs
• Ability to establish short and long-range plans related to CSU crime prevention program needs
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing 

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 

• Bachelor's Degree with course work in criminal justice, psychology or sociology or a related field of study 
• Considerable progressive experience and knowledge of social work, particularly related to juvenile justice, the administration of gang intervention and prevention programs; applicable Federal, State and local laws, policies, procedures, and best-management practices pertaining to gang prevention and intervention, specifically the Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention's Comprehensive Gang Model; the nature, causes and risk factors of gang formation, gang culture, gang violence, and gang organizations and the protective factors to mitigate the threat of gangs; the collection, analysis, interpretation, preparation and communication of data, with an ability to utilize data in order to evaluate programs and the community's needs
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with top management; municipal, state, and federal officials employees; the public; and with persons of various social, cultural, or economic backgrounds
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing

Preferred Qualifications:

Five years of experience and thorough knowledge of/in the juvenile justice and  criminal justice system, with at least two years of direct experience working with troubled youth and their families; the community and its needs in order to develop and coordinate resources and programs; specific local and regional information pertaining to gang activity; facilitation, mediation and other activities designed to bring parties together to facilitate solutions to groups having different interests; planning, developing, evaluating, and managing at-risk youth programs. Successful completion of Federal Criminal Records Check and Child Abuse Registry is required as well as a valid driver's license from state of residence.

Salary : $46,708 - $54,183