Economic Empowerment Specialist

Overview

Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity, and each year, Rising Ground is a positive force in the lives of more than 25,000 individuals. We do this through 50 programs in 70 locations throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity shows not just through our work with supported persons, but is integral to the building of a strong staff that reflects the communities we serve.

JustUs

holistic, gender-responsive program for girls and lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer/transgender and gender non-conforming (LGBQ/TGNC) youth who are involved, or at high risk of involvement, in the youth justice system. The project - which is grounded in the tenets of healing-centered, anti-oppressive practice - brings together highly- skilled individual coaching; evidence-based clinical interventions; opportunities for young people to engage in group-based activities; economic empowerment skill building; and a workplace pilot project. All elements of the project are intentionally designed to support young people cultivate their leadership skills; build their self-reliance; forge healthy social relationships; develop diverse strategies to avoid engaging in criminalize behavior; and greatly enhance their educational experiences and work opportunities.

Economic Empowerment Specialist will provide youth-driven, healing-centered, anti-oppressive, economic justice support and advocacy to all young people engaged in the project. This is an exciting and demanding opportunity for someone looking to participate in the launch of a project that is designed to become a national model.

Responsibilities

• Connect with all young people seeking economic empowerment services within the project;
• Intentionally and regularly engage all young people in frequent individual sessions;
• With each young person, co-construct individualized engagement plans and asses and revise the throughout the length of the young person’s engagement with the project;
• On a rotating schedule, be available - by phone - on evenings and weekends to respond to the needs of the young people involved in the project;
• Design and facilitate a large and diverse series of economic empowerment workshops;
• Spearhead the Workplace Pilot Project, the demonstration project’s intensive occupational experience component;
• Engage in collaboration and case coordination with all project staff and a vast network of stakeholders;
• Participate in weekly supervision, team supervision, and attends other required meetings as required
• Maintain program records, case files, and funder reports with accuracy and attention to timeliness detail;
• Supervise the drop-in center and ensure that there are snacks and supplies available for young people;
• Other duties may be assigned or subject to change.

Qualifications

• MSW strongly preferred.
• MHC-LP or other graduate clinical degree preferred but not required;
• Highly organized, self-motivated worker who can easily manage competing demands;
• Creative problem-solver who anticipates challenges and seizes opportunities for collaboration;
• Able to implement vision, think strategically, exercise good judgment, and lead change;
• High level of self-awareness and ability to give and receive feedback well.
• Impeccable attention to detail, systems, and processes;
• Ability to work with flexibility, independence, accountability, passion, and humor;
• Meaningful commitment to practicing from a healing-centered, anti- oppressive stance;
• Lived experience within systems that impact the young people who will be involved in the project including the youth justice and criminal legal system strongly preferred but not required.

Salary Range 63,000.00 - 70,000.00

EOE