Job Description

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit   

The Center is a 900-employee, $130 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs

The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

Policy & Expert Assistance

The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area. 

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Midtown Community Justice Center seeks a Community Navigator for the Community First program. The aim of Community First is to create an upstream diversion from arrest and justice system involvement by building supportive relationships with people in need of services and creating linkages to mental health services, housing support, substance use services, and other kinds of social services as needed. Community First is a partnership between Midtown Community Justice Center, Breaking Ground, Fountain House, Times Square Alliance, Housing Works, and Ryan Health.

The Community Navigator will be tasked with engaging community members frequenting the Times Square and Midtown Manhattan area who are experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness and often have co-occurring behavioral health challenges. In keeping with the Community First model, the Navigator will build trusting relationships with those individuals, and facilitate linkages to social services and other community-based resources. The Community Navigator will also work with clients of MCJC’s onsite programs, including court-based and diversion programs, who are unstably housed. Community Navigators are peers who share some lived experience with clients and use their own experience in establishing trusted relationships.

• Perform community outreach in the Times Square area and broader Midtown community; 
• Identify and build relationships with individuals who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, substance use disorders, mental health crises, or in need of other supportive services in the Midtown area;  
• Work with a diverse population in a mutually respectful manner, using a strengths-based and client-centered approach; 
• Develop and maintain working knowledge of local resources for health and wellness as well as public benefits;
• Develop and maintain relationships with local businesses that can provide additional support (e.g., employment opportunities, access to bathrooms, access to free food and supplies);
• Provide clients with support and linkages to programs and opportunities in the community (e.g., benefits, job programs, health, housing, and treatment services); 
• Provide mobile case management and accompany clients to appointments and external service providers;
• Provide peer support and case management to court-involved clients struggling with housing insecurity or other behavioral health challenges;
• Know how to properly administer Naloxone and train community members how to use harm reduction tools including Naloxone and drug test strips;
• Adhere to policies and procedures of the Community First program and Midtown Community Justice Center;
• Accurately and efficiently document client interactions and assigned tasks;
• Contribute to data collection, documenting case management efforts and adding to the monthly report due to stakeholders; 
• Communicate effectively, and in a timely manner, with Midtown staff to provide client updates;
• Attend weekly supervision, trainings, and staff meetings, and keep supervisor informed of all work-related activities;
• Participate in community engagement projects, meetings, and events, including during evenings and weekends, as needed;
• Support Midtown Community Court initiatives more broadly, as needed; and
• Additional relevant tasks, as needed.

Qualifications: A high school diploma and at least 2 years of relevant experience. Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or Recovery Coach certificate a plus. Candidates must have experience working with a diverse population, including individuals with a history of substance abuse and/or mental illness, using a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach. Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred. Additional qualifications include: 

• Use lived experience and be comfortable serving as a role model to connect with clients and support them in their goals;
• Individuals who are formerly incarcerated, live with a mental health diagnosis, have experienced housing insecurity, and/or have experience with substance use treatment and recovery are particularly invited to apply;
• Able to walk 30 blocks or more on a regular basis;
• Knowledge of community-based resources throughout New York City, especially Midtown Manhattan;
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of harm reduction;
• Ability to motivate clients in a courteous, empathic, and professional manner;
• Commitment to working as part of a collaborative team to ensure coordination of care for participants;
• Strong communication skills to convey information clearly, accurately, and completely;
• Ability to maintain professional demeanor when handling difficult contacts;
• Experience using Microsoft Office and Google Suite programs such as Outlook and Gmail (email), Slack, and case management systems;
• Strong work ethic, particularly in a team setting; and
• Commitment to creating, promoting, and maintaining a respectful, inclusive, and anti-racist work environment.

Position Type: Full-time, temporary for one year.

Position Location:  Midtown, Manhattan.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $28.51 - $32.97 per hour based on a 35-hour work week and is commensurate with experience. The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network after 90 days of employment. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We also offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. While the Center does not require vaccination, we strongly recommend that all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up to date.

In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment verification form upon hire. Please refer to the job posting for relevant contact information. If contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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