Violence Prevention Instructor_FT

The YWCA of Western MA is dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women. The YW provides a safe place for survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. Our programs and services include crisis shelter and transitional housing for survivors and their families, counseling, SAFEPLAN court advocacy, community education, supervised visitation, and vocational training for youth. The YWCA provides services at several sites, including Holyoke, Northampton, Westfield, and our primary Springfield campus. 

The YWCA is seeking a Violence Prevention Instructor. The Violence Prevention Instructor will deliver evidence-based violence prevention curricula to Springfield, MA youth ages 12-18. The Violence Prevention Instructor will also organize trainings for the YWCA agency and staff in its various programs, including its emergency shelter, supportive housing program, young parent living programs, rape crisis center, HIV/IPV patient navigation, hotline, human trafficking programs and community based domestic violence counseling. He/She will leverage existing YWCA partnerships with area colleges, local high schools and agencies that serve high-risk populations through networking and relationship building. They engage youth in critical prevention services, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to prevent exploitation in their lives. The Violence Prevention Instructor will also organize trainings for the YWCA agency and staff in its various programs, including its emergency shelter, supportive housing program, young parent living programs, rape crisis center, community based domestic violence counseling, HIV/IPV patient navigation, hotline, and human trafficking programs. These staff trainings will cover how these programs, especially those that interact with youth, can embed violence prevention into their policies and procedures and their day-to-day interactions with clients.

Reports to: Violence Prevention Project Coordinator

Schedule: Monday- Friday; 37.5 hours per week; with flexibility to respond to programmatic needs Grant timeline (2 years)

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Salary Rate: $23.00

Expectations of all Employees

In the performance of essential and general job responsibilities, all YWCA employees are expected to:

• Demonstrate commitment to the YWCA’s social justice mission and principles of trauma-informed work.
• Represent the YWCA in a professional and competent manner to participants, community members, organizational partners, and others.
• Perform quality work within program guidelines and deadlines.
• Work effectively as a team contributor and foster a positive working environment.
• Work independently while understanding the need for communication and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.
• Maintain professional boundaries, ethics, and strict confidentiality.

Primary Responsibilities for the position include, but are not limited to:

• Deliver at least 15 groups per year (each with 10-15 participants), reaching around 150-225 youth at various youth-serving agencies and schools.
• Plan, design, facilitate, evaluate learning, youth development, and outreach activities.
• Adopt, adapt, facilitate, and deliver the One Love, violence prevention curriculum and “Bout That Life” a bystander intervention workshop designed for students of color.

• Plan and facilitate a large-scale annual event for youth in the community with assistance from the YWCA’s existing Youth Advisory Board to interactively engage in violence prevention work, involving the YWCA’s Youth Advisory Board.
• Connect with the Springfield Police Department's Gang Task Force to leverage its expert knowledge in gang activities in Springfield and Hampden County, organizing an annual agency-wide training.
• Recruit youth for regular groups by developing and maintain relationships with youth serving agencies in the community

Qualifications

• Must be committed to the YWCA agency mission and be able to support its vision actively and responsibly in a positive manner within the agency as well as the community;

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education with 2 years of experience in a human service and/or public health; or another related field;
• Experience in collaborating with nonprofit organizations, public schools, and colleges;
• Experience in working with survivors of teen dating violence, IPV, sexual assault, and/or trafficking;
• Experience in working with at risk youth that include gang involvement;
• Understanding of both interpersonal and structural racism and bias;
• Experience in public speaking and/or group facilitation;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; and
• Access to reliable transportation and valid driver’s license. Must be able to be covered by the agency's insurance policy.
• English / Spanish language proficiency preferred

INTRODUCTORY PERIOD

All employment at the YWCA begins with a 150-day Introductory Period.