Violence Prevention Project Coordinator_FT

Reports to:          Director of Youth, HIV, and Court Support Programs

Schedule:            Monday- Friday; 37.5 hours per week; with flexibility to respond to programmatic needs

FLSA Status:        Exempt

Salary Rate:        $55,000 annually    

The YWCA of Western MA is dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering survivors. The YW provides a safe place for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. 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. 

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 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 behavior and strict confidentiality. 

Summary

The Violence Prevention Project Coordinator will lead community-level violence prevention and education efforts for youth ages 12-18, who live in the City of Springfield, with a focus on public schools. The Violence Prevention Project Coordinator will also seek to partner with agencies that serve high –risk populations, such as the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Youth Services’ detention program, and the Center of Human Development. Key activities include supervising, planning, designing, facilitating and evaluating youth development, and outreach activities. Lastly, the recruitment, selection, training in bystander intervention and retention of participants for the YWCA’s existing Youth Advisory Board.  

Duties & Responsibilities

•    Lead the YWCA of Western MA’s new violence prevention initiative by acting as a thought leader and strategic planner in the creation of the program’s design, policies and procedures;

•    Supervise two Prevention Instructors who facilitate violence prevention curricula in the schools and co-facilitate sessions both as needed and to increase the program’s capacity;

•    Integrate tenants of violence prevention into the YWCA’s existing policies, procedures, and services toward the goal of bringing a collaborative approach to addressing violence and creating healthy relationship norms;

•    Build and maintain relationship with community stakeholders, such as school systems (public and private) and other youth serving agencies with the intent of partnering to bring violence prevention programming to at-risk youth;

•    Serve as primary point of contact for the violence prevention projecting, including coordination, and scheduling programs and groups;

•    Gather effective data with project evaluators that highlights the project’s success and areas of improvement, conducting continuous quality improvement;

•    With the project’s evaluation partner, guide the development and implementation of assessment tools to determine the quality and pace of participant violence prevention learning;

•    With the project’s evaluation partner, conduct focus groups with young people in the community that will shape the project’s design;

•    Oversee the adoption and adaptation of the project’s TBD central curricula;

•    Conduct some degree of on-site work at local public schools and other agencies, to advance the planning, design, and evaluation of violence prevention learning projects;

•    Based on findings from focus groups, champion youth leadership opportunities such as a Violence Prevention Youth Advisory Board or a youth leadership summit;

•    Ensure the completion of project status reports and/or other documentation for grantors, internal teams, evaluators, and community stakeholders in accordance with timelines and requirements;

•    Participate in regular supervision and project meetings with the Director of Youth, HIV, and Court Support Programs and evaluators;

•    Attend required agency meetings, external meetings and trainings; and

•    Perform other duties as necessary.

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 3 years of experience in a human services 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 required. Must be able to be covered by the agency's insurance policy.

EEO STATEMENT

It is the policy of YWCA of Western Massachusetts to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the YWCA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

DISCLAIMER

The above statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position.

AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT

The YWCA is an “at-will” equal opportunity employer. While the YWCA will continue to operate with care regarding employment decisions, the YWCA and its employees may terminate the employment relationship at any time and for any reason, with or without cause, and without advance notice. Exceptions include select, non-exempt positions covered under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS

The YWCA, in our effort to provide safety to those we serve, and to protect our agency, performs criminal offender record information (CORI) checks on all prospective employees. Final offers of employment are contingent upon receipt of an acceptable CORI report as solely determined by the YWCA.

INTRODUCTORY PERIOD

All employment at the YWCA begins with a 150-day introductory period.