Hospital Responder/Outreach Worker

 

Position Summary

LIFE Camp, Inc. seeks committed and experienced individuals for a community and hospital-based gun violence prevention program that aims to reduce and prevent shootings through the use of public health strategies.

 

The Cure Violence Hospital Responder works individually and as a team to prevent and respond to neighborhood shootings and killings. They provide conflict mediation, referral, and follow-up services to victims of violence and their families. This work is a collaboration between a community-based Cure Violence replication program and partner hospital(s).

Reports To:  Hospital Response/Outreach Worker Supervisor
Principle responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following: 

  • Respond to shootings and other cases of severe violence, to prevent retaliation when notified by hospital staff 

  • Learn about the shooting or violent incident in order to assist in mediating situations and preventing retaliation between individuals and groups 

  • Work to intervene in circumstances in which retaliation is likely 

  • Formulate action plans to help resolve conflicts with the program team 

  • Gain information on potential conflicts affecting South Jamaica neighborhoods 

  • Form relationships with the highest risk people in the community, as well as the people who know them 

  • Report to the Hospital Response/Outreach Worker Supervisor and keep him/her informed of all hospital notifications and communications 

  • Keep a daily log documenting all contacts with hospital staff, patients, and their family and friends

  • Attend all program trainings

  • Attend weekly staff meetings and other team meetings as required

  • Attend regular implementation meetings with hospital staff

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Build relationships with high risk youth and adults

  • Inform the community of LIFE Camp’s presence and available services, positioning the Outreach Worker as an early­ warning system before conflict escalates into violence

  • Intervene in escalating conflicts and seek to prevent retaliation

  • Work to understand why a shooting happened and to determine why it is that you and the team were not informed – developing strategies to be better informed the next time

  • Work to gain trust of the community and the highest risk persons so that they trust you and work with you to prevent violence

  • Maintain constant communication with Outreach Supervisor while in the field

  • Identify youth who are gang members and those at ­risk for joining gangs and work with them to solve current conflicts and discourage future ones

  • Serve as support for individuals to enhance their assistance and use of opportunities and programs in the community (job programs, GED, drug treatment, and mentoring)

  • Advocate for youth through court testimonies, when necessary

  • Participate, as necessary, in organizing responses to shootings and increasing visibility when shootings/killings take place (developing networks with other outreach program workers to coordinate an inclusive and strategic response)

  • Investigate causes of shootings/killings to assist in mediating situations and preventing retaliation between individuals and groups (working with the community, outreach programs and local law enforcement to gain information that may be helpful in preventing additional killings) and provide documentation

  • Identify and diffuse “hot spots” for shootings and violence (conducting eyeball surveys with residents and CBOs to identify areas frequented by potential offenders) and provide documentation

Qualifications

  • An in-depth knowledge of the community in the particular target area

  • Experience working with high risk youth and gang members

  • Knowledge of neighborhoods, street sets, crews, gangs and or groups 

  • Able to pass random drug screenings 

  • Ability to work a flexible schedule that includes late evenings, weekends and holidays

  • Committed to working toward positive community change

  • No pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, child abuse or domestic violence 

  • Excellent communication skills

  • Experience or training in crisis intervention

  • Valid, clean NYS driver’s license strongly preferred.

Position Type: Part-time; requires evenings, late nights, weekends and holiday hours

LIFE Camp