Violence Interrupter Jobs

Organization Overview
Since 1981 CHRIS 180 has been dedicated to healing and recovery for children, youth, adults, and families and is a growing $40 million organization with over 400 employees. CHRIS 180 services include counseling for the community at large; school-based mental health counseling; comprehensive wraparound services; homes for abused, neglected foster children with emotional and behavioral problems who are in state custody and for unaccompanied children in federal foster care; supportive housing for single and parenting young people, ages 17 – 24 who are homeless or aging out of foster care; in-home services and community programs that strengthen families; outreach, drop-in and community housing for older teens, young adults and families with children experiencing homelessness; services in community centers and partnerships with afterschool providers; an adoption program for children in foster care; teen and gun violence reduction programming; and, training for professionals, human service workers, educators, volunteers, individuals who work within the community, in hospitals, other organizations and with children, youth, adults, and families. The goal for all services is to unlock the potential that resides in each person to help them build resiliency and become self-sufficient, contributing adults who have the skills to navigate life’s challenges. Numerous partnerships support this work.
Program Overview:
Cure Violence is a strategic evidence-based public health approach to reduce and prevent shootings and killings in NPU-V and other communities in Atlanta with a high burden of homicide.
Position Description:
The Cure Violence-Violence Interrupter is responsible for stopping shootings by doing all that is required
individually and in a team to prevent all shootings in the neighborhood assigned.
Role and Responsibilities:
The primary duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Calling for assistance when situations require it
• Respond to shootings in other communities, when necessary
• Working to gain the trust of the community and the highest-risk persons so that they know why you are there – to help prevent shootings and violence, and to help high-risk persons in any way you can
• Document shootings and other acts of violence prevented
• Work closely with management toward the development of the Violence Prevention Plan
• Letting it be known that you and other violence interrupters and outreach workers are here to stop shootings and that they should tell you when shootings or other violence might happen so that you can help intervene
• Gaining information on potential conflicts in Cure Violence communities, working to prevent initial acts of violence, and formulating action plans to help resolve conflicts and prevent likely retaliatory shootings
• Document detailed client case notes and other duties as assigned
• Identify and diffuse “hot spots” for shootings and violence
• 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
• 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)
• Work as a member of a team – work together to ensure that shootings are reduced
• Getting to know all the highest-risk persons and the people who know them
• Developing relationships with influential individuals and groups in the community
• Distributing public education materials within the community
• Working to intervene in circumstances in which violence is likely, including possible retaliation
• Attend weekly meetings, daily briefings and debriefings, and other meetings or training as assigned
• Referring potential clients/participants to outreach workers
• Continuously keep Program Supervisor informed as to what is going on (this includes: what is going right, what is going wrong, and anticipating what might go wrong)
• Engage with the community (individually and as a team member) to build strong relationships with youth, residents, businesses, and community groups
• Working 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

Qualifications:

• Experience working with at-risk youth and gang members
• Experience or training in crisis intervention
• No pending criminal cases or prior convictions for domestic violence (within 10 years) or prior convictions for sexual assault or child abuse
• Valid Georgia driver’s license, insurance, and good driving record
• Knowledge of the Service Area
• Excellent communication skills

Benefits we offer:

• 403 (b) plan
• Flex Spending Account
• Health Savings Account
• Vision Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Dental Insurance
• Short and Long Term Disability
• Paid Time Off
• Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance and AD&D
• Health Insurance

Other:
The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Technical expertise that allows well-informed decisions, usage of available tools and resources and training to execute job responsibilities
• Accountable for work being completed accurately and in a timely manner as well as following up as needed
• Ability to adapt and adjust to the course and be open to new ideas
• Ability to communicate using appropriate tone when corresponding verbally or written (as well as proper usage of grammar and spelling)
• Ability to collaborate with other staff to ensure best practices and sound decisions

Ability to manage workload by having a clear understanding of task/project and set realistic timelines and goals

• Commitment to our vision and mission should be demonstrated in the work

Schedule:
This is a full-time position and typically works Tuesday – Saturday 2:00 pm – 10:00 pm but requires flexibility. Some hours outside the shift may be required to meet the community's demands.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.