School-Based Interrupter (Save Our Community)

Salary : $47,216.00 – $62,940.80 Annually

Location : Toledo, OH

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 2021-00090

Department: Mayor’s Office

Division: Office of the Mayor

Opening Date: 06/12/2023

Closing Date: 6/26/2023 12:00 AM Eastern

Description
POSITION SUMMARY:
Save Our Communities (SOC) draws on evidence-based community violence intervention and prevention (CVIP) strategies that aim to reduce and prevent shootings and other serious community violence through the use of public health strategies. Focused on communities, individuals, and networks experiencing or engaging in violence, the School-Based Interrupter works to address violence by:

1. Engaging with 13-19-year-old youth (and their social networks) within target school-communities that have a documented history of severe incidents and other co-occurring challenges (e.g., gang affiliation, chronic absenteeism, substance use) associated with heightened risk of violence victimization or perpetration.
2. Working closely with school staff, SOC Outreach Specialists, and other appropriate partners to identify and provide coordinated support and mentorship to youth at the highest risk of violence victimization or perpetration.
3. Mediating school and community-based conflicts that may result in violence within target school-communities.
4. Working closely with a team of school staff and local partners to respond to incidents of violence that damage school-community norms, student body sense of safety, and may otherwise result in violent retaliation.
5. Working closely with a broad coalition of local partners to promote school safety, positive school-community norms and increase school-community collective efficacy.

School-Based Interrupters operate in school-communities where community violence is high. An Interrupter leverages their reputation, credibility, and training to prevent or disrupt cycles of violence. Interrupters are credible messengers with the unique ability to identify and intervene in individual, group, and gang-related conflicts before they intensify. If a shooting has occurred, they seek out the victim’s social network to try to prevent retaliation. Interrupters are expert conflict mediators utilizing motivational interviewing, decisional balance, restorative practices, their lived experience, and other skills to address safety risks and end conflicts. School-Based Interrupters will be an integral part of reducing gun carrying, gun incidents, and shootings in the school-communities of Woodward, Scott, and Waite high schools and Maritime Academy.

Interrupters are supervised by Outreach Specialists. Some work is performed in an office environment; most work is in the community, with frequent evenings and weekends. Interrupters work independently or as a team to prevent and respond to incidents of violence. This is a grant-funded position.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Intervene in circumstances in which serious interpersonal, group, or gang violence is likely, including possible retaliation.
• Engage high risk individuals and networks in mentorship and wraparound support as part of a multi-disciplinary team aiming to address beliefs, skills, and behaviors that increase the risk of violence.
• Learn about the causes of gun incidents and shootings to assist in mediating situations and preventing retaliation between individuals and groups
• Conduct outreach to build strong relationships with youth, school staff, residents, businesses, and community groups.
• Talk to residents about potential conflicts and assist in preventing them.
• Participate in organizing responses to shootings and increasing visibility when shootings/killings take place.
• Work with community partners to identify and diffuse “hot spots” for shootings and violence
• Report to Outreach Specialist and keep them informed of all relevant community activities.
• Document and maintain accurate records.
• Document mediations, youth with elevated risk factors engaged, and other acts of violence that are prevented.
• Respond to shootings in surrounding communities when necessary.
• Distribute public education materials, information about community events, and important resources to targeted audience.
• Attend and participate in all program trainings.
• Attend weekly staff meetings and other team meetings as required.
• Other duties may be assigned

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of:

• Community in particular, targeted area.
• Street sets, crews, gangs and/or groups

Skill in:

• Problem solving and conflict resolution skills
• Oral communications skills
• Writing skills
• Attention to detail skills
• Time management with a demonstrated ability to multitask

Ability to:

• Oral Comprehension- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Deductive Reasoning- The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Walk 30 blocks or more on a regular basis.
• Converse with high-risk populations, school staff, gang members, law enforcement personnel, public officials, partners, and other stakeholders in various settings.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• Experience working with high-risk youth and gang members.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including late evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Committed to working toward positive community change.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND CERTIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma or GED preferred.
• Reside within the target area preferred.
• Experience or training in Crisis Intervention.
• Experience or training in Trauma Informed Care, resiliency, Positive Youth Development, Restorative Practices, or other relevant youth-development.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described within this job description must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
In this position, the employee will continuously stand, walk, and sit. The position will frequently require the employee to drive a personal vehicle. Speaking and listening are constant essential functions of this position.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment described within this job description will be encountered while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The employee is often outdoors and will also work indoors. At times, this position will require extended work hours.

If you need assistance or an accommodation, or if you have questions about completing the online application, please contact the Department of Human Resources at (419) 245-1500.

Class Code: Mayor’s Assistant 2 (7016)

The City of Toledo provides excellent health and retirement benefits for its employees.

Health Insurance

The City of Toledo is a self-funded medical plan provider that offers a broad network of health services options for its employees. The City also offers a multi-tiered prescription drug plan and dental and vision care services.

Employees are required to pay a monthly premium depending on the employee’s selection of single, single plus one, or family coverage. Coverage is also afforded for qualifying domestic partners, depending on the employee’s bargaining unit. Monthly co-premiums are determined by collective bargaining agreement or Municipal Code.

Group Life Insurance

City employees are covered by a group life insurance plan depending on collective bargaining agreement or Municipal Code.

Ohio Public Employees Retirement Plan

The City is a member of the Ohio Public Employees Retirement Plan (OPERS). All employees who are paid in whole or in part by the state of Ohio, a county, municipality, or any other political subdivision of state or local government in Ohio must become members of OPERS unless they are covered by another state retirement system in Ohio.

OPERS is a pension plan providing fixed retirement benefits every month based on a formula that rewards years of service. The City contributes 14.00% of the employee’s annual base salary and employees contribute 10.00% of their annual base salary.

For more information about OPERS, click on this link: https://www.opers.org/

Deferred Compensation & 401(K)

The City of Toledo offers a voluntary governmental 457(b) deferred compensation plan, which is a retirement savings plan that allows eligible employees to supplement any existing retirement/pension benefits by saving and investing pre-tax dollars through salary deferral.

Contributions and any earnings are tax-deferred (both federal and state income taxes) until money is withdrawn. Withdrawals are taxed at ordinary income levels.

For more information about the Ohio Deferred Compensation click on this link: https://www.ohio457.org/iApp/tcm/ohio457/index.jsp

401(k)

The City of Toledo offers a voluntary pre-tax savings contributions retirement plan. The plan is commonly referred to as a 401(k).

Under the 401(k) plan, an employee’s retirement savings contributions are deducted from the employee’s paycheck before taxation. The City does not make contributions on the employee’s behalf. (Contributions are tax-deferred until withdrawn during retirement). Annual contributions to the 401(k) plan are limited to a maximum pre-tax annual contribution, as established by Internal Revenue Service regulations.

Roth 401(k)

The City of Toledo also offers a voluntary post-tax savings contributions retirement plan. This plan is commonly referred to as a Roth 401(k) Plan.

Under a Roth 401(k) Plan, an employee’s retirement savings contributions are deducted from the employee’s paycheck on a post-tax basis. Annual contributions to the Roth 401(k) plan are limited to a maximum post-tax annual contribution, as established by the Internal Revenue Service.

01

Are you currently employed by the City of Toledo?

• Yes
• No

02

If you are currently employed by the City of Toledo, please list your Division.

03

What is your highest level of education?

• High School Diploma or G.E.D.
• Some College
• Associate’s Degree
• Bachelor’s Degree
• 11th Grade
• 10th Grade
• 9th Grade
• 8th Grade
• None of the above

04

If you have an Associate’s Degree or higher, please list the major and any concentrations of your Degree?

05

Do you have experience working with high-risk youth and gang members?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have experience or training in Crisis Intervention?

• Yes
• No

07

The current targeted areas for Violence Interrupters are the LaGrange Corridor and the Junction/Englewood areas. Please indicate which area you are familiar with and how you are familiar with the area.

Required Question