Violence Intervention Specialist

Overview

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Location
:
Camden County, NJ

Job Type/Status: Full-Time

Salary: $23 to $27 per hour

Position Summary:

The Peer Support / Violence Intervention Specialist is responsible for conducting street-based outreach, violence interruption, and conflict mediation with individuals highly involved in or at risk for violence. The position provides non-clinical, hope-centered peer support through relationship-based engagement, real-time de-escalation, and mentorship grounded in lived experience. In addition to individual outreach and mediation, the Specialist plays an active role in community mobilization efforts, supporting and facilitating community-led events, healing activities, and collective responses to violence that promote safety, hope, and community resilience.

The role integrates direct outreach, peer support, and community engagement to interrupt cycles of violence and support pathways toward non-violent futures.

Outreach and Engagement

• Engage high-risk individuals in the community using street-level presence and building rapport.
• Represent the program through consistent presence in the community and participate in outreach and community mobilization objectives.
• Support and participate in community-led responses to violence
  , including healing circles, vigils, peace walks, and awareness events following violent incidents.
• Assist in planning and implementing community mobilization activities that promote non-violence, healing, and collective responsibility for safety.
• Engage residents, participants, families, and community partners to strengthen collective efficacy and community ownership of violence prevention and intervention efforts.
• Establish and maintain trusting, supportive relationships with participants as the foundation for engagement, safety planning, and

Violence Intervention and Crisis Support

• Identify individuals and situations at heightened risk for violence or retaliation.
• Intervene in emerging conflicts and disputes and circumstances where retaliation or further violence is likely, applying de-escalation and conflict mediation strategies in real-time.
• Respond promptly to community-based incidents involving individuals at elevated risk of violence, including shootings, stabbings, and credible threats of retaliation.
• Provide Psychological First Aid to participants, family members, and close associates following violent incidents, including triage, emotional stabilization, and practical support.
• recovery.
• Participate in on-call shooting and crisis support response.

Advocacy and Care Coordination

• Conduct intakes and assessments to determine participants' level of risk, needs, and appropriate services.
• Provide care coordination tailored to assessed risk level, including intensive support for individuals at elevated risk of continued violence involvement.
• Serve as an advocate for participants in accessing social services, safe housing, education, counseling, substance use treatment, employment, and other resources to support long-term stability.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of community resources and agencies to effectively connect participants with needed supports.

Peer Support and Hope-Centered Individual and Group Engagement

• Provide non-clinical, one-on-one peer support grounded in a hope-centered, trauma-informed framework.
• Support participants in identifying meaningful goals, pathways toward stability, and personal agency.
• Reinforce motivation, engagement, and follow-through with services and supports.
• Model pro-social behaviors and non-violent decision-making through lived experience and mentorship.
• Co-facilitate structured group sessions focused on historical and intergenerational trauma and the science of hope.
• Support psychoeducation, guided reflection, and healing-centered dialogue in a safe, respectful environment.
• Assist participants in developing personal narratives, insight, and future-oriented visions grounded in non-violence.
• Represent the agency in the…