Violence Intervention Specialist

Job Title:

HEAL DC Violence Intervention Specialist

Salary: $30-35/hr, up to 25 hrs/wk (including evenings and weekends)

About Peace For DC:

Peace For DC is a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC that is dedicated to transforming public safety by empowering communities of color, with essential skills for healing, community building, and professional growth. Utilizing proven strategies in trauma support and community violence intervention, we aim to significantly reduce the homicide rate, build healthy individuals, and foster safer, more resilient neighborhoods.

About the HEAL DC Program:

HEAL DC - Building Healthy, Empowered, Achieving Leaders for DC is a neighborhood-based life transformation program that provides long-term wraparound care and healing for a cohort of individuals most at risk of involvement in gun violence, in some of DC’s most impacted communities. This program is modeled after successful programs like READI and Chicago CRED, and incorporates Roca’s Rewire Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT).

• Canvass in the target area to build rapport and establish presence
• Lead participant vetting and recruitment, focused on individuals at highest risk of involvement in gun violence
• Help gauge participants readiness and risk level
• Ensure participants understand that safety and security is of the utmost importance
• Ensure participants understand that no weapons are allowed on program sites or activities
• Maintain connections with participants throughout the course of the program by facilitating a minimum of one face-to-face and one phone/virtual engagement per week
• Document all participant's engagement
• Encourage participants’ commitment and retention in the program on an ongoing basis
• Help participants get back on track during any setbacks
• Lead safety check ins as needed, and ongoing safety planning and preparedness for HEAL DC team
• Provide programming staff with timely updates of any arrests, other incidents, and/or any violent or potentially violent situations that relate to the program target area and/or program participants
• Identify and detect potential shooting events
• Formulate action plans to resolve conflicts
• Mediate conflicts between individuals and/or groups. Document all conflict mediations
• Work collaboratively with program staff to facilitate individual deescalation strategies, as needed
• Participate in weekly meetings, as a member of the HEAL DC support team, to discuss participant needs, concerns and progress
• Serve as an organizational and program model demonstrating positive behaviors for program participants
• Provide participants with resources, as needed

• High School Diploma or GED, or equivalent combination of education and experience (Must be willing to pursue GED throughout employment)

• Experience working with at-risk youth/young adults and crew/gang members
• Experience and/or training in crisis intervention
• Working understanding of trauma and its impact on individuals, families and communities
• Experience and training in Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (CBI) (e.g. Roca’s Rewire CBT)
• Strong work ethic, demonstrated professionalism and integrity
• Strong interpersonal skills and comfortability working in a team environment
• Overall knowledge of Washington DC culture, resources and communities; specifically Ward 8 and Washington Highlands community
• Committed to ongoing professional and personal development

• Medium work that includes moving objects up to 50 pounds
• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods
• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one work site to another
• Requires the physical ability to respond to physically demanding situations. Includes the ability to run, lift, bend, drop to knees quickly, and utilize full range of motion of hands, arms, shoulders, knees and legs
• Moving about to accomplish tasks throughout the assigned post

Peace for DC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This position is subject to a background check, however, Peace For DC is proudly also a second-chance employer.