Trainer, Criminalized Survivors Program

Location: Downtown Brooklyn and Rikers (virtually and in-person when possible)

About Rising Ground: Driven by the belief that each of us can thrive when life has hope and opportunity, Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity and each year Rising Ground is a positive force in the lives of more than 25,000 individuals. STEPS to End Family Violence - Rising Ground’s anti-intimate partner violence program - offers a variety of trauma-informed, anti-oppressive programming focused on the prevention of intimate partner violence (IPV); advocacy and healing for survivors and children impacted by abusive partner behavior; and training intended to increase awareness of the epidemic of gender-based violence. Since the program's founding in 1986, STEPS has been deliberately dedicated to engaging in work that is innovative and deeply survivor-centered and works to promote the idea that support for survivors of IPV that is not aligned with anti-oppressive, anti-racist, feminist/womanist principles tends to unintentionally mimic systems of oppression, and, ultimately, is re-traumatizing and ineffective. About the Criminalized Survivors Program: For over 30 years, the STEPS Criminalized Survivors Program has offered comprehensive clinical and legal advocacy services to survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) or other forms of gender-based violence (GBV) who have been criminalized for their efforts to survive or resist abusive partner behavior. We support survivors facing felony and/or misdemeanor charges in any borough. In addition, STEPS CSP has a designated Advocate/Counselor serving criminalized survivors on-site at the Manhattan and Brooklyn Family Justice Centers, and a Training team that helps lead the City's Whole-City response to criminalized survivors.

Position Description: Two Trainers design and refine training curricula, and facilitate training, aimed at educating City agencies and community-based organizations on identifying and supporting criminalized survivors of gender-based violence. The Training Team engages in extensive outreach to community based anti-IPV organizations, Family Justice Center on- and off-site partner staff, institutional defenders and 18Bs, DA offices, criminal justice reform organizations, reentry organizations, and correctional services staff. Recognizing the mutually informing relationship between direct practice and provider education, Trainers also engage in clinical and advocacy services with criminalized survivors at Rikers and in the community.

• Design training curricula and facilitate training aimed at educating City agencies and community-based organizations about criminalized survivors.
• Engage survivors and team members around feedback on trainings, training materials, and as cofacilitators.
• Conduct extensive outreach to raise awareness about the experiences of criminalized survivors.
• Collect data about the impact of the training, trends, and directions for future work.
• Provide direct clinical and advocacy support to a midsize caseload of criminalized survivors.
• Actively and collaboratively participate in weekly supervision and team meetings.
• Actively and collaboratively participate in planning and implementation meetings with City actors such as the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence.
• Demonstrate accountability to survivors by adhering to program policies and practices related to case note entry, maintenance of participant files, obtaining participant consent, and all other direct practice processes.

Other tasks assigned by STEPS CSP leadership.

• Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW/LCSW), Licensed Mental Health Counselor or other relevant graduate degree required
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, strongly preferred
• Strong and dynamic counseling and advocacy skills
• Dynamic and engaging outreach, training, and facilitation skills
• Nuanced understanding of the dynamics of gender-based violence and systems of dominance and oppression
• Meaningful commitment to the tenets of healing-centered anti- oppressive practice
• High level of self-awareness and ability to give and receive feedback well
• Impeccable attention to detail, systems, and processes
• Ability to work with flexibility, independence, accountability, passion, and humor.

How to Apply: All applications will be received via email. No phone calls or snail mail, please. All applications must include (in PDF format) a current resume and thoughtful cover letter including how you became aware of this opportunity. 

Offers: Medical/Dental/Vision, PTO, 401k, opportunities for career growth and more

Salary expectations: up to $74,000.00