Position: MENTOR Program Director
Employer: The Honorable Michael Erdos, First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Court of Common Pleas
Application Deadline: February 1st, 2018
Hours: Full time, 40 hours/week. Occasional evening hours required.
Salary Range: $42,662-$47,000
Responsibilities and Opportunities:
Supervise MENTOR Program Coordinator and MSW interns
Manage coordination of Mentors and Participants o Oversee all day-to-day operations of program
Manage recruitment, screening, training, matching and support of mentor volunteers and participants
Facilitate intake of new program participants as needed
Address issues involving mentor and participant (i.e. mentoring concerns, providing pairs with reentry resources, etc.)
Support two monthly Status hearings with participants, mentors and Judge o Implement ongoing MENTOR volunteer and participant trainings and events o Research best practices for reentry and mentoring formerly incarcerated adults o Monitor and implement the program’s policy and procedure manual
Oversee community partnerships o Support existing partnerships and develop new relationships as needed
Manage development efforts and existing grant funding o Monitor program outcomes; assess program strengths, limitations and overall impact o Develop annual budget and program reports as necessary o Oversee federally-funded outcomes evaluation in coordination with the program evaluator o Manage consistent data collection, data entry and use of PAJCIS case management system
Develop and oversee Steering Committee (MENTOR’s advisory board) o Facilitate meetings with Judges and representatives of the District Attorney’s Office, Defender Association, Adult Probation and Parole, and other criminal justice stakeholders and community partners
Encourage stakeholder buy-in and support for program mission
Required Qualifications:
MSW degree or LSW preferred
Experience developing and managing social service programs for young adults
Highly organized, self-motivated individual who is capable of managing multiple projects with minimal supervision
Strong sense of appropriate boundaries and ethics
Comfort working in prisons and court rooms and one-on-one with individuals who are/have been incarcerated and experienced other trauma
Ability to quickly develop relationships
Critical and creative thinker (i.e., able to respond to participant needs when faced with individual challenges and structural barriers)
Able to navigate situations involving conflicting interests/priorities
Punctual and reliable
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Ability to work occasional evening hours
Preferred Qualifications:
Familiarity with Philadelphia reentry resources, network of social service providers, and public benefits
Experience working with young adults involved in the justice system
Experience working in Philadelphia’s criminal justice system
Experience with grant writing and reporting
Prior supervisory and team management practice
Forward-thinking and big-picture oriented
Application Process:
Applications are currently being accepted on a rolling basis. Please send your resume and cover letter via email directly to The Honorable Michael Erdos: Michael.Erdos@courts.phila.gov
Program Overview:
MENTOR is a 12-18 month voluntary reentry program that offers mentoring and case management services pre and post-release. Over mentees’ 12-18 months in the program, mentors provide rich emotional support and unique strengths-based coaching to help their mentee overcome barriers to reentry. The pair is required to communicate via technology at least twice per week and meet in person at least once per month for a minimum of 1.5 hours. Mentors respond to the needs of their mentee, whether it’s applying for a job, designing a resume, decompressing after a stressful week, setting personal goals and more.
In addition to building a relationship with their mentor, mentees are required to appear before Judge Michael Erdos or Judge Kai Scott each month for a 3 hour status hearing at which the Judge provides additional support and encouragement to each pair. MENTOR works with various partners to provide essential resources to mentees, including employment, housing, education, legal services, and public benefits. Additionally, MENTOR provides case management services for all mentees and makes appropriate referrals based on mentees’ initial biopsychosocial needs assessment and ongoing needs. Participants who complete 12 successful months of mentoring will receive a reduction in their remaining probation sentence upon graduation
For any questions, please contact 215-686-3731.