Peer Support Coordination (Reentry)

Job Description

Job Description

Peer Support Coordinator (Reentry)

JOB PURPOSE:

The Peer Support Coordinator will provide job placement assistance, job coaching and related support to formerly incarcerated UW students and graduates (clients) as they leave prison and reenter communities in Southeast Wisconsin. This position is partially funded by the UW Madison Prison Education Initiative (PEI) and will work with the PEI to identify clients and coordinate service provision. The University of Wisconsin-Madison Prison Education Initiative works with UWs to deliver degree, badge and college preparation programs in prisons across the state, giving incarcerated learners the opportunity to reframe their futures through higher education.

The Peer Support Coordinator will manage cases from pre-release through post-release, helping clients develop and follow through on plans for success. This position will work with our Business Services unit and other parts of Employ Milwaukee to identify appropriate job opportunities and help cultivate additional connections with employers. This position will also offer clients assistance in connecting to social service providers to address housing, transportation, education and other needs for entry into the workforce. The end goal is to assist clients in achieving stable employment consistent with their professional goals. Clients will be eligible for Peer Support Coordinator support for up to two years after release.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage a caseload of approximately 10-15 clients to track and encourage progress toward stable employment after clients leave prison.
• Engage in pre-release reach-ins with clients who are coming home to communities in Southeast Wisconsin and need help securing employment.
• Identify employment opportunities for clients, in collaboration with other parts of Employ Milwaukee and external partners.
• Perform regular outreach with regional and local community correction officers, centers, and community reentry staff.
• Connect and co-enroll participants in other support services to address housing, food, training and other needs, when eligible, including programs through Food Employment and Training (FSET) and services within the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
• Collaborate with the PEI to support educational assessment and placement, including maintenance of necessary training/certifications from appropriate state agencies and vendors.

Agency Activities

• Attend scheduled meetings deemed necessary by the UW-Madison Prison Education Initiative, Employ Milwaukee Manager of Reentry Services, or other Employ Milwaukee administration to include community meetings.
• Identify motivation, strengths, challenges, and risks for the process of placement and/or retention.
• Offer job readiness workshops pertaining to resume development, mock interviewing, attendance, punctuality, appearance, and how to effectively verbalize work skills/values to employers.
• Participate in the assigned organization and stakeholder meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

KEY ABILITIES, KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILLS:

• Knowledge of current issues, concepts, and practices related to workforce development and reentry.
• Ability to work in a team environment, while also working independently.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in coordinating program development and relationship management.
• Knowledge of employment barriers facing disadvantaged populations and employer demand for skilled and educated workers.
• Demonstrated capacity to handle multiple tasks, programs and meet deadlines, ability to deal with potential ambiguity.
• Excellent mediation, conflict management, and meeting facilitation skills.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, in group and individual settings, including e-mail and phone.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive information.
• Must have strong administrative and organizational skills including program management, and grant administration and reporting.
• Ability to interact effectively with those of diverse backgrounds.

MINIMUM PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education and Experience
  • Associate degree or equivalency required
  • Experience with the UW-Madison Prison Education Initiative preferred
  • Ability to pass Department of Corrections background check for institution clearance and information sharing for those being served
• Experience
  • 2-3 years of experience within the reentry sphere and/or within the justice system.
• Training/Certification - preferred trained or be willing to be trained within 3 months of being employed within the position
  • Peer Specialist through State of Wisconsin, Trauma Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, National Reentry Workforce Collaboration (Reentry Specialist certification), Wisconsin Department of Corrections orientation (including security training), Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
  • Other training as assigned
• Technology/Equipment : Experience and efficiency with data-entry systems, Microsoft Office products, and experience with virtual platforms

• Current valid Wisconsin Driver’s License, valid car insurance, and reliable vehicle.

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PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS:

The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and/or hear, and/or use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, and/or walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds while moving files or small packages. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Decision making, troubleshooting, change agility, is aware, and positively adapts quickly to frequently changing work environments. Regional and local travel is required to perform job duties.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

This position involves working both in an office environment and potentially within a correctional institution. In the office, the noise level is typically moderate. However, outside the office, within the correctional institution, the noise level may vary. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. May occasionally be required to perform job duties outside of the typical office setting.