Transitional Specialist

Transitional Specialist

Location: Long Island City and Rikers Island

Days/Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm

Organization Overview

The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) has been working for over 57 years in service to its mission: to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities.

Fortune has grown steadily over the years to an agency with close to $90 million in annual budget with just under 600 staff. We anticipate that we will keep growing, both in size and depth of service. Fortune has a dual mission: both advocacy and service. The advocacy portion of our mission focuses on building a more just criminal legal system and reducing the barriers to reentry into society. The service side of Fortune has evolved to encompass a broad range of programs that started with employment and education and now includes a robust array of services, among them: alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning within correctional facilities, licensed substance use and mental health treatment, a housing continuum ranging from emergency and transitional through permanent congregate and scattered site housing, assistance in obtaining benefits, a care management unit, HIV services, a food and nutrition program, and an arts program. Each service we provide is informed by the needs of the population we serve. Fortune currently serves approximately 14,000 people a year. Our program models are recognized, both nationally and internationally, for their quality and innovation. We have locations in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens.

Position Summary

The Transitional Specialist serves a key function in coordinating and linking people living with HIV (PLWH)—both those preparing for release from New York City jails and those newly released from New York State prisons—to essential community services that support stabilization, continuity of care, and successful reintegration.

Core Competencies

Mission and Fit: Embodies Fortune's mission and values and will be an effective member of the team in furthering both. The candidate should exhibit compassion and understanding for our participants (wherever they are in their re-entry process) and embrace Fortune's core value that none of us should be measured against the worst things we have done.

Harm Reduction: Must demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of harm reduction principles, practices and strategies.

LGBTQ+: Must possess the ability to work effectively and respectfully with people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.

Recidivism: Must be able to effectively support clients who recidivate, providing non-judgmental, trauma-informed, and strength-based services that promote engagement, stability, and continued progress.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for conducting intakes and assessments
• Responsible for reviewing and confirming Discharge Plans
• Responsible for facilitating individual counseling sessions that incorporate humanistic principles and client empowerment strategies to support client growth
• Responsible for providing transportation, using an agency vehicle, for clients on their release date to the designated destination outlined in their discharge plan, ensuring safety and adherence to agency protocols.
• Responsible for delivering emergency basic-needs services and supporting clients in accessing emergency housing assistance, HRA benefits, and appropriate medical care
• Responsible for conducting timely follow-up within 72 hours of client release from Rikers Island, ensuring connection to essential services
• Must be able to coordinate with clients' external service providers as needed to ensure continuity of care and comprehensive support.
• Responsible for accompanying clients to scheduled appointments, as appropriate, to ensure access to services, provide support, and address barriers to care.
• Conduct client outreach and home visits as needed to support engagement, assess needs, and ensure connection to essential services.
• Enter progress notes into the agency's proprietary client database in a timely, accurate, and compliant manner.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Must be able to obtain correctional-facility clearance and work effectively within facility guidelines, which may include lockdowns, screening of personal belongings, and restrictions on items such as food and clothing, as determined by the Department of Correction.
• A high school diploma or GED/HSE is required. Some college education is preferred
• Experience working with PLWH;
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and accurate database entry
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish preferred

We seek talented, dedicated individuals from all walks of life who possess a strong commitment to this mission. Relevant personal experience is a plus.