The YWCA of Western MA is dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women. The YW provides a safe place for survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. Our programs and services include crisis shelter and transitional housing for survivors and their families, counseling, SAFEPLAN court advocacy, community education, supervised visitation, and vocational training for youth. The YWCA provides services at several sites, including Holyoke, Northampton, Westfield, and our primary Springfield campus. 

Expectations of all Employees

In the performance of essential and general job responsibilities, all YWCA employees are expected to:

• Demonstrate commitment to the YWCA’s social justice mission and principles of trauma-informed work.
• Represent the YWCA in a professional and competent manner to participants, community members, organizational partners, and others.
• Perform quality work within program guidelines and deadlines.
• Work effectively as a team contributor and foster a positive working environment.
• Work independently while understanding the need for communication and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.
• Maintain professional boundaries, ethics, and strict confidentiality.

Summary

The Violence Prevention Instructor will deliver evidence-based violence prevention curricula to youth ages 12-18, who live in Hampden County. The Prevention Instructor will leverage existing YWCA partnerships with area schools and youth serving organizations while forging new partnerships to deliver the evidence-based curriculum. The Prevention Instructor will forge new partnerships through networking and relationship building with public schools, private schools, youth serving organizations and charter schools in Hampden County. By partnering with community programs the Violence Prevention Instructor will be able to engage youth in critical prevention services, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to prevent exploitation in their lives.

The Violence Prevention Instructor will also organize trainings for the YWCA agency and staff in its various programs, including its emergency shelter, supportive housing program, young parent living programs, rape crisis center, community based domestic violence counseling and hotline. These staff trainings will cover how these programs, especially those that interact with youth, can embed violence prevention into their policies and procedures and their day-to-day interactions with clients.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Deliver year-round training to youth across cities and towns located in Hampden County as instructed by Program Supervisor.
• Plan, design, facilitate, evaluate learning, youth development, and outreach activities;
• Assess youth participants’ healthy relationships knowledge and behaviors at the start and end of the group experience;
• Follow quantitative and qualitative data collection procedures;
• Adopt, adapt, facilitate, and deliver the One Love, violence prevention curriculum that educates young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships, empowering them to identify and avoid abuse and to practice healthy love;
• Adopt, adapt, facilitate, and deliver “Bout That Life” a bystander intervention workshop designed for students of color. The program’s objective is to bring an anti-oppression perspective into sexual violence work;
• During workshops, help participants identify key terms: victim/survivor, sexual violence, IPV, stalking, consent, bystander, oppression, privilege, intersectionality, barriers in communities of color for intervention;
• Initiate, strengthen, and sustain collaborative working relationships with public school, community, youth serving organizations and grant partners;
• Attend and participate in required external meetings as well as relevant school and community events;
• Engage in Youth Advisory Board, a peer-education based leadership group for youth across Hampden County and engage youth in the H.E.R.E. Project with community organizations.
• Plan and facilitate a large-scale annual event for youth in the community to interactively engage in violence prevention work, involving the YWCA’s Youth Advisory Board;
• Participate in regular supervision and project meetings with the Program Supervisor and Director of Youth, Violence Prevention, and Court Support Programs as well as required agency meetings and trainings; and
• Perform other duties as necessary.

Qualifications: 

• Must be committed to the YWCA agency mission and be able to support its vision actively and responsibly in a positive manner within the agency as well as the community;
• Bachelor’s degree required;
• Experience in collaborating with nonprofit organizations, public schools, and colleges;
• Experience in working with youth in urban school settings
• Experience in working with at risk youth
• Understanding of both interpersonal and structural racism and bias; 
• Experience in public speaking and/or group facilitation;
• English / Spanish language proficiency preferred;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; and 
• Excellent organizational and team collaboration skills
• Crisis Management & Conflict Resolution - Ability to manage challenging situations, mediate conflicts, and provide appropriate support to youth in crisis.

EEO STATEMENT

It is the policy of YWCA of Western Massachusetts to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the YWCA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

DISCLAIMER

The above statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position.

AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT

The YWCA is an “at-will” equal opportunity employer. While the YWCA will continue to operate with care regarding employment decisions, the YWCA and its employees may terminate the employment relationship at any time and for any reason, with or without cause, and without advance notice. Exceptions include select; non-exempt positions covered under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This position is covered under the CBA (union) and is subject to union dues.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS

The YWCA, in our effort to provide safety to those we serve, and to protect our agency, performs criminal offender record information (CORI) checks on all prospective employees. Final offers of employment are contingent upon receipt of an acceptable CORI report as solely determined by the YWCA.

INTRODUCTORY PERIOD

All employment at the YWCA begins with a 150-day introductory period.