Join Our Healthful Transitions Team!

Position Summary:

The Ultimate Reentry Opportunity Initiative is an organization that is working to eliminate systemic barriers to reentry and over incarceration in Tompkins County. URO is a project of the Center for Transformative Action, and all employees of URO are officially employed by CTA. We are looking for an internally driven person with an optimistic demeanor who has experience working with vulnerable populations. The Healthful Transitions Program Assistant will work to support Healthful Transitions by conducting outreach to individuals in reentry and supporting the organizational work of URO. The Network will work directly with people transitioning from jail and prison to Tompkins County. The program assistant will conduct ongoing outreach activities to connect people in reentry with Network volunteers. The program assistant will also support the program coordinator in collaborating with other reentry initiatives in the county so as to increase and improve the overall functionality of programming in Tompkins County.

Responsibilities

• Perform outreach and relationship-building activities with people in reentry, including the residents of the Sunflower Houses. These activities include packing, transporting and delivering CSA shares for residents, and assisting with cooking and other nutrition-related activities; using motivational interviewing; visiting theSunflower Houses and other hubs for the reentry community regularly.

• Facilitate connection between individuals who are in reentry or incarcerated and the Network by coordinating outreach activities, relaying the needs of the reentry community, and arranging ways for volunteers to fulfill their needs. 

• Provide support to the Healthful Transitions program coordinator in operating the Transportation Network program as needed. 

• Assist the Healthful Transitions program coordinator with the facilitation of workshops and training that expose the Network to services available in the community to include, healthcare services, educational services, career, employment preparedness programs, housing services, transportation services, community and volunteer service programs and faith based communities.

• Assist the Healthful Transitions program coordinator in working with jail and prison officials to troubleshoot and problem-solve transition issues. 

• Assist the Healthful Transitions program coordinator in working with the department of probation, parole and the local courts to develop a program where the Network can facilitate regularly scheduled meetings that count as an alternative to incarceration or serve as a check-in for probations and parole.

• Assist in coordinating Network Volunteers and other URO Staff to conduct Motivational Interviewing and Coaching in the Tompkins County Jail and New York State Prisons. 

• Attend meetings and take notes as needed.

• Assist with writing grant proposals. 

• Other duties as assigned. 

Required Qualifications/Relevant Experience

• Experience working with court involved people, people in reentry, and other vulnerable populations

• Knowledge and/or experience regarding nutrition, healthy eating/living, produce, csa shares, etc.

• Experience with working with the local Tompkins County community and local organizations, especially social service providers

• Excellent communication skills

• Ability to collect, organize, store, and analyze information and data 

• Ability to organize, schedule and facilitate workshops and meetings 

• Self-starter and able to self-prioritize tasks. 

• Experience with working with the local Tompkins County community and local organizations

Employment details:

• Employment status: Permanent, part-time

• Expected number of scheduled hours per week: 30 hours per week

• Pay Range: $18 per hour

• Benefits eligibility: Employee will be eligible for health insurance, vacation time and sick time, and will be eligible to enroll in a 403b plan if desired.

CTA is an equal opportunity employer. Employees are hired based on their merit, ability, experience, and training without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, familial status, marital status, age, mental or physical disability, size, religious affiliation, genetic make-up, military/veteran status, domestic violence victim/survivor status, sexual and other reproductive health decisions, or past participation in the discrimination complaint process. We are committed to being an inclusive organization and encourage people from diverse communities to apply.