Discharge Planner

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is an integral part of the City’s evolving criminal justice system, participating in reform initiatives and strategies aimed to move the City towards a smaller jail system without compromising public safety. The DOC is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for our employees, visitors, volunteers, and people in our custody. Importantly, safe jails enable DOC to provide people in custody with the tools and opportunities they need to successfully re-enter their communities. The DOC operates facilities and court commands across the five boroughs with more than 7,500 diverse professionals and knowledgeable experts.

The NYC DOC has a unique opportunity for a Discharge Planner in the Division of Programs and Community Partnerships. The position involves working inside Rikers Island jails to provide robust pre-release reentry support to individuals identified to be at high risk of recidivism. The Discharge Planner will engage the target population in transition planning services and will assess the individuals’ most pressing needs, which may include employment, housing, and substance misuse. The Discharge Planner will conduct regularly scheduled one-on-one sessions with participants, facilitate group-based workshops, and refer participants to partner organizations for specific pre- and post-release support services. The primary duties of the position will include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Complete individualized Service Plans with participants to identify challenges and needs such
as housing, employment, family reunification, and substance misuse;
- Provide one-on-one motivational interviewing sessions to help participants identify and address
the challenges may have led to their incarceration;
- Facilitate group and individual sessions to promote skill development and personal growth
for participants;
- Tailor services to participants’ likely length of stay, when possible;
- Collaborate with Counselors to ensure participants are engaged in daily group-based
interventions focusing on cognitive behavioral therapy, life skills, anger management and other topics;
- Develop and nurture partnerships with community-based providers and make referrals to
connect participants with critical post-release services;
- Provide certificates and letters of support for participants that detail accomplishments and milestones;
- Communicate with participants’ family members to coordinate family interventions, when necessary;
- Provide information and resources for individuals that are sentenced to state prison;
- Collect sign-in sheets and compile and track quantitative and qualitative data related to
participants’ progress;
- Prepare presentation materials and reports, as necessary;
- Perform other duties as assigned.

Preferred Skills
- Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook etc.) proficiency;
- Experience in a high-paced environment, with the ability to manage information and
distribute appropriately;
- Ability to establish positive working relationships with multiple units and different levels of staff;
- Excellent writing, communication, inter-personal, analytical, research, problem-solving,
and organizational skills;
- The candidate must be well-organized, proactive, resourceful, flexible, and able to communicate
with staff (at all levels) in a fast-paced environment, meet deadlines, and perform with a high level of professionalism.
- Experience with Justice-Involved or other high-risk populations;
- Bilingual

COMMUNITY COORDINATOR - 56058

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
2. High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.