Project: *Harlem Community Justice Center**

*Title: *Help Center Coordinator* *

* *

The Center for Court Innovation, a project of the Fund for the City of New
York, is a unique public-private partnership that promotes new thinking
about how courts and criminal justice agencies can aid victims, change the
behavior of offenders, and strengthen communities. The Center creates
demonstration projects that test new approaches to problems that have
resisted conventional solutions. The Center’s problem-solving courts include
the nation’s first community court (Midtown Community Court), as well as
drug courts, domestic violence courts, youth courts, mental health courts,
and others. Nationally and internationally, the Center performs original
research on topics of justice reform and provides consulting services to
criminal justice innovators. The Harlem Community Justice Center (“Justice
Center”) is a project of the Center for Court Innovation. 



The Justice Center is seeking an experienced professional with knowledge of
Housing Court to coordinate its on-site Help Center.  Located in an old
magistrate’s courthouse in the heart of East Harlem, the Harlem Community
Justice Center is a community-based court and resource center that works to
solve neighborhood problems in East and Central Harlem, including juvenile
delinquency, deteriorating housing, substance abuse, and the challenges
presented by ex-offenders returning from incarceration. The goal of the
on-site Help Center is to ensure access to justice for all litigants in
Housing and Family Court regardless of their background, ability to pay, or
special needs. Working in a collaborative manner, the Help Center
Coordinator* *performs clerical tasks and day-to-day administrative duties.
They answer phones, call for interpreters, schedule mediations, enter data
in the Justice Center database, distribute and store in-take forms, provide
pamphlets/fact sheets/court publications, monitor supplies, conduct
community outreach/education events, and communicate regularly with the
Pro-Se Attorney, Clerk’s Office staff, and other partner agency staff.  The
Coordinator also manages the Justice Center’s mediation program. The Help
Center Coordinator reports to the Court Operations Coordinator.



*Duties*

  - Ensure that Help Center clients are screened and assessed and intake
  forms are recorded in the Justice Center database.
  - Prioritize persons with a current case in Housing or Family Court and
  vulnerable persons facing eviction, domestic abuse, or are otherwise in a
  crisis situation that requires immediate attention.
  - Provide case management for high-risk and vulnerable Housing Court
  clients.
  - Provide excellent client service insuring that the Help Center waiting
  area and office are pleasant friendly and responsive to client needs at all
  times.
  - Insure that the Help Center is open and operational Monday- Friday from
  9 to 5pm, and at all times when Housing and Family Courts are in session.
  - Provide access to Housing and Family Court information for represented
  and self-represented litigants through referrals to the Pro Se Attorney, use
  of online tools, and the provision of Civil Court pamphlets and brochures.
  - Promote use of the public access computers and other online supports
  available through the Civil Court for litigants.
  - Coordinate on-site mediation services: Intake cases, schedule
  volunteers, and generate written agreements.
  - Organize workshops for litigants and the broader community that
  facilitate access to justice through the Courts and related agencies.
  - Conduct community outreach for Housing Court seminars.
  - Coordinate referrals for services for litigants to in-house and
  community-based services.
  - Maintain daily sign-in sheets.
  - Supervise assigned volunteers/interns.
  - Collaborate with the Pro Se Attorney on Orders to Show Cause.
  - Complete reports in a timely and accurate manner.



*Requirements: *

  - Bachelor’s degree required;
  - Knowledge of basic NYS housing law and the Housing Court process
  required;
  - Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution experience required;
  - Excellent client engagement skills required;
  - Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) highly desired;
  - Knowledge of family law and the Family Court processes desired;
  - Sound analytical and writing skills;
  - Excellent presentation skills;
  - Experience with Microsoft Office and database programs
  (Access/Filemaker);



*Salary: *Commensurate with experience -- excellent benefits.



*Posting Date: 6/28/2010*

*Closing Date: 8/1/2010*



Send resume and writing sample to:



Sally Sanchez

Harlem Community Justice Center

170 East 121st Street

New York, NY 10035

Fax (212) 360-4996

Email: SSANCHEZ@courts.state.ny.us

No phone calls please.



The Harlem Community Justice Center is operated by the Center for Court
Innovation,

a project of the Fund for the City of New York.

See our website at www.courtinnovation.org.

The Fund for the City of New York is an equal opportunity employer.