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Position Summary

The CUNY Creative Arts Team (CAT) seeks a school year appointment for School Arrival & Dismissal Support Specialists — Credible Messengers for its school-based conflict prevention, student support, and positive youth development initiative in partnership with the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS).

This position supports students during designated arrival and dismissal periods at NYC public schools. Specialists help create a safe, welcoming environment through positive adult presence, relationship-building, observation, verbal engagement, conflict prevention and de-escalation, and connections to appropriate supports.

As Credible Messengers, staff bring relevant community knowledge and experience and the ability to establish authentic, trusting relationships with young people.

Each Credible Messenger works as the member of a two-person team with a conflict resolution-trained MSW Field Provider. The Credible Messenger leads arrival and dismissal activities, while the MSW Field Provider provides additional support and helps connect students to case management and other resources. Both work within established CAT, RFCUNY, school, and program procedures.

Primary Responsibilities

● Serve as a member of a two-person arrival and dismissal team with an assigned MSW Field Provider.

● Maintain a consistent, visible, and approachable presence during designated school arrival and dismissal periods.

● Build positive, trusting relationships with students and members of the school community.

● Observe the school environment and recognize situations that may affect student safety and well-being.

● Use appropriate, safe, and approved verbal engagement, redirection, conflict-resolution, and de-escalation strategies.

● Encourage positive communication and help students make choices that support safe transitions to and from school.

● Follow established safety and escalation procedures and communicate emerging concerns to appropriate school personnel and CAT supervisors.

● Work with the MSW Field Provider to identify students who may benefit from additional support and connect them to CAT's case management and referral resources.

● Develop familiarity with school and community resources for young people.

● Participate in required planning, supervision, training, professional development, and program documentation.

● Other duties as assigned.

Two-Person Team and Supervision

The Credible Messenger leads arrival and dismissal activities, particularly youth engagement, relationship-building, observation, verbal de-escalation, and conflict resolution. The MSW Field Provider serves as the second trained team member, bringing social work knowledge and connecting students to additional services when appropriate.

The Credible Messenger position is supervised by CAT program leadership and the School Arrival & Dismissal Support Coordinating Supervisor.

Team members will receive DYCD required VIRT training and opportunities for joint orientation, planning, and supervision.

Training may also include conflict resolution and de-escalation, youth development, trauma-informed approaches, professional boundaries, mandated reporting, emergency procedures, CAT/RFCUNY safety protocols, and school/community resources.

Qualifications

Minimum:

● Experience developing positive, trusting relationships with adolescents and young adults.

● Commitment to required training, supervision, professional boundaries, and CAT/RFCUNY safety protocols.

● Strong communication, listening, judgment, and interpersonal skills.

● Ability to work collaboratively with social workers, school personnel, community partners, and program leadership.

● Bachelor's degree required. Advanced degree preferred.

Preferred:

● Relevant experience and/or community knowledge supporting effectiveness as a Credible Messenger.

● Ability to remain calm, observant, and responsive in dynamic school and community environments.

● Experience in youth development, mentoring, community-based prevention, community engagement, restorative practices, conflict resolution, or related work.

● Familiarity with the community or communities being served is strongly preferred.

● Relevant community knowledge, Credible Messenger experience, and demonstrated ability to establish meaningful relationships with young people are highly valued.

Schedule and Work Location

This is a part-time, school-based position at $35 per hour, 17 hours per week during the NYC public school year.

The anticipated schedule includes approximately 14 hours across an estimated two days at assigned school sites, plus additional time for supervision, training, planning, and coordination. Exact schedules will be based on school and program needs.

Assignments will be at designated NYC public schools and associated arrival and dismissal areas.

About the CAT Team

School Arrival & Dismissal Support is part of CAT's broader student support, conflict prevention and resolution, and positive youth development initiative.

Credible Messengers work collaboratively with MSW Field Providers, who provide individualized student support and connections to services; CAT Actor Teachers, who facilitate applied theatre workshops focused on communication, conflict resolution, leadership, and social-emotional development; and CAT program leadership, which provides supervision and coordination.

Together, the team works to strengthen safety, belonging, positive relationships, conflict resolution, and connections to supportive resources for young people and school communities.

Pay Range:

$35 to $35 per hour

RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.