Works Plus

The New York City Department of Probation (DOP) helps build stronger and safer communities by working with and supervising people on probation, fostering positive change in their decision-making and behavior, and expanding opportunities for them to move out of the criminal and juvenile justice systems through meaningful education, employment, health services, family engagement, and civic participation.

Program Overview: Works Plus

Works Plus provides flexible work readiness wrap-around services to young adults aged 16 to 30 who have been touched by gun violence and referred to the program by the NYC Crisis Management System (CMS).

Using teams of credible messengers to mediate conflict on the street, CMS connects high-risk individuals to a range of services including Works Plus, that can reduce the risk of long-term violence. Participants come from different backgrounds with varying levels of education and prior work experience, and the program is designed to meet them “where they are,” both in terms of locality and service type/intensity. Works Plus assesses participants in order to provide an individualized program experience with the ultimate goal of increasing exposure to the world of work, increasing each participant’s level of work readiness relative to where they started, and reducing the likelihood of participation in violent activity.

Program activities include career awareness services, connection to educational opportunities, vocational skills training, assistance with job search competencies, and case management. There is also a strong emphasis on soft skills and basic life skills development as a means towards work readiness. Participants may also receive a stipend of up to $1,500.

Program Summary:

• Participant Age and Profile: Youth between the ages of 16-30
• Duration: 1- 6 months with up to 6-month follow-up or aftercare
• Locations:
  Brooklyn: Brownsville, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Canarsie, Crown Heights, Clinton Hill/Fort Greene, Coney Island, East New York, Flatbush 
  Bronx: Bedford Park/Fordham, Belmont/East Tremont/ East Farms, Eastchester/Edenwald, Grant Concourse, Morrisania, Mott Haven, Soundview, University Heights
  Manhattan: Central Harlem, East Harlem
  Staten Island: North Shore
  Queens: Far Rockaway, Jamaica, Queensbridge