Title: Social Worker

Unit: Post-Release Community-Based Transitional Services

Reports to: Director of Jail/Community-Based Services

Salary Range: $55,000 - $60,000

Status: Full Time; Regular; Non Exempt

Location: Long Island City Location, NYC jails

Date Prepared: October 23rd, 2023

Position Summary:

The Social Worker hired for this role will support The Fortune Society’s Post Release Transitional Services Program. The Social Worker will engage with the Transitional Services Program team and participants enrolled in the program with the goal of destigmatizing mental health and substance use treatment through the use of psychoeducation, brief clinical intervention, and assistance with referrals to additional support. The Social Worker will support the Transitional Service staff (part of the Criminal Justice Reentry Network [CJRN] – funded by MOCJ) by consulting about the needs of specific high-risk participants. Additionally, the Social Worker will be responsible for facilitating wellness groups for people returning home from New York City Jails to heal, create community, and provide a supportive environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Interview participants in the CJRN program; coordinates and plans program activities to meet their social and emotional needs after their release;
• Collaborate with CJRN staff to identify high needs and high-risk participants;
• Assist with external or internal referrals for substance use and mental health services as needed;
• Provide brief interventions and short-term support for participants in need;
• Provide crisis intervention when necessary;
• Initiate/facilitate inter-agency collaboration including identifying the need for case conferences about shared clients and to ensure providers are not duplicating services;
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with other staff members in the CJRN department and within Fortune to understand participant trends and needs;
• Participate in CJRN department weekly staff meetings to inform staff of observations from participant interactions;

• As needed, maintain ongoing communication and follow up with other parties involved in participant’s success (e.g. Transition Coordinators/Mentors, Employment Specialists, referrals sources, partner agencies…);
• When appropriate, offer referrals to appropriate community-based organizations, advocacy firms, and governmental agencies who can provide support;
• Maintain accurate records and logs and complete all required reporting information;
• Assume other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Masters in Social Work Required;
• At least 2 years of experience working with justice-involved clients;
• At least 2 years of experience facilitating groups and individual sessions;
• Familiar with barriers that previously incarcerated individuals face in reentry and how to navigate them;
• Proficient in Microsoft Office computer applications, especially Word, Outlook and Excel;
• Strong verbal, writing, listening and negotiating skills;
• Ability to take initiative, be dependable, resourceful and able to pay keen attention to detail;
• Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple priorities at the same time in a time-sensitive manner.

The Fortune Society encourages individuals to apply who have successfully made the transition from incarceration and/or substance use into a stable, productive lifestyle in the community.

Travel Requirements: Travel within the five boroughs of NYC by train and or bus, including to NYC jails. Driver’s license a plus.

Physical Demands:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The responsibilities and requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensing, experience and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

The Fortune Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of conviction history, race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status or marital status.