LOCATION: Brooklyn, N.Y.
REPORTS TO: Director of Home Study & Post Release
DEPARTMENT: START HS/PR
SCHEDULE: Full Time / Hybrid
$1,500 Hiring Bonus
AGENCY BACKGROUND:
MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human and social service agency that has been serving children and families in need since we were founded by the Sisters of Mercy/Hermanas de las Misericordia in 1894. Today our agency continues to address the emotional and physical needs of children and families in Brooklyn, Queens and across Long Island through innovative treatments and life-changing interventions. We provide community-based prevention and family foster care services, group homes in the community for struggling children and families within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and short-term residential services for unaccompanied migrant children. Each year, MercyFirst serves more than 3,000 children, teenagers and families overcome enormous obstacles, re-imagine their futures and develop their full potential.
SUMMARY:
The Level 3 Post Release Services Clinician provides community-based/ in-home based mental health services to recently migrated children, adolescents, and their families in the Northeast Region. The Clinician is responsible for delivering culturally competent services that consist of mental health assessments, screening for human trafficking concerns, crisis intervention and support services and psychoeducational support groups for recently migrated youth as they adjust to life in the United States. The Therapist supports the delivery of services with a trauma responsive model by collaborating with the Post Release Services case management team to ensure the youth and their caregivers receive comprehensive services and are connected to both formal and informal resources in their community. The Clinician must be comfortable working with diverse populations (ages, genders, sexual orientation, treatment issues, cultural or religious practices, etc.). Must demonstrate the ability for critical thinking, independent judgment, and the ability to adequately cope with crisis/stress. This is a full-time position. The schedule requires flexibility based on the availability of youth and families served. This position regularly requires long hours and weekend work. Ability to work schedule required to fulfill duties of position. This may include days, nights, evenings, and/or weekends. At times, the individual must be able to work in a fast- paced environment with ability to handle and prioritize multiple, competing tasks and demands and to seek supervisory assistance as appropriate.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in social work, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, or other relevant behavioral science in which direct clinical experience is a program requirement.

or.

• Bachelor's degree in one of the above categories with at least five years of clinical experience from an accredited college or University
• Current LSW, LMSW, LPC, MFT, LISW, LPCC, LMFT or eligible for licensure at the time of application.
• Fluent in both English and Spanish

• TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Travel is required within the Northeast Region, which may be via vehicle or commercial airline. Some travel may require overnight stays in hotels, driving a rental car or using other transportation in order to provide services to children and families being serviced by the program.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Model and act in accordance with MercyFirst's core values.
• Responsible for providing mental health services and Psychoeducational support to recently migrated youth who have recently been reunified with family members (Sponsors) in the community.
• Collaborates with youth, family/sponsor, and case management team to establish short term goals and objectives ensuring that the plan demonstrates youth and family voice and includes clear needs statements, strength-based strategies, and outcomes that are measurable, specific and designed to improve the youth's overall mental health and well-being.
• Conducts in-person visits and clinical meetings with clients in their homes on a weekly basis for at least the first 30 days of case assignment, and/or longer as needed based on individual clients' Psychosocial needs.
• Maintains regular monthly contacts with clients for a minimum of 6 months after weekly services have been discontinued.
• Provides in person support to clients as they navigate stressful and/or traumatic experiences. This may include but is not limited to attending psychiatric and medical appointments, social service appointments, educational meetings and / or supporting a youth at a local hospital emergency department while they await psychiatric evaluation.
• Documents all client contacts, resources and referrals provided, clinical notes, therapeutic interventions, and assessments of client's health, safety, social-emotional well-being, and mental health concerns in accordance with MercyFirst and Office of Refugee Resettlement required deadlines.
• Responsible for developing and implementing culturally competent clinical interventions designed to assist the youth in coping with past experiences of trauma and to acclimate to life in the United States.
• Responsible for ensuring the youth are given the support necessary to identify and discuss concerns related to their journey into the United States and / or life in home country.
• Collaborate with case management staff and leadership to ensure that clinical interventions and supports are established to address youth mental health needs, modify dysfunctional behaviors, and assist the youth to heal and strengthen their internal resources as well as learn socially appropriate skills.
• Conduct screenings and assessments to identify special needs, developmental, medical or mental health concerns as well as criminal history, gang involvement, and historical/ current trauma experiences in accordance with mandated time frames.
• Conducts child trafficking assessments and collaborates with case management team to provide referrals to anti-trafficking programs and resources within mandated timeframes.
• Ensures all assessments and screenings are culturally competent and reflect the voice and involvement of the youth, family and sponsors as appropriate.
• Clinician to provide mental health services as well as crisis intervention and support.
• Develop and maintain emotional intelligence for effective self-care and act as the role model for youth staff, and families which is the essence of Trauma Informed Practice.
• Promote child/youth/family understanding of available regional/ community resources and facilitate referrals as appropriate.
• Maintain effective working relationships with families, children/youth, colleagues, and community agencies in the regions where clients are being served.
• Active participation in mandatory case review and planning meetings, demonstrating the ability to present an accurate and concise client summary to both internal and external team members .
• Ensure assigned case records meet documentation standards both with regards to documentation in the required agency, state and federal databases and with regards to the client case file.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and familiarity with the Office of Refugee Resettlement Policy and Procedures relating to the care and community-based treatment of Unaccompanied Children and/or recently migrated youth. This includes knowledge of legal background and authority governing the practice as related to working with Unaccompanied Children.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the value of cultural diversity, including the ability to develop systems and practices that are inclusive of diverse staff members and responsive to the cultural needs of the client population served.
• Identify supervision and/or professional training needs to supervisor as they arise.
• Demonstrate the ability to effectively express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate the ability to engage youth and families in a positive therapeutic alliance.
• Conduct the home study process through a combination of in-home visits and interviews. Phone calls and other investigative activities with the goal of producing a comprehensive assessment of the potential sponsor's ability to provide a safe and living environment that meets the youth's needs.

BENEFITS/PERKS:

• A comprehensive health insurance package including medical, dental and vision plans for you and your family
• 403B retirement benefits
• Employer-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Generous paid time off (vacation, personal, sick, 12 paid holidays)
• Free employee assistance program through National EAP
• Insurance discounts for our staff and their families
• Trainings to support professional and personal development
• Employee wellness program
• Employee recognition activities

Salary Range:
$66,000 per year
Hiring bonus of $1,500 after 500 worked hours
MercyFirst is an inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer who welcomes prospective employees from diverse backgrounds for all levels at the agency. We strive for a workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve, and do not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, religion or creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, age (18 and over), military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, marital status, partnership status, care giver status, pregnancy, genetic information or predisposition or genetic characteristic, unemployment status, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, consumer credit history, or any other status protected by federal, state, and/or city law. This includes, but is not limited to, employment actions against and treatment of employees and applicants for employment.