Job Description

• Outreach to engage and build trusting relationships with young people eligible for ACES with an emphasis on the younger youth (16-18) 
• Accept prospective participants’ rejection as a normal aspect of the engagement and behavioral change process and commit to relentless outreach and the slow and gradual engagement of the population of focus  
• Establish transformational relationships with program participants by pacing engagement strategies based on participant stage of readiness 
• Promote the program’s no-drop policy (this program adopts the philosophy that participants are never considered to have "dropped out" of ACES)  
• Establish advanced competence in motivational interviewing, positive youth development, engagement, and trauma-informed care to deliver effective services 
• Work collaboratively with members of the ACES multidisciplinary team—community outreach specialist, criminal justice specialist, youth worker, tutors, work readiness instructor, employment specialist, enrichment specialist, health specialist therapist, job developer, and work crew supervisor to deliver programming consistent with participant need  
• Assess participant needs across several domains during the two-month determining eligibility phase to identify needs, strengths, barriers and risks 
• Ensure appropriate levels and types of programming to meet participants’ assessed needs and multi-year program retention timelines 
• Lead the team’s work in family intervention strategies, life skills parenting and cognitive behavioral techniques supporting participant interpersonal relationships 
• Deliver cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) workgroups, informal individual CBT skills programming and healing services 
• Monitor participant progress using ACES target benchmarks and outcomes 
• Commit to cohesive team functioning to enable the highest-level of performance and ACES to achieve program goals 
• Support team members addressing complex and risk management situations and assist with response to safety and crisis situations 
• Manage the stress related to the intensity of the work by adopting self-care strategies, effectively utilizing supervision and team meetings, and participating in team-building and team stress reduction activities 
• Engage in ongoing personal and professional development to increase capacity, skill and enjoyment serving high-risk young people 
• Develop a pool of treatment resources able to effectively serve ACES participants in need of outpatient mental health treatment and/or substance abuse treatment  
• Effectively use program database to track work and ensure program performance is effectively measured

Qualifications

• At least one year of experience post degree or relevant internship experience working with justice-involved youth and families 
• Knowledge of East Harlem and/or South Bronx neighborhoods, with preference to candidates with an innate understanding and personal knowledge of one of these communities 
• A belief and interest in working collaboratively with East Harlem and South Bronx communities, youth and families  
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) 
• Unwavering commitment to quality programs 
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral

Additional Information

CASES is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with CASES is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position, without regard to race, color, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or marital, military, or citizenship status. We also actively recruit individuals with prior involvement in the criminal justice system.Your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.