Program Director - Youth Suicide Prevention - Brooklyn Community Services

Position: Program Director

Program/Department: Services For People Living With Disabilities

Work Location: 1310 Rockaway Parkway, Brooklyn - Canarsie

Hours: Full Time 35 hours per week, Monday-Friday 1pm-9pm and and availability to work Saturdays

This position is 100% fully in-person. No remote work available

Salary: From $ 70,000 TO $ 80,000 (with LMSW/SIFI)

BCS partners with people to overcome obstacles on their pathway toward self-determination. Since 1866, founded on the principle of neighbors helping neighbors, BCS has worked in neighborhoods impacted by systemic poverty. Today, we continue to strengthen communities by fostering the educational success of children, the leadership development of youth, the employment and housing stability of adults, the advancement of individuals living with disabilities, and the empowerment of seniors and families. Our work is rooted in the struggle for social justice and through action and advocacy we commit to shine a light on barriers that perpetuate inequitable systems as a part of the collective effort to ignite change. BCS serves more than 20,000 people in 42+ programs through the work of approximately 400 staff and 900 volunteers.

Since March 2020, we have witnessed the compounding consequences of social isolation for young adults/youth with regard to education and mental health. Our young adults have experienced devastating learning loss and trauma against the backdrop of the pandemic. We are seeing higher rates of incidents relating to mental health challenges, frustrations from educational struggles and behavioral concerns in all of our after-school programs. Young people have fallen deeply behind in their academics and continue to try to process the trauma experienced in the last two years. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) resources and staff training play a critical role in working with young adults, youth and parents. Trauma and grief/loss have been profound in our communities and with the families we serve. More than ever, specialized child/youth mental health services are needed to support students through this post-pandemic transition and return to normalcy. The stigma of mental health carries its own set of challenges in our communities; the ability to offer on-site clinical support will lessen the burden placed on struggling families to find support elsewhere.

Responsibilities:

With the goal of assisting with the overall coordination and implementation of BCS’s mission, vision and strategic plan to include the implementation of young adults Suicide Prevention Program.

• Provide Clinical oversight and support to the program by managing program policy and procedure, and the safety of each client. Provide direct supervision of the Team Leaders, covering a caseload in absence of the Team Leader.

• Develop and review all current health and safety, behavioral management, crisis intervention and clinical support protocols for the Young Adult to ensure accuracy and consistency.

• Develop and implement trauma informed approaches which make use of the ongoing risk assessment and safety planning. Work with outside collaterals such as, schools, clinics and hospital staff to identify appropriate interventions to support the young adult in need of social and emotional interventions, working from a trauma informed framework;

• Develop a sustainable professional development plan for all staff;

• Identify targeted resources and referrals for students and/or family members from appropriate school staff and community-based partners;

• Conduct intakes and assessments as needed

• Supervise MSW interns (with SIFI certification) Provide clinical support and coaching (in coordination with classroom teachers and assistant teachers) for students to address any social or behavioral issues impacting their performance in the classroom. Facilitate individual and small group coaching/mentoring sessions with staff weekly, on a regular, and consistent basis;

• Make safety and behavioral assessments regarding the young adults’ health, safety, and/or well-being and develop safety and intervention plans accordingly

• Support student mediations, parent meetings and restorative practice interventions at each site;

• Provide immediate crisis intervention support as needed, including mediation support;

• Provide family outreach and conduct parent/guardian meetings as appropriate;

• Conduct site internal file audits to ensure OMH compliance and follow up on contractors audits;

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• MSW required, LMHC LCSW, LMSW/SIFI preferred;

• Any specific area of experience

• Must be comfortable working in the field;

• Must be able to travel to all work sites within in Brooklyn

• A minimum of 2 years supervisory and managerial experience required ;

• Use clinical frameworks - Trauma-Informed care, restorative practices; and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

• Must be familiar with early childhood, youth and/or social service agencies;

• Professional communication skills with the ability to communicate with clarity, accuracy and tact, both orally and in writing and ability to motivate others

• Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Google applications, and must be able to learn Apricot Database.

• Criminal background checks required

• Experience as a family counselor

• Candidate should have experience with group work and family work, and a commitment to working with young adults and their families.

• Experience working with culturally diversified individuals.

• Experience conducting training and on-going workshops; ability to plan events.

• Must have knowledge and experience in child development, safety, and nutrition; adult learning principles, and family dynamics.

• Must have knowledge of community resources and skills to link families with appropriate agencies and services.

• Proven ability to establish professional boundaries and engage in professional behaviors that emulate a high level of ethics and objective/non-judgmental approaches

BCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities