The Urban Justice Center
Mental Health Project (MHP) seeks a passionate full-time Director of Social
Work to co-lead our direct advocacy services and community education team. The
Director ensures the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed, and
anti-oppressive services for MHP's clients. The Director oversees MHP's direct
advocacy service practice areas that include Social Security disability
applications, discharge planning advocacy from psychiatric hospitals, public
benefits, supportive housing applications, placement in supportive housing
programs, and advocacy for people living homeless shelters. The Director also
oversees MHP's in-house and external community education, outreach, and
programming.
Who
Are We?
MHP is a team of
attorneys, social workers, advocates, and peer specialists dedicated to
disrupting and dismantling the cycle of hospitalization, homelessness, and
incarceration that traps low-income New Yorkers with serious mental health
concerns. We intervene at all parts of this cycle: we work to secure financial
and medical benefits to prevent homelessness and hospitalization; we provide
peer advocacy and social work support to empower clients in the community; we
collaborate on impact litigation; we ensure proper discharge planning occurs
prior to release from jail and psychiatric hospitals; we connect people to the
appropriate organizations through advice and referrals; and we host community
workshops to educate people about their rights and how to advocate for
themselves and their peers.
Requirements:
- NYS
Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker
(LCSW)
- Seminar
in Field Instruction (SIFI) Certification
- Five
years post-MSW degree experience providing advocacy, in-depth needs
assessments, crisis intervention, and comprehensive case management
- Experience
providing supervision of comprehensive case management and advocacy,
crisis intervention, program management, and program development
- Experience
working in a legal setting and/or experience working collaboratively with
attorneys
- Experience
working with individuals with serious mental health concerns and
individuals who have been impacted by the criminal legal system
- Strong
anti-oppression, anti-racist, and social justice analysis and lens
Responsibilities:
Social
Work Program Coordination and Development
- Co-lead
an interdisciplinary team providing advocacy services and/or workshops for
people with mental health concerns and history of incarceration
- Develop
systems for efficient and effective client intake
- Develop
an outreach strategy to inform the mental health community about MHP's
work
- Coordinate
MHP's Community Advisory Board
Staff
and Intern Supervision and Development
- Supervise
and support two Social Workers, one Peer Specialist, and other staff as
necessary
- Recruit
and supervise MSW graduate students
- Support
staff navigating challenges with clients
- Provide
trainings on suicidal ideation and other topics as needed for staff and
interns
Direct
Work
- Carry
a small caseload of clients in need of advocacy services and/or social
work support
- Provide
assessments for suicidal ideation and crisis interventions for clients
- Assist
with monthly Open Mic events for MHP's clients (this will require working
one evening per month)
- Facilitate
workshops in the community about various topics related to mental health,
including reentry into the community from the criminal legal system
Grant
Management
- Oversee
the advocacy team's compliance with City and State grants
- Assist
with reporting about deliverables to funders
- Participate
in audits and site visits from funders
Benefits/Compensation:
Salary is DOE. The Urban Justice Center offers a
flexible work environment and a highly competitive benefits package that includes
vacation, personal, and sick time; medical and dental coverage; vision and gym
reimbursements; and a 401(k) plan.
How
to Apply:
To apply send a cover
letter and resume to MHPJobs@urbanjustice.org. Please write "Director of Social
Work" in the e-mail subject line. Applications will be viewed on a rolling
basis. Priority will be given to applications received by February 4, 2020. Due
to high volume we are unable to respond to all applicants. We will contact only
those candidates selected for further consideration.
The Urban Justice Center
is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded
equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race,
religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, SOGIE, age, disability, military
status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence
status, or marital status. People with lived experience of mental health
concerns and/or criminal legal system involvement are encouraged to apply. |