Therapist (MST-SA)

$66,300 - $70,000/year

Position Summary

The Multi-Systemic Treatment-Substance Abuse (MST-SA) Therapists are responsible for providing model adherent, culturally competent, clinically oriented, short-term treatment to families in our Family Assessment Program (FAP) continuum of services in Brooklyn and/or Manhattan. MST-SA therapists report to the MST-SA supervisor. Therapists are required to ensure that interactions involving staff and clients are trauma informed.

MST-SA (Substance Abuse) is a therapeutic program in our Family Assessment Program (FAP) continuum of services. It is a home-based intensive therapeutic model for families in the five boroughs where abuse and/or neglect has put the family at risk of having their children placed outside the home. The model is parent focused and uses a multi systemic approach with clinical interventions designed to address abuse and neglect and reduce other risk factors. MST-SA works with families with children ranging in age form 11-17. The model works with the family's entire ecology to effect change and broaden support. The incumbent will understand and promote the organization's Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with the functions of the position.

Children's Aid Mission

To help children in poverty to succeed and thrive. We do this by providing comprehensive support to children and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods. Children's Aid annually serves children and their families at over 40 sites in New York, as well as through three national program models. Children's Aid is concentrating its efforts on creating cradle-through-college pathways in high-need neighborhoods, with a focus on children's health, family stability, education, and social and emotional development.

Culture and Values

We put children, youth, and families first: We listen to and incorporate the voices of children, youth and families in all that we do.

We seek equity and transformation in our communities: We courageously work within and outside systems to create opportunities for children, youth and families.

We strive for excellence: We hold ourselves to the highest standards and are committed to continuous learning and improvement.

We are powered by collaboration: Our work is stronger when we trust, partner, and respect each other and the communities we serve.

We are driven by compassion: We lead with kindness, care, and empathy and believe in the endless potential of the people we serve and our team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

General responsibilities for the position of an MST- SA Therapist will include, but are not limited to:

• Carry caseload of approximately 5 MST-SA cases.
• Fulfill all OCFS and ACS accountability requirements including timely completion of FASPs, Progress Notes and Plan Amendments.
• Comply with all ACS timelines for outreach on new cases.
• Complete all home-based contacts (all sessions will be home or community based unless health reasons require virtual visits) and seek to maintain up to 3-4 case work contacts per week per family as specified by the model.
• Attend all MST-SA trainings as required as well as all mandated ACS and Children's Aid (CA) trainings.
• Participate in all weekly Group Supervision and Consultation sessions with MST-SA Supervisor and MST-SA consultants.
• Complete all MST-SA documentation in a timely manner.
• Conduct MST assessment including review of referral information, identifying and engaging key participants, identifying systemic strengths and weaknesses, and developing an analysis of the fit of problem behaviors within the ecological context.
• Engage primary caregivers and other key participants in active change-oriented treatment by identifying and overcoming barriers to engagement.
• Implement problem conceptualization, treatment planning, intervention implementation, outcome review and strategy revision procedure using the MST Analytic Process.
• Maintain clear and concise documentation of treatment efforts that promote peer and supervisory review and feedback, and that demonstrate compliance with the nine MST Principles and the MST Analytic Process.
• Collaborate with all relevant systems and key participants within each system to ensure their buy-in and cooperation throughout MST-SA treatment.
• Provide direct clinical treatment using methods compatible with MST principles and practices.
• Build a relationship with community stakeholders (i.e., child protection services, Guardians, judges, schools, etc.) to ensure cooperation among service providers.
• Be available by phone 24/7 or as needed to respond to client crises. This includes ability to conduct sessions on weekends as needed, to accommodate client availability.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including working remotely in the field, community or various CA offices to meet the needs of families and improve efficiency and management of time and resources.
• Work cross borough and cross program as needed.
• Participate in all FTCs as needed.
• Engage in outreach activities in the community in order to attain required 20% utilization from self-referrals as required by contract.
• Collaborate with Educational and Employment Specialist to monitor school attendance, obtain school records and intervene with DOE when appropriate to develop an appropriate education/vocational plan for youth.
• Accept other tasks as necessary for the success of the program and the role.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or a related subject area required.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is preferred but not required.
• Ability and willingness to work with families and teens in the home, school and other appropriate settings in the community.
• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to work independently, as well as contribute to a team.
• Strong clinical skills and ability to work under pressure with high risk, crisis-oriented cases.
• Very good interpersonal/communication skills, including ability to write well and meet copious amount of documentation in a timely manner.

Key Competencies

• Direct use of pragmatic (i.e., structural, strategic and functional) family therapies.
• Individual therapy with children and adults using cognitive behavioral techniques.
• Marital therapy uses behaviorally based approaches.
• Substance abuse treatment for adolescents using behaviorally based approaches.
• Behavioral therapy targets behavioral changes in children at home and school.
• Implementation of interventions within or between systems in the youth's natural ecology that affect or influence the behavior of youth (i.e., family, peer, school, and neighborhood).
• Computer literate.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children's Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children's Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children's Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.