JYF - MST-FIT Therapist

Rising Ground, Inc.•New York, NY

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Justice for Youth & Families MST (Multi-systemic Therapy) team at Rising Ground supports scholars in NYC, ages 12-17.5, with intensive in-home family and community-based treatment as they transition to Aftercare following placement in one of our Close to Home facilities. MST addresses the multiple factors known to be related to juvenile justice involvement across the key settings, or systems, within which youth are embedded (i.e. family, peers, school, neighborhood). MST starts this process by initiating treatment for the youth and the family while the youth is still in placement. MST Therapists strive to promote behavior change in the youth’s natural environment using the strengths of each system to facilitate change. The MST model promotes personal responsibility, education, work ethic, community responsibility and an intolerance of violence and prejudice.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in a New York State Licensable degree (incl. LMSW, LCSW, PhD, PsyD, LMFT, LMHC) preferred.
Bilingual is English and Spanish.
MST certified (can be trained when hired).
24 hours/7 days availability (rotating on-call system).
Authorized to work in the U.S.
Ability to work in-person in New York City (NY) for at least 3 days or more per week.
Ability to travel to other Rising Ground sites (if required)

Nice To Haves

Preferred clinical experience in: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Family systems theory, Social ecological theory, Cognitive-behavioral theory, Behavioral therapies, Pragmatic family therapies, Child development research, social skills assessment.

Responsibilities

Adheres to all agency and departmental safety procedures including reporting any unsafe practices, equipment and environment, and takes an active role in correcting the unsafe practice, equipment or environment through proper notification.
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 caregiver and other key participants, including staff at the designated placement in active change-oriented treatment by identifying and overcoming barriers to engagement.
Implement a problem conceptualization, treatment planning, intervention implementation and outcome review and strategy revision procedure using the MST analytical process.
Maintain clear and concise documentation of treatment efforts that promote peer and supervisory review and feedback, and that demonstrate compliance with the MST principles, concepts and strategies.
Collaborate with all relevant systems and key participants within each system to ensure their buy-in and cooperation throughout MST treatment.
Provide direct clinical treatment using methods compatible with MST principles and practices.
Participate in all MST training, supervision and consultation activities.
Stays abreast to developments in the juvenile justice system.
Document all progress notes in CONNECTIONS within 5 days of contact.
Provide necessary referrals for families in need of housing, health, mental health or preventive services, as needed.
Provide supervision, if needed, to ensure the safety of all family members. If possible, to strengthen the parental role in the family.
Develop and submit weekly email updates to ACS (Administration for Children Services) and participate in bi-weekly case update calls as requested.
Participates in release conferences, post-discharge community conferences, and any Elevated Risks conferences and maintain communication with ACS and the Rising Ground case planning team.
Other duties that may be assigned.