Women's Specialist

Center for Alternative • New York, NY

19d • $50,000 - $60,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Center for Alternative Sentencing & Employment Services (CASES), a NYC‑based alternative‑to‑incarceration agency, seeks a Women’s Specialist to provide deeply woman‑centered, gender‑responsive, and trauma‑informed services to women—including trans women—diverted to the Manhattan newSTART program. newSTART is a short‑term alternative‑to‑incarceration program supporting women who face challenges such as trauma, substance use, mental health needs, housing instability, and justice involvement.

The Women’s Specialist plays a key role in creating a safe, affirming, and empowering environment where women can stabilize, heal, and access essential treatment and support. The position emphasizes women‑specific pathways to recovery, cultural humility, and gender‑affirming engagement, with a focus on strengthening protective factors and connecting participants to long‑term community supports.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in human services or a related field, or a minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience
• Experience providing gender‑responsive, trauma‑informed, and woman‑centered services
• Knowledge of substance use treatment, mental health interventions, harm‑reduction principles, and women’s pathways to recovery
• Strong communication, engagement, and documentation skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast‑paced, team‑based environment
• Commitment to cultural humility, participant self‑determination, gender‑affirming care, and women’s empowerment

Nice To Haves

• Active peer credential (NYSCPS or NYSCPS‑P, CRPA or CRPA‑P)
• Experience working with trans women and/or LGBTQ+ communities strongly preferred

Responsibilities

• Provide woman‑centered, trauma‑informed case management services to women, including trans women, diverted from Manhattan Criminal Court
• Conduct assessments that consider women’s trauma histories, safety concerns, substance use, mental health needs, and social determinants of health
• Develop short‑term service plans prioritizing women’s stabilization, autonomy, and empowerment
• Facilitate individual and group counseling sessions focused on trauma, empowerment, resilience, wellness, and recovery
• Provide gender‑affirming services to trans women, including consistent use of correct names, pronouns, and gender‑affirming practices
• Identify and address barriers disproportionately impacting trans women, including discrimination, lack of affirming healthcare, safety risks, and housing instability
• Coordinate referrals to community‑based services, including holistic wellness supports, behavioral health treatment, gender‑affirming healthcare, housing, and legal advocacy
• Advocate for women within the criminal justice system and across service providers to ensure equitable and respectful care
• Work collaboratively with Peer Specialists and interdisciplinary staff to deliver coordinated, participant‑centered services
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in accordance with agency and funder requirements
• Participate in supervision, trainings, and team meetings related to trauma‑informed care, gender‑responsive practices, cultural humility, and serving trans women respectfully and ethically

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Vacation and Paid Time Off – starting at 25 days-off annually, plus an additional summer self-care day
• 12 Paid Holidays per year
• Retirement 403b Competitive matching up to 6%
• Employee Referral Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level