Sr. Clinician - Family Strengthening Program

About Sasha Bruce Youthwork (SBY)

Sasha Bruce Youthwork (SBY) is the leading provider of homeless youth services in the DC Region. Through the holistic integration of its Pillars of Opportunity, Sasha Bruce is able to provide safe homes, life skills, and workforce development to meet the unique needs of homeless youth. For more than 45 years, Sasha Bruce has implemented innovative interventions aimed at bringing an end to youth homelessness in the DC region. Today, its programs in DC and Prince George's County, MD, reach over 6,500 runaway, homeless, abused, and neglected youth, and their families.

About The Family Strengthening Program

The Family Strengthening Program, or FSP, is made up of two different initiatives: the CARES Project and STEP:
• CARES:

o The SBY "Community Approaches to Rapid Engagement Services" or CARES, is a new SBY program that will work collaboratively with MPD, OAG, and DC DHS to support family units experiencing intra-family violence and where families desire additional support with coping and problem-solving skills. The CARES Team will offer crisis response services when families need it most and will aid families through a stabilization process, including a "cool off" period if necessary.
• STEP

o STEP provides community-based counseling and case management to minors on the missing persons list. Through improving communication, conflict resolution and supporting the usage of healthy coping skills of family members, the program aims to increase family stability and decrease family conflict, as well as decreasing runaway behaviors. This is a collaboration with DC DHS, DC MPD and Sasha Bruce House.

Job Summary:

The Family Strengthening Program Manager supervises and supports a team of family engagement specialists and interventionists who provide community-based counseling services, case management support and emergency on-site crisis intervention to youth and families. They will also actively carry their own caseload.

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Performs crisis intervention and stabilization work with youth and families using a strengths competency-based framework; For CARES, crisis intervention includes answering emergency calls and being the back up for on site crisis intervention;
• Provide strengths-based clinical supervision to family engagement specialists who offer individual counseling, family mediation, and crisis stabilization services;
• Triage incoming calls and referrals to determine client needs and assess for intake into services or referral to other resources, engaging youth and families in services quickly through assertive outreach, quick response time, and active listening from a strengths-based family support perspective.
• Carry a direct care caseload as needed and assist staff as needed with difficult family counseling sessions through co-facilitation or observation;
• Assess youth in crisis and develop appropriate safety planning and interventions in collaboration with their appropriate clinician, family members, and other stakeholders;
• Lead weekly team meetings with FSP staff team for group supervision and training in crisis intervention, family support, and other relevant clinical topics;
• Collaborate with Bruce House program manager and staff to create a seamless partnership between Family Strengthening Program and Bruce House to support youth and families with a combination of immediate respite and long-term family support services, including but not limited to: Regular case and staffing meetings with Bruce House staff to discuss active cases.
• Maintain oversight of relevant grant-funded programs, including serving as the primary liaison to grant officers; managing expenditures and data reporting; and ensuring program fidelity and compliance;
• Maintain ongoing interagency partnerships and relationships with DHS, OAG, MPD and community providers, including active participation in STEP team case conferencing, regular check ins and other related meetings;
• Train and monitor staff in the completion of clinical documentation including service plans, assessments, case notes, and treatment plan reviews;
• Administrative duties include data entry, submission of reports, submitting and approving timesheets, setting employee professional development plans and annuals evaluations, ordering office supplies, and coordinating mileage and reimbursements for your team and other related tasks;
• Participate in required annual training required by licensing agency, by Supervisor and/or Clinical Director;
• Participate in regular supervision;
• Support the clinical skill development of the larger SBY staff team through periodic facilitation and/or participation in trainings, workshops, and consultation;
• Other duties as assigned; and,
• Must have a commitment to ending youth homelessness, racial equity, inclusion, and issues central to Sasha Bruce Youthwork's mission.

Qualification:

§ Clinical Licensure in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or a related field. If the licensure is not in DC, eligibility for licensure in DC is expected;

§ At least 5 years of experience in direct service to youth and families;

§ Prior demonstrable experience as a leader, supervisor, or manager of a team; prior experience leading or coordinating grant-funded programs preferred;

§ Demonstrated ability to connect with children, adolescents, and young adults with mental health challenges, trauma, crisis, and community stress and successfully empower them to overcome their challenges;

§ Prior experience with crisis response and a history of responding effectively to crises, including direct safety planning or referral to appropriate resources;

§ Ability to successfully complete our clearance process, including local and FBI fingerprinting and background checks, Child Protection Clearances, etc. This includes the ability to drive, a current and valid driver's license, a clean driving record, access to a personal vehicle, and ability to travel between locations during the workday.