Social Worker

Title: Social Worker

Unit: MOCJ Emergency Transitional Housing

Reports to: Program Director

Salary Range: $73,000


Status: Full Time; Regular; Exempt

Location: Brooklyn location (381 Rockaway Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212)

Days/Hours: Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm

This position is represented by OPEIU Local 153

Organization Overview:

The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) has been working for over 57 years in service to our mission: to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. The organization has evolved into one of the nation's preeminent reentry and justice-informed service organizations, providing formerly incarcerated people with the skills and wrap-around services needed to break the cycle of crime and incarceration and to build productive lives in their communities.

Fortune has grown steadily over the years to an agency with close to $90 million in annual budget with just under 600 staff. We anticipate that we will keep growing, both in size and depth of service. Fortune has a dual mission: both advocacy and service. The advocacy portion of our mission focuses on building a more just criminal legal system and reducing the barriers to reentry into society. The service side of Fortune has evolved to encompass a broad range of programs that started with employment and education and now includes a robust array of services, among them: alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning within correctional facilities, licensed substance use and mental health treatment, a housing continuum ranging from emergency and transitional through permanent congregate and scattered site housing, assistance in obtaining benefits, a care management unit, HIV services, a food and nutrition program, and an arts program. Each service we provide is informed by the needs of the population we serve. Fortune currently serves approximately 14,000 people a year. Our participant population mirrors the incarcerated population in being approximately 85% male and over 90% people of color. Our program models are recognized, both nationally and internationally, for their quality and innovation. We have locations in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan and Queens.

Scope of Position:

The Social Worker will provide ongoing clinical support to participants enrolled in Fortune's emergency transitional housing program who have histories of homelessness and justice involvement and may be experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges. The Social Worker will conduct assessments, develop individualized service plans, provide counseling and crisis intervention, facilitate support groups, and coordinate care with internal and external service providers to promote housing stability, recovery, and overall well-being.

Core Competencies

Mission and Fit: Embodies Fortune's mission and values and will be an effective member of the team in furthering both. The candidate should exhibit compassion and understanding for our participants (wherever they are in their re-entry process) and embrace Fortune's core cultural value so that none of us should be measured against the worst things we have done.

Cultural Competencies: Must demonstrate the ability to empathize accurately and use reflective skills to support culturally responsive practice.

Communication: Must demonstrate the ability to effectively convey and receive information, ideas, and messages, both verbally and nonverbally, and are crucial for building relationships, collaborating, and achieving goals.

Organizational Skills: Must possess strong organizational skills, enabling them to effectively structure, prioritize, and manage tasks, time, and resources to achieve goals efficiently.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Deliver training on trauma-informed care and other factors that impact participant engagement.
• Assist the Program Director with special projects related to the MOC-J contract.
• Supervision of case management, conduct training and development of staff, and carry a small caseload of five to eight participants, if necessary.
• Provide clinical counseling and support to participants as needed.
• Request additional information from referral providers and court advocates to ensure staff are prepared to support diverse participant needs.
• Review of progress notes to ensure MOCJ Scope of Work is being met.
• Collaborate with the Intake Department on cases requiring enhanced support, including FACT, IMT, and ACT referrals.
• Work collaboratively with Behavioral Health, SRP, Court Advocacy, and DOCS to ensure wraparound support is in place.
• Create individualized treatment plans for each client. Document all client services, including successful and unsuccessful attempts.
• Coordinate with external providers to ensure quality implementation of resources related to housing placements.
• Facilitate support groups as needed to address participant needs and promote engagement in services.
• Ability to be available 24 hours a day, on call, for emergencies and support.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• MSW required; LMSW preferred.
• Minimum of one year of experience working with the senior homeless population preferred.
• Experience (work or internship) supporting individuals with significant psychiatric needs, trauma histories, or justice-involved backgrounds.
• Bilingual in Spanish a plus.
• Strong computer skills, particularly with electronic health records.
• Excellent resident engagement and counseling skills.
• Strong clinical writing and time management skills.
• Commitment to the organization's mission; relevant lived experience is valued.

We seek talented, dedicated individuals from all walks of life who possess a strong commitment to this mission. Relevant personal experience is a plus.

Travel Requirements:

This position requires weekly on-site availability and travel to various Fortune housing and program locations as required.

Physical Demands:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The responsibilities and requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensing, experience, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

The Fortune Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of conviction history, race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status or marital status.