Director of Care

Job Title: Director of Care

Organization: The Free Root Operation, Inc.

Location: Chicago, IL

Job Type: Hybrid Full Time

Schedule: A combination of standard business hours, recurring weekend, and recurring evening availability. 

Compensation: $65,000 salary

Job Description

Free Root Operation is a budding nonprofit that serves single mothers and women, often erased from gun violence advocacy, as a public safety infrastructure. We address the root causes of gun violence through wraparound wellness and economic development programming that empowers our constituents to heal from harm, break cycles of violence, and shift the trajectory of their families.

Our flagship initiative, The BLOOM Network, is a fleet of several wellness programs designed to meet our constituents along different levels of their wellness journeys. Our Network currently has over 1,800 registrants in the Chicagoland area. The deepest level of care in the Network is the BLOOM Cohort: a five-month intensive wellness program combining individual and family mental health counseling, educational and experiential workshops, and leadership training to produce measurable improvements in participants' hope, energy, mood, and self-worth levels. 

Our organization’s culture embraces several values in service of our mission, including faithful, innovative, fiery, disruptive, rooted, and joyful. Every member of our team embodies our mission, with and beyond our organization, to advance success at the organizational, departmental, and constituent levels.

The Director of Care (DOC) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker responsible for ensuring the clinical integrity and strategic programmatic execution of Free Root Operation’s BLOOM methodology. At Free Root Operation, “care” represents our holistic approach, integrating clinical expertise and program design with educational and experiential learning. This role focuses on clinical strategy, methodology implementation, and team guidance rather than direct caseload management. This position is ideal for a dynamic leader, preferably one with educational experience, who thrives in a fast-paced environment, prioritizes service excellence, and can effectively guide a team toward shared goals.

Key Responsibilities:

Clinical Strategy and Methodology Oversight:

• Lead the strategic implementation of the BLOOM methodology, ensuring alignment between clinical counseling and program curriculum.
• Serve as lead internal program facilitator of the BLOOM methodology at select BLOOM Cohort programming. 
• Train and guide clinicians and additional program facilitators on integrating care strategies into programming. 
• Facilitate regular clinical strategy meetings with Care Coordinators and program facilitators to ensure consistency.
• Maintain expertise in trauma-informed, evidence-based practices, continuously refining Free Root Operation’s care model.
• Attendance at all BLOOM Cohort events (about 4-5 per month), Flower Hour Clinics, select counseling windows, and select Network events as needed.

Collaboration with Program Execution:

• Work closely with the Program Manager (PM) to ensure seamless coordination between the curriculum, participant progress, and logistics.
• Provide guidance to ensure all program elements and care priorities are integrative. 
• Ensure program materials encompass participant engagement and feedback to ensure best practice. 
• Advise the BLOOM Cohort application process.

Care Team Leadership and Oversight:

• Supervise, mentor, and provide clinical oversight to three Licensed Social Workers (Care Coordinators), and up to two graduate practicum students, fostering a supportive and collaborative team environment.
• Ensure all counseling services, referrals, and participant interactions adhere to ethical and evidence-based standards. 
• Oversee all caseload management, ensuring services are delivered ethically, effectively, and in alignment with best practices.
• Oversight of participant adherence to BLOOM Cohort protocol, requirements, and code of ethics to ensure high success rate of participants. 
• Oversight of Flower Hour Clinics to ensure participants are provided referrals which are executed to completion. 

Caseload Oversight:

• Support the care team in maintaining a departmental caseload of 30 BLOOM Cohort participants, ensuring continuity of care and measurable progress in counseling outcomes.
• Coordinate and implement 6 BLOOM Network "Flower Hours" annually, providing referral services to additional program participants.
• Maintain constituent care by serving as a “step-in” counselor in the event of an emergency. 

Metric Tracking, Reporting, and Development:

• Participate in meetings with relevant partners and grantors to discuss programmatic metrics and outcomes. 
• Regularly track and submit quantitative and qualitative metrics detailing participant progress, demographics, and program outcomes to leadership, funders, and external partners, ensuring data-driven decision-making.
• Lead evaluation of participant progress, identifying trends and areas for improvement.
• Support the Executive Leadership team in programmatic refinement, development, and innovation.
• Stay informed on best practices in trauma-informed care and holistic wellness to continuously improve services.

Partnership and Relationship Building

• Develop and maintain partnerships with community organizations and service providers to expand resources available to program participants.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with local universities to sustain and grow our social work practicum placement program, ensuring a steady flow of students across semesters.

Qualifications:

• LCSW required (Master’s in Social Work or a related field).
• Minimum 5 years of experience in clinical social work, with expertise in counseling, case management, and program supervision.
• At least 2 years of leadership experience in a nonprofit or community-based setting.
• Extensive knowledge of trauma-informed care, family systems theory, and holistic wellness approaches.
• Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and understanding of issues related to housing stability, income inequality, career development, and financial empowerment.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating group workshops, training sessions, or clinical education.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Strong ability to collaborate across teams, ensuring an inclusive and cooperative work environment.
• Commitment to social justice, equity, and empowering women, families, and communities affected by systemic inequities.
• Ability to navigate a dynamic, fast-paced environment and adapt to evolving organizational needs.
• Proficiency in G-Suite, Microsoft Office, and data management systems.

Notes of Importance:

1. Free Root Operation is a Black woman-led, community-centered organization committed to empowering Black and Brown communities toward sustainability and self-fulfillment. We welcome applicants who align with our mission and vision.
2. This position is currently based in Bronzeville, with occasional travel within the community.
3. ​This role does not include managing an individual caseload but provides clinical expertise, strategic insight, staff training, and emergency intervention as needed.
4. As a hybrid role requiring weekend and evening availability, the DOC must maintain a flexible work schedule, including some overlapping hours during standard business times.
5. Most programming occurs in person on Tuesday evenings and Saturdays.
6. Counseling sessions take place in person on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, including evening hours.
7. One Saturday per month is dedicated to in-person counseling services.
8. Thursdays are designated as in-person workdays for the entire team.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS / WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Preferred ability to stand for extended periods of time.

May occasionally transport materials (approximately 30-40 lbs.)

Benefits:

• Health Insurance
• Vision
• Dental
• Flexible Spending Account with partial match
• Professional Development Support
• Wellness Days with Stipend
• Vacation Time
• Personal Leave
• Sick Leave
• Opportunity to work with and serve Black women
• Paid two-week holiday break at the end of the year

For more information about this position or to apply, please send your cover letter, resume, and two professional references to: Director of Operations, Arianne Elena Payne, arianne@freerootoperation.com.