Mental Health Therapist Intern

Reports To: Aftercare Supervisor

Location: 692 Blake Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11207

Hours: TBD Unpaid Internship

Job Summary: The NSP Aftercare program provides support to youth and their families following the youth’s release from residential placement back into their communities. The Therapist provides individual child and/or family therapy for youth and families in the aftercare program to promote successful adjustment back to the community. This position provides comprehensive assessment and treatment to address identified personal, behavioral or family issues, using a strength-based, youth and family development approach. All work is trauma -informed and ensures that the Sanctuary 7 commitments are embedded into practice, and that the tools of this model are utilized when appropriate to address the trauma symptoms of the population. The Therapist provides intensive, in-home, strength-based, comprehensive services to families whose children who have been involved in the Juvenile Justice System and are back or transitioning back into the community.

Major Duties:

• Administer individual mental health assessments including but not limited to Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children.
• Provide intensive, home-based; and on-site individual, family, and group counseling, as well as short-term crisis intervention, including advocacy and outreach for designated caseload using agreed-upon models including CBT/TF-CBT.
• Facilitate referrals to alcohol, substance abuse, and mental health treatment facilities and other service providers including escorting to appointments as needed.
• Participate in Administration for Children Services (ACS) conferences including Elevated Risk & Transition Conferences.
• Participate in selected Treatment Team meetings to collaborate with social services and health services staff and update them on youth’s progress in treatment.
• Provide youth and families with effective coaching, teaching, and modeling to promote for the de-escalation of crisis and processing of crisis situations.
• Conduct a 12-week parent support groups using the Parenting Journey curriculum as required.
• Participate in staff/team meetings and trainings.
• Complete necessary documentation and maintain appropriate utilization of State and City Child Welfare databases (Connections, PROMIS), as well as agency databases to track enrollment, services, and utilization (Evol) and complete initial and quarterly treatment plans, annual psycho-social assessments and trauma based assessments on each assigned youth.
• Learn and implement the Missouri Approach to youth in care.

• Effectively use and practice the Sanctuary Model tools: safety plans, community meetings, psycho-educational groups, team meetings, red flag reviews, treatment planning conferences (or similar), and self-care, when applicable, in the department/program to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Promote and model the seven Sanctuary Model commitments to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Integrate the Sanctuary Model SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss and Future) framework into daily practice to ensure quality care and an effective work environment
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Mental Health Counseling Intern preferred.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Willingness to work in the community and provide in-home therapy to families.
• Ability to use public transportation throughout the city.
• Valid Driver license strongly preferred
• Experience with in-home family therapy strongly preferred.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours, including Saturday schedule if needed.
• Excellent organizational, written, and communication skills.
• Must have a commitment to work from a restorative, strength-based, trauma- informed and youth development perspective.