Clinical Advocate (LMSW, Criminalized Survivors Program)

Overview

Rising Ground Driven by the belief that each of us can thrive when life has hope and opportunity, Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity, and each year, Rising Ground is a positive force in the lives of more than 25,000 individuals. We do this through 138 programs in 101 locations throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity shows not just through our work with supported persons but is integral to the building of a strong staff that reflects the communities we serve.

About the Criminalized Survivors Program: For over 30 years, the Criminalized Survivors (CSP) Program has offered comprehensive clinical and legal support services to survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) or other forms of gender-based violence (GBV) who have been criminalized for their efforts to survive or resist abusive partner behavior. We support survivors facing felony and/or misdemeanor charges in any borough. In addition, CSP has a designated Advocate/Counselor serving criminalized survivors on-site at the Manhattan and Brooklyn Family Justice Centers, and a Training team that helps lead the City's whole-City response to criminalized survivors.

The Clinical Advocate will provide direct counseling and emotional support, rigorous advocacy, and case management to criminalized survivors facing felony and/or misdemeanor charges in any borough, and will provide aftercare as needed. The Clinical Advocate will collaborate with defense attorneys and other providers and stakeholders in support of criminalized survivors and will engage in evidence-based assessment and service planning in partnership with survivors.

Responsibilities

• Provide survivor-centered counseling and emotional support to criminalized survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) using evidence-based interventions adopted by the program
• Design and facilitate support groups for criminalized survivors of GBV.
• Engage in intensive legal advocacy in collaboration with defense teams and prepare written reports;
• When possible, accompany criminalized survivors to their court appearances and actively engage with their defense team and other providers;
• Actively and collaboratively participate in weekly supervision and team meetings, as well as other meetings and trainings;
• Record all case notes in a timely manner using electronic case management system and carefully maintain case files;
• Other tasks as assigned by CSP leadership. 

Qualifications

• LMSW, LMHC or other relevant graduate degree required;
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, required
• Strong and dynamic counseling and advocacy skills;
• Nuanced understanding of the dynamics of gender-based violence and systems of oppression;
• Meaningful commitment to practicing from an anti-oppressive, healing-centered stance;
• High level of self-awareness and ability to give and receive feedback well;
• Impeccable attention to detail, systems, and processes;
• Ability to work with flexibility, independence, accountability, passion, and humor.

Hybrid (2) Remote (3) In-Office

Benefit Package (Medical, Vision, Dental. PTO, 401k matching)

Starting Salary: $75,000

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENTIt is the policy of Rising Ground that the Agency wholly complies with equal treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to an individual’s perceived or actual race, creed, color, national origin, alienate, citizenship status, gender, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or veteran status in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, layoff and termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.

Salary : $75,000