Social Worker, Alternatives to Incarceration

About the role

Brooklyn Justice Initiatives (BJI) seeks to reengineer the experience of criminal court in Brooklyn, New York by providing judges and attorneys meaningful alternatives to bail, fines, and jail sentences. Operating out of Kings County Criminal Court and nearby satellite offices, Brooklyn Justice Initiatives is a team of social service providers, court-based resource coordinators, and others who seek to improve the quality of justice.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive, clinically informed case management services to adult and young adult participants that address issues such as substance use, mental health, trauma, housing, and educational/vocational needs;
• Conduct clinical assessments and provide individualized service and programming recommendations to court parties for review;
• Provide case management and individual counseling services to a caseload of short- and long-term mandated participants;
• Complete intakes of early diversion and Alternative to Incarceration participants;
• Absorb and provide crisis intervention and de-escalation;
• Manage and monitor participant compliance with service mandates;
• Collaborate with judges, attorneys, court personnel, and community partners to ensure coordinated and culturally responsive service delivery throughout the participant’s engagement;
• Provide accurate written participant reports to the court and other court stakeholders in a timely manner;
• Make referrals and establish linkages with community-based organizations to support participant goals, including referrals that meet immediate needs and those that support ongoing stability;
• Facilitate coordinated service delivery for on-site agencies and community-based agencies;
• Maintain timely, accurate case notes and records in the online case management system, documenting participant engagement across ATI and early diversion tracks;
• Track participant progress, service engagement, and referral outcomes to inform program evaluation and continuous improvement;
• Assist with data collection and reporting that demonstrates program impact and supports data-informed practice;
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment meetings;
• Facilitate and develop a range of on-site groups that are both cognitive behavioral and psychoeducational in nature;
• Assist ATI management with the development and implementation of new programs, initiatives, and/or interventions;
• Assist ATI management with administrative responsibilities, as needed;
• Assist ATI management with data collection and management;
• Assist with grant reporting requirements, as needed;
• Provide clinical services as described above to program participants on a voluntary basis post-mandate;
• Attend all required staff meetings and trainings;
• Bi-lingual preferred;
• Attending Brooklyn Justice Initiatives’ and community-based events after hours, as needed;
• Additional relevant tasks, as needed.

Requirements

The Social Worker will collaborate with judges, attorneys, court personnel, and community partners to ensure coordinated and culturally responsive service delivery across programs.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work or related field;
• License to practice Social Work in the state of New York;
• Experience working with adults and young adults in a court-based setting;
• Experience providing clinical services in a community-based setting;
• Experience with trauma-informed care and cultural competency;
• Experience with substance use disorders and mental health issues;
• Experience with housing and educational/vocational needs;
• Strong clinical judgment and flexibility in a fast-paced court environment;
• Ability to build effective partnerships with legal system stakeholders and community-based providers;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously;
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-stress environment.

Skills

• Strong clinical judgment;
• Flexibility in a fast-paced court environment;
• Ability to build effective partnerships with legal system stakeholders and community-based providers;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously;
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-stress environment.

Benefits

The Center for Justice Innovation offers an excellent benefits package including comprehensive healthcare with a national network, free basic dental coverage, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts including commuter FSA. We prioritize mental health care for our staff and offer services like Talkspace and Ginger through our healthcare plans. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan with a two-to-one employer contribution up to 5%.

Pay

The compensation range for this position is $60,500 - $78,800 and is commensurate with experience.

Schedule

This position requires a full-time commitment.