Crisis Worker (MST-CAN)

Brooklyn Prevention Services Center (630 Flushing Avenue)

$42,000 - $45,000

*Sign-On Bonus Eligible*

Position Summary: Crisis Workers provide support to families and Therapists. They provide culturally competent, crisis intervention, assessment, case management and advocacy to families in the MST-CAN Programs in compliance with ACS policies and procedures. The Crisis Worker reports to the MST-CAN Supervisor.

The primary duties of the crisis worker are to conduct home assessments, financial assessments as well as safety and risk assessments in the home. Based on these assessments, the crisis worker will provide families with direct case management and advocacy services to address families' need for support in areas such as PA, housing, DOE, and referrals for community-based services such as parenting classes, mental health services, job readiness programs, after school activities, summer camps, and other pro-social activities, etc. The Crisis Worker will participate in group supervision, administers screening, is sometimes responsible for weekend crisis coverage and will assist with moving cases forward in the absence of the Therapist.

When required, the case planner role in some cases may be transferred from the therapist to the Crisis Worker. In these instances, the clinical/evidence based treatment ends and the Crisis Worker becomes the program staff primarily responsible for ensuring compliance with ACS and OCFS child welfare mandates on the assigned cases.

Essential Duties: General responsibilities for the position of MST-CAN Crisis Worker will be to support the work of the Therapists by assisting families with concrete needs and services, educational advocacy and referrals to support services to alleviate barriers to their participation in treatment. Tasks of the Crisis Worker include, but are not limited to:

• Understand and promote the organization's Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.
• Assist with concrete case management tasks, e.g. rent arrears, utility shut off, furniture assistance.
• Perform system updates on PROMIS and CONNX.
• Assist with Intake tasks.
• Monitor school attendance and obtain school records.
• Request medical records for all minor children.
• Assist with maintenance of case records for unit.
• Conduct "Safe Sleep" assessments of infants as well as well as ongoing safety and risk assessments of younger children in the home as needed.
• Conduct home assessment as well as assessment of financial resources for families as needed.
• Research and Identify appropriate community-based services to support families, mental health programs, DV programs, pro-social activities for adolescents etc.
• Accompany clients to entitlement appointments such as HRA/Public Assistance.
• Make referrals/appointments to agencies/collaterals needed.
• Complete all required child welfare documentation such as progress notes, assessment forms, etc.
• In instances when Crisis Workers are assigned a case planner role on cases, Crisis Workers perform child welfare tasks as described above on the assigned cases as well as complete FASPs and/or Plan Amendments when required.
• Attend all trainings necessary to perform above tasks.
• Engage primary caregiver and other key participants in active change-oriented treatment by identifying and overcoming barriers to engagement.
• Assist therapists in the implement a problem conceptualization, treatment planning, intervention implementation, outcome review and strategy revision procedure using the MST Analytic Process.
• Maintain clear and concise documentation of treatment efforts that promote peer and supervisory review and feedback, and that demonstrate compliance with the nine MST Principles and the MST Analytic Process.
• Perform safety checks at the direction of the supervisor or therapist, respond to emergencies, and implement crisis plans.
• Obtain drug screens and/or breathalyzers for parents or youth who are abusing substances.
• Participate in all MST-CAN training, supervision and consultation activities.
• Build a relationship with community stakeholders (i.e., child protection services, Guardians ad Litem, judges, schools, etc.) to ensure cooperation among service providers.
• Assist the clinical team and parents with children's school adjustment.
• Assist in CAN-TAM-R collection by connecting families with the interviewer helping families complete a paper TAM's.
• Assist the team in on-call rotation (if the crisis casework is qualified to do so).
• Be available by phone 24/7 or as needed to respond to client crises. This includes ability to conduct sessions on weekends as needed, to accommodate client availability.
• Ability to work flexible hour, including working remotely in the field, community or various CA offices to meet the needs of families and improve efficiency and management of time and resources.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) or a BA in a related field required.
• Minimum one years of related experience working with adolescent and/or families preferably in a child welfare, juvenile justice or mental health settings.
• Bilingual in Spanish/English preferred.

Key Competencies:

• Ability and willingness to work with families and teens in the home, school and other appropriate settings in the community.
• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and some weekends as needed.
• Ability to work independently, as well as contribute to a team.
• Very good interpersonal/communication skills, including ability to write well and complete documentation in a timely manner.
• Computer literate.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children's Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children's Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children's Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.