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 50 programs in 70 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.

The MST (Multi-systemic Therapy) team at Rising Ground supports scholars in NYC, ages 12-17.5, with intensive in-home family and community-based treatment as they transition to Aftercare following placement in one of our Close to Home facilities. MST addresses the multiple factors known to be related to juvenile justice involvement across the key settings, or systems, within which youth are embedded (i.e. family, peers, school, neighborhood). MST starts this process by initiating treatment for the youth and the family while the youth is still in placement. MST therapists strive to promote behavior change in the youth’s natural environment using the strengths of each system to facilitate change. The MST model promotes personal responsibility, education, work ethic, community responsibility and an intolerance of violence and prejudice.

• Adheres to all agency and departmental safety procedures including reporting any unsafe practices, equipment and environment, and takes an active role in correcting the unsafe practice, equipment or environment through proper notification.
• Conduct MST assessment including review of referral information, identifying and engaging key participants, identifying systemic strengths and weaknesses, and developing an analysis of the fit of problem behaviors within the ecological context.
• Engage primary caregiver and other key participants, including staff at the designated placement in active change-oriented treatment by identifying and overcoming barriers to engagement.
• Implement a problem conceptualization, treatment planning, intervention implementation and outcome review and strategy revision procedure using the MST analytical process.
• Maintain clear and concise documentation of treatment efforts that promote peer and supervisory review and feedback, and that demonstrate compliance with the MST principles, concepts and strategies.
• Collaborate with all relevant systems and key participants within each system to ensure their buy-in and cooperation throughout MST treatment.
• Provide direct clinical treatment using methods compatible with MST principles and practices.
• Participate in all MST training, supervision and consultation activities.
• Stays abreast to developments in the juvenile justice system.
• Document all progress notes in CONNECTIONS within 5 days of contact.
• Provide necessary referrals for families in need of housing, health, mental health or preventive services, as needed.
• Provide supervision, if needed, to ensure the safety of all family members. If possible, to strengthen the parental role in the family.
• Develop and submit weekly email updates to ACS (Administration for Children Services) and participate in bi-weekly case update calls as requested.
• Participates in release conferences, post-discharge community conferences, and any Elevated Risks conferences and maintain communication with ACS and the Rising Ground case planning team.
• Other duties that may be assigned.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: Full time position, 35 hours per week. Daily schedule and hours will fluctuate to meet the needs of the team and families. The therapist is expected to be available to families by phone and be flexible to schedule sessions at times that work best for the family, which include both during the day, afterschool/evening times and weekends on occasion. Participation in group consultations and supervision expected to take place in the office once per week.

Travel (if required): The MST team provides services to families who reside in the 5 boroughs of NYC. The MST Therapist provides their own transportation and work-related travel expenses will be reimbursed.

• Master’s Degree in a New York State Licensable degree (incl. LMSW, LCSW, PhD, PsyD, LMFT, LMHC).
• Preferred clinical experience in: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Family systems theory, Social ecological theory, Cognitive-behavioral theory, Behavioral therapies, Pragmatic family. therapies, Child development research, Social skills assessment.
• MST certified (can be trained when hired).
• 24 hours/7 days availability (rotating on-call system).

Starting Salary 70,000/Annually

Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO, 401k matching)