Clinical Coordinator, Duchess County

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we’ve worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, the Center carries out its mission through three core strategies:

1. Operating Programs that pilot new ideas and address local challenges;
2. Conducting original research to evaluate what works—and what doesn’t; and
3. Providing expert assistance and policy guidance to reformers across the country and beyond.

Backed by decades of on-the-ground experience and nationally recognized expertise, we bring innovative, practical, and lasting solutions to justice systems nationwide.
Learn more about our work at www.innovatingjustice.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Center’s Family Court Programs team is seeking a Temporary Clinical Coordinator for the Families First Court Initiative in Dutchess County. The Families First Court Initiative is a multi-disciplinary court-based project designed to improve the way Family Court responds to the unique needs of adolescents, aged 12-18, and their families by increasing  collaboration and communication, promoting strong and resilient families through trauma-responsive practices, and reducing the use of, or time spent, in congregate care settings.

Reporting to the Director of Policy and Youth Initiatives, the Clinical Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating a multi-disciplinary court team, convening clinical conferences, conducting assessments of children and families, supporting and working with adolescents and their parents/caregivers by ensuring access to high-quality relational services, and collaborating with the Court to inform the decision-making process.

• Complete comprehensive assessments, including clinical and developmental screenings of subject children;
• Provide comprehensive screenings and psycho-social assessments of caregiver and family needs;
• Provide on-going assessment of parent-child relationship; capacity, strengths, and areas in need of support;
• Develop family-specific service plans in collaboration with case planning agency, including evidence-based children/youth, adult and family interventions;
• Facilitate referrals to high-quality services based on assessments in collaboration with the Department of Children and Families Services and/or foster care agency, probation and other systems;
• Track and monitor referral status, client progress, and barriers to treatment;
• Coordinate and provide leadership of monthly Adolescent/Family focused Clinical Conferences and provide adolescent focused feedback to Court Team to ensure that child/youth’s needs are expressed and being met and to problem solve any barriers that are identified;
• Prepare monthly reports for the Judge and Court Team based on on-going assessment and outcomes of monthly Clinical Conferences;
• Provide adolescent development/disruptive behavior expertise in the context of trauma and attachment disruptions to the Judge and Court Team by way of formal trainings and day-to-day consultation;
• Attend all Court Conferences and multi-disciplinary meetings with DCFS/Foster Care Agency, Probation, and Community Partners;
• Engage community-based service providers and government systems serving youth and families with on-going outreach in order to form meaningful relationships, collaborate and support family’s treatment, and include community resources in the Court process so they can in turn support families with a higher knowledge of court practices and expectations;
• Participate in quarterly meetings of the Family Court Steering Committees;
• Assist with data collection and participate in program evaluation and quality improvement;
• Participate in, and assist with providing training in adolescent development and adolescent mental health to the wider Court community and a variety of youth justice system stakeholder groups; and
• Additional relevant responsibilities, as needed. 

Qualifications:  

• Master’s degree (or higher) in social work, psychology, child development, or related field and a minimum of five years’ experience working with children/youth and families, with a strong background in adolescent mental health including evidence-based interventions such as Multisystemic Therapy or other Family Therapy, Parent-Child dyadic therapy, CBT/TFCBT, EMDR, school-based and community-based interventions, attachment theory and research;
• Background in trauma and trauma-informed interventions;
• Knowledge of local youth/family-serving systems and organizations;
• Ability to work collaboratively with, and provide leadership to, a multidisciplinary practitioner group;
• Ability to engage and support court-involved parents;
• Knowledge of screening assessment tools for children, youth and caregivers;
• Knowledge of issues related to child abuse/neglect;
• Knowledge of systems that interface with court-involved families and how to navigate these systems;
• Excellent written skills are a must;
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred;
• Knowledge of Family Court, DCFS and/or probation practice in Dutchess County; and
• Experience with systems change and community building.

Position Type: Temporary part-time, working 15-20 hours per week for 3-5 months.

Position Location: Dutchess County Family Court.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $40.77 - $48.12 per hour, annually equivalent to $74,200 - $87,600 based on a 35-hour work week and is commensurate with experience. 

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%.

The Center for Justice Innovation is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, military service eligibility, veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other category protected by law. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our goal is to create a supportive and respectful environment where everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and included.

At this time, the Center is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

Candidates are expected to provide accurate and truthful information throughout the hiring process. Any misrepresentation, falsification, or omission of material facts may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of an offer, or termination of employment, regardless of when discovered.

In compliance with federal law, all hires must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment verification form upon hire. Please refer to the job posting for relevant contact information. If contact details are not provided, we kindly ask that you refrain from inquiries via phone or email, as only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.