Family Functional Therapy (FFT) Therapist

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. For more information on how and where we work, please visit www.innovatingjustice.org.  

The Center is a 900-employee, $100 million nonprofit that accomplishes its vision through three pillars of work: creating and scaling operating programs to test new ideas and solve problems, performing original research to determine what works (and what doesn’t), and providing expert assistance and policy guidance to justice reformers around the world.

Operating Programs

The Center’s operating programs, including the award-winning Red Hook Community Justice Center and Midtown Community Justice Center, test new ideas, solve difficult problems, and attempt to achieve systemic change within the justice system. Our projects include community-based violence prevention programs, alternatives to incarceration, reentry initiatives, and court-based initiatives that reduce the use of unnecessary incarceration and promote positive individual and family change. Through this programming, we have produced tangible results like safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice.

Research

The Center's research teams are staffed with social scientists, data analysts, and lawyers who are academically-trained or have lived experience and who conduct research in the U.S. and globally on diverse criminal-legal system and justice issues. Their work includes evaluating programs and policies; conducting exploratory, community-based studies; and providing research translation and strategic planning for system actors. The Center has published studies on topics including court and jail reform, intimate partner violence, restorative justice, gun violence, reentry, sixth amendment rights, and progressive prosecution. The research teams strive to make their work meaningful and actionable to the communities they work with, policymakers, and practitioners.

Policy & Expert Assistance

The Center provides hands-on, planning and implementation assistance to a wide range of jurisdictions in areas of reform such as problem-solving courts (e.g., community courts, treatment courts, domestic violence courts), tribal justice, reducing incarceration and the use of fines/fees and reducing crime and violence. Our current expert assistance takes many forms, including help with analyzing data, strategic planning and consultation, policy guidance, and hosting site visits to its operating programs in the New York City area. 

Center Support

A dedicated support team within the Center ensures the smooth functioning of operations across various domains, including finance, legal, technology, human resources, fundraising, real estate, and communications. Comprising 15% of the organization's staff, these teams provide essential infrastructure support and innovative solutions aligned with the Center's mission and values. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

Queens Community Justice Center (QCJC) operates an array of programming for local youth, with a particular focus on engaging those with justice involvement. Current initiatives include Youth Impact (peer-led restorative youth diversion program), an alternative-to-detention program, an alternative to incarceration program, workforce development initiatives, a trauma-informed, survivor-centered program for youth who are at risk of commercial sexual exploitation, and several mentorship programs. By offering positive pro-social programming for young people, QCJC aims to stop the cycle of delinquency and crime for adolescents and reduce reliance on detention. The comprehensive programming offers all participating young people leadership development and service opportunities designed to promote positive engagement in their communities.

The Queens Community Justice Center is seeking to hire a Family Functional Therapy (FFT) Therapist for a community-based violence prevention program that aims to reduce violent recidivism through intensive and voluntary therapeutic services. The therapists will report to the Justice Center’s Clinical Manager. This program is part of the Atlas initiative and uses the evidence-based Functional Family Therapy (FFT) model to engage young people and their families in holistic anti-violence services.

Atlas works to prevent violence by meeting people during a crisis, like a recent arrest or open court case and connecting them to a change process that nurtures hope and strengthens relationships. As part of Atlas, the Queens Community Justice Center is offering FFT to young people at elevated risk for violence in the community, victimization, or a re-arrest. FFT is an evidence-based intervention for youth and families. This high-quality, strength-focused family counseling model is designed for high-risk youth and young adults who have been referred by the criminal court, juvenile justice, mental health, school, or child welfare systems. Services are short-term and typically offered in the home, though services can be offered in the office or other community settings.

• Provide "home-based" Functional Family Therapy (FFT) in adherence to model fidelity, delivering services directly in homes, the office, or community settings (not remotely);
• Employ creativity and persistence to effectively engage clients, fostering strong therapeutic relationships;
• Work collaboratively with families from a strengths-based approach, empowering them to leverage their resources for growth and change;
• Advocate passionately for youth and families, demonstrating belief in each individual’s capacity to grow and thrive;
• Show cultural sensitivity and adaptability, providing a comfortable environment for diverse backgrounds;
• Commit to empowering families to develop their problem-solving skills, working with them at times and locations that are most accessible for them, primarily in their homes;
• Engage with referral sources (e.g., Legal Aid Society, NYC Law Department, schools, and QCJC programs) to effectively introduce families to the Functional Family Therapy (FFT) Model;
• Actively participate in community events alongside team members to foster local connections and support;
• Manage a caseload of up to 12 cases, maintaining both electronic and physical files, ensuring accurate and timely documentation;
• Record progress notes promptly in the CSS system, meeting FFT requirements for external reporting and data tracking;
• Collaborate with the therapy team, participating in weekly team meetings and individual supervision sessions;
• Facilitate access to appropriate services and resources for families, addressing both clinical needs and practical supports;
• Travel to and from client homes as required to deliver therapy and support;
• Participate in all FFT training, supervision, and consultation activities to maintain high standards and model fidelity; and
• Additional tasks as necessary.

Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in social work, counseling, education, or other relevant human service profession preferred; 
• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred; and
• Preference given to Queens residents.

Preferred Experience: 

• Demonstrated expertise in providing individual and family therapy using cognitive behavioral techniques, with a strong commitment to evidence-based practices;
• Experience working directly with at-risk youth, particularly within Black and Latino communities, ages 13 to 18, focusing on justice prevention and family-centered care;
• Comfort and experience conducting in-home therapy sessions, especially in urban settings in Queens; and
• Flexibility to meet the needs of clients, including availability for evenings and weekends.  

Position Type: Full-time, must be willing to work weekend and evening hours as required.

Position Location: Queens, NY.

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $70,000 - $75,000 and is commensurate with experience. 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. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and as such, we do not discriminate on the basis of 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 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, as well as individuals with prior contact with the criminal justice system. Our aim is to create a supportive and respectful environment where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, feels valued and included.

As of February 10, 2023, New York City Executive Order 25 rescinded the requirement of the COVID-19 vaccination for City workers, new hires, and contracted employees. Accordingly, the Center does not require all new hires be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus; however, the Center recommends all staff, interns, and volunteers stay up-to-date on the vaccination.

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