Clinical Specialist, Queens HOPE
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
The Queens HOPE program provides direct specialized services and diversion programs for youth ages 12-25 who are survivors of or are at risk of sexual exploitation/domestic sex trafficking and/or labor trafficking.
The Queens Community Justice Center is seeking a Clinical Specialist for the Queens HOPE program who will also provide clinical and enrichment services for youth in all Justice Center programs. Reporting to the Clinical Manager, the Clinical Specialist will be responsible for developing and implementing programming for youth who are survivors of or at risk of human trafficking exploitation, conducting outreach and partnerships with local program stakeholder such as schools, the courts, and community-based organizations, managing a caseload of program participants, and referring participants to voluntary social service interventions. The Clinical Specialist will work one-on-one and in a group setting, providing intensive case management and trauma-informed, survivor-centered support services.
- Conduct outreach and enrollment of participants into the program, including public presentations;
- Provide screening, assessment, clinical services, and case management services to young people;
- Develop programming (workshops, trips, etc.) appropriate for youth who are involved in or at risk of human trafficking;
- Provide evidence-based programs or practices to participants;
- Providing comprehensive individual counseling sessions;
- Facilitate group sessions for program participants;
- Communicate with service providers to facilitate, follow-up and assist participants with voluntary service referrals;
- Maintain needed communication with all program partners to ensure proper services are being delivered to all participants;
- Develop and provide training, ongoing professional development, and support related to human trafficking to staff, court and community-based service providers;
- Develop an advisory committee comprised of a minimum of ten young women survivors of trafficking to inform Queens HOPE services and trainings, which will ensure the program is survivor-centered and -informed;
- Assist with providing clinical supervision to social work interns;
- Lead case conferencing meetings with non-clinical case management staff, as needed;
- Work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of community programs staff;
- Assist with data collection and complete all necessary documentation and input data into computer database;
- Co-plan group curriculum and facilitate weekly workshops for gender responsive group and an alternative to detention program;
- Support family members of participants in Justice Center programs including providing service referrals, as needed;
- Conduct curfew calls and school advocacy, as needed;
- Assist with grant implementation and reporting, ensuring all requirements and deliverables are met;
- Attend all scheduled supervision and professional development trainings;
- Attend staff meetings and on-going trainings as well as participate in community events held by the Queens Community Justice Center;
- Attend community stakeholder meetings, including community board, resident association, precinct council, and other related recurring meetings; and
- Perform additional relevant tasks as needed.
- A MSW or other master’s degree in a related field with at least two years of experience;
- Experience working in social justice or social services setting preferred;
- Candidate must have experience working with youth and families from marginalized communities and/or youth who have been impacted by criminal legal systems;
- Commitment to anti-oppressive practice and creating space that centers BIPOC communities;
- Commitment to youth-led practice and belief in the innate capacity of youth to positively impact their community;
- Reliable, highly organized and detail-oriented;
- Strong problem solving skills;
- Excellent written & verbal communication skills;
- Knowledge of youth engagement, victimization, community violence and intimate partner violence necessary;
- Understanding of the criminal justice system, ACS, and other related institutions;
- Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and as part of a team;
- Experience with individual and group case management and counseling; and
- Understanding of complex trauma reactions.
Position Type: Full-Time 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, some late evenings and weekends as needed.
Position Location: Queens, New York.
Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $58,500 - $68,500 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.