Senior Social Worker

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation (formerly the Center for Court Innovation) is a non-profit organization that works with communities and justice systems to advance equity, increase safety, and help individuals and communities thrive. The Center's goal is to identify and resolve as early as possible the challenges that bring people into the criminal and civil legal systems. It does this in a number of ways—by developing and running programs that reduce the need for incarceration and enhance economic opportunity, conducting original research to identify what works, and sharing what we learn from our programming and research with those seeking to transform the justice system around the world.

The Center is an 800-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 Court, 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. 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Red Hook Community Justice Center (the Justice Center) is the nation’s first multi-jurisdictional community court, hearing criminal, housing and family matters under one roof with a single judge. The Justice Center’s mission is to solve community problems: strengthening families, empowering youth, preventing evictions, addressing crime when it occurs, and working to prevent crime before it takes place. Housed within The Red Hook Community Justice Center, the Community Healing and Wellness (CHW) department provides trauma-informed healing-centered approaches to advocacy, counseling, and case management with community members, including both those who have experienced harm and those who have engaged in harm with a goal of contributing to a healthy, resilient, thriving community. Through offering safe, accessible, free, and confidential services and engaging community members in healing-centered opportunities for connection, CHW also seeks to interrupt the harms created by systems of policing, arrest, and incarceration to promote healing, safety, justice, and accountability. 

The Community Healing and Wellness department seeks a Senior Social Worker with strong experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence. Reporting to the Clinical Director, the Senior Social Worker is responsible for providing assessments, crisis intervention, counseling, and case management services to survivors and witnesses to violence, as well as individuals who have cases in court. 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Conduct individual clinical assessments and provide comprehensive individual and group crisis counseling, including therapy, case management, and advocacy to clients (and where appropriate, their families) that address issues such as trauma, intimate partner violence, substance use, mental health, and housing as well;
• Report on progress and compliance of mandated clients to court partners (judge, defense and prosecutors);
• Facilitate and help to develop and coordinate on-site trauma-informed groups for survivors of violence and those that caused harm;
• Accompany clients to on- and off-site appointments with other agencies, including criminal justice partners and social service providers;
• Proactively engage in efforts to build capacity within the department and the Justice Center as a whole, including the launching of new initiatives or programs to meet the needs of clients;
• Work collaboratively with a variety of Justice Center personnel and on-site partner agencies, serving as a resource for other departments within the building through counseling, case management and/or case consultations, including the housing resource center, peacemaking, legal services, or youth and community initiatives;
• Work closely with community-based organizations, schools, resident  leaders, city agencies and other stakeholders to identify and engage eligible survivors and provide expert consultation on victimization, trauma, and gender-based violence;
• Develop and facilitate training for Justice Center staff, stakeholders, and community partners on gender-based violence, trauma, and victimization;
• Engage in new initiatives in response to community needs, community violence, victimization, intimate partner violence, and wellness, using principles of restorative and community justice;
• Coordinate with the Justice Center’s on-site Peacemaking program to provide expert assistance and to participants with trauma and victimization;
• Maintain appropriate client information in electronic database and hard files;
• Participate in department and staff meetings, interdisciplinary treatment meetings, and on- and off-site trainings;
• Assist with writing grant proposals and reporting;
• Participate in community engagement efforts, including helping to plan community events, outreach activities, and meetings on behalf of the Community Healing and Wellness Department and the Justice Center;
• Other relevant duties, as assigned.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate should have:

• A LMSW with at least two-three years of relevant experience required. A minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a social justice or social services setting preferred;
• Bilingual preferred;
• SIFI certification preferred;
• Minimum three (3) years clinical experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence;
• Candidate must be able to effectively work with diverse client populations as a team member in a culturally and racially diverse setting, as well as collaborate with on-site partner agencies and court personnel;
• Experience with trauma-informed healing practice, and individuals facing mental illness and/or substance required;
• Experience in a court or criminal legal setting or with community-based healing work preferred;
• Expertise in navigating the NYC shelter system, supportive housing, housing vouchers, and Section 8 housing a plus;
• Ability to manage high-pressure/fast-paced work environment, and openness to critical thinking; and
• An anti-racist analysis and practice with a serious commitment to social justice and self-reflection is critical.

Position Type: Full time.

Position Location: Brooklyn, NY

Compensation: The compensation range for this position is $65,500 - $85,500 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.