Title: Social Worker, B.R.A.G. program

Reports to: DIRECTOR OF SUPPORT SERVICES- B.R.A.G.

Location: Jerome Ave., Bronx, New York

Hours: 35 Hours/Week; Exempt (tentative schedule below):

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays: 10 AM-6 PM

Wednesdays: 11 AM-7 PM (rotational travel to 3 different sites for group therapy work)

Salary: $58,000-$65,000/Year

Job Summary: B.R.A.G. Bronx works with community residents, businesses, and community-based organizations to reduce and prevent shootings and killings in defined hot spots within the Bronx’s 52^nd Precinct, which comprises Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Norwood, Bronx Park, and University Heights, and Bronx 46^th and 47^th Precincts, which include: Fordham, University Heights, Morris Heights, Mount Hope, Woodlawn, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, Baychester, Edenwald, Olinville, and Fishbay, respectively. The Social Worker provides participants and other community members impacted by gun violence with informal, supportive counseling, public awareness, and advocacy events, skill-building groups, assessment, referrals to address concrete needs, and positive and safe recreational opportunities. The Social Worker provides social and emotional support through therapeutic activities to BRAG participants and their families and social supports. The Social Worker increases the connection of youth and families to supportive community networks and promotes positive cultural norms around behavioral change to maintain community-led public safety. The Social Worker will help refer and connect youth and families affected by violence in the community to needed mental health services and collaborate and coordinate with BRAG programs to link BRAG participants needing mental health services. Participates in the Sanctuary Model of care to ensure the trauma-sensitivity model of group treatment.

Major Duties:

• Perform all social work services in collaboration with the BRAG team and in compliance with program deliverables.

• Outreach to BRAG programs and actively engage BRAG participants in therapeutic services in collaboration with the CV program.
• Work collaboratively and coordinate with BRAG programs and assist with referrals and linkages for BRAG participants to needed mental health, substance abuse, and social services.
• Develop and maintain a list of community resources to provide referrals and linkages for youth and families with mental health challenges.
• Use support groups, peers, and other self-care management methods for the affected populations of gun violence.
• Conduct weekly therapeutic groups for the Cure Violence (CV) programs.
• Conduct individual sessions with Cure Violence (CV) participants when the need is expressed by CV Outreach workers and/or CV participants.
• Responsible for maintaining current electronic and paper-based case records.
• Effectively use and practice the Sanctuary Model tools: safety plans, community meetings, psycho-educational groups, team meetings, red flag reviews, treatment planning conferences (or similar), and self-care in the department/program to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Promote and model the seven Sanctuary Model commitments to create a non-violent, trauma-sensitive culture.
• Integrate the Sanctuary Model SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss, and Future) framework into daily practice to ensure quality care and create a non-violent, trauma-sensitive culture.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• MSW Required - New York Licensure (LMSW) is a plus.
• Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) is preferred.
• Experience with clinical or non-clinical work with youth and families, including crisis management, is preferred.
• Proven participant sensibility and the ability to communicate with staff on all levels.
• Demonstrated competence in verbal, written, organizational, and prioritization skills.
• Capability to transition easily between working independently with a high degree of self-initiative and contributing as part of a team.
• Excellent crisis intervention, advocacy, and problem-solving skills.
• Must be able to use public transportation systems, including subways and buses, to attend meetings and provide therapeutic services to Cure Violence (CV) programs.
• Must complete one Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, either Youth MHFA or Adult MHFA.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed.
• Must have a commitment to work from a strength-based, youth and family development, and trauma-informed perspective.

General Requirements:

All staff is expected to be committed to the mission, vision, and values of Good Shepherd Services, which includes involvement in quality improvement activities and a willingness and ability to work within a culturally diverse environment.