Overview

Counselor

Reports To: Director of Health and Wellness

Employment Status: FT FLSA Status NonExempt

ABOUT RED HOOK INITIATIVE (RHI)

Red Hook Initiative (RHI) is a community-based nonprofit working to improve the lives of the more than 6,500 residents of Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn’s largest public housing complex. RHI believes that the social change to overcome systemic inequities begins with empowered youth, and that change in communities should come from within. In partnership with community adults, we nurture young people in Red Hook to be inspired, resilient, and healthy, and to envision themselves as co-creators of their lives, community, and society.

Youth development, community building, and community hiring are at the core of RHI’s approach to strengthen Red Hook’s future. Our model gives young people and residents the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to interrupt the systems and barriers that perpetuate historic inequities for the community. Residents lead the way toward a more equitable, hopeful future. Over our 20-year history, RHI’s model and dedicated team have been nationally recognized for its innovative, place-based approach to social change.

RHI creates a culture of excellence with our ten core values as the foundation: community leadership, mutual respect, welcoming space, strengths-based perspective, trust, high expectations, encouragement, inspiration, holistic approach and adaptability.

JOB SUMMARY

RHI is seeking a trained social worker to become an integral member of our Health + Wellness team serving young people from middle school through young adults (11-24 years old) across RHI’s youth development programming. Through group and individual counseling, the Counselor will directly provide social, emotional, mental health and wellness therapeutic services in a non-clinical community-based setting. With the rest of the team, the Counselor will also help to increase access to health and mental health services and resources for residents of the Red Hook community through advocacy efforts, referrals and collaborative partnerships. The Counselor will embrace a trauma-informed practice and racial justice healing lens to shape the delivery of health and wellness programs. This position is primarily in-person and requires full COVID vaccination.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES + RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Collaborate across teams to engage youth in individual counseling with an anti-oppressive lens, maintain regular caseload of 10-15 clients)
  • Engage families in counseling as needed.
  • Conduct assessments and create goals as appropriate for participants.
  • Bridge counseling services to our collaboration with a nearby behavioral health clinic or other providers for psychiatric care when needed.
  • Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to provide holistic support services.
  • Develop and facilitate psychoeducational and/or therapeutic groups designed to meet the needs of community members, participants and programs.
  • Conduct home or other off-site visits with participants for counseling and/or external referrals as necessary during crisis situations.
  • Provide referrals, advocacy, care coordination and case conferencing on a range of issues impacting participants.
  • Complete case notes, documentation, data entry (into Salesforce and/or other tracking systems) and program reporting routinely and accurately, while ensuring proper security of participant case files, including maintaining compliance with HIPPA rules.
  • Provide information on activities, outputs and progress towards meeting outcomes for program monitoring and improvement as well as funding and external communications purposes.
  • Assist in strategic program development, planning for health and wellness services at RHI.
  • Attend all staff meetings, team meetings.
  • Provide social-emotional guidance for non-clinical staff.
  • Represent RHI at local events, community gatherings, workshops, and training, as needed.
  • May be assigned other duties and responsibilities as determined by the Director of Health + Wellness.

COMPETENCIES (Knowledge, Skills & Personal Attributes)

  • Commitment to racial equity in values and has a strong passion to practice in these values.
  • Deep belief in community-driven change, equity, and inclusion; fluency with related concepts like social justice,
  • racial equity, redlining, and systemic discrimination; and the ability to facilitate complex conversations about historic
  • inequities.
  • Awareness of the impact of structural/social inequalities on well-being, emotional development and the mental
  • health industry.
  • Commitment to RHI’s Mission + Organization Values including embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion, engaging
  • in practices that promote a positive work environment and respect differing opinions and perspectives
  • Reflective about the use of self in counseling and interpersonal dynamics.
  • Enthusiastic about community work and youth development, and approaches work enthusiastically with openness
  • and a good sense of humor.
  • Ability to facilitate groups
  • Desire to be in a collaborative team setting, and to learn and grow clinically.
  • Works well independently.
  • Superior verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to build authentic and positive relationships among program participants and constituents with diverse
  • backgrounds including youth, parents, school leaders, community members, local and citywide CBOs, and other
  • stakeholders across RHI’s work.
  • Ability to organize multiple tasks and assignments, balance priorities and accurately keep track of information,
  • records, documents and deadlines.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

  • Master’s degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling or Marriage and Family Therapy from an accredited institution required.
  • LMSW/LCSW, LMHC, or LMFT preferred or Limited Permit/working toward license.
  • For social workers, SIFI certification is a plus
  • At least one year of experience providing counseling services to 11-24 years olds, Can include internships.
  • Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
  • Bilingual (English/Spanish or English/Cantonese or Mandarin) a plus.
  • A strong affiliation with the Red Hook community or residency in Red Hook is a significant plus.

WORKING CONDITIONS (ENVIRONMENT) & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

  • The RHI work environment is characteristic of a typical indoor office/program environment and the noise level
  • is generally quiet to moderate.
  • While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of the job the employee will be required to operate a
  • computer and other office equipment. The employee can sit or stand at will.
  • RHI provides a hybrid work arrangement for employees, when possible. Currently all staff are required to be in
  • the office for a minimum of 3 days per week, subject to changes based on COVID-19 rates. This role requires
  • work in-person for all direct services, which may be more than 3 days/week, A hybrid schedule can be
  • arranged when direct services are not in session.
  • This job is based on-site at RHI’s main program office in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The ideal candidate will either
  • be a resident of Red Hook or one of its neighboring communities or will be within reasonable commuting
  • distance to RHI’s main program office.

COMMITMENT TO DEI & EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

RHI actively engages individuals from all backgrounds and is committed to embracing diversity across all areas and aspect of the organization. We firmly believe that an atmosphere of civility and mutual respect towards individual differences and embracing an inclusive and equitable environment is indispensable to building a successful organization, contributing to a positive and meaningful employment experience for staff, and advancing the best possible outcomes for the clients served by RHI’s programs. We are also committed to community hiring and supporting the job prospects of Red Hook residents.

As an equal opportunity employer, RHI is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, disability, age, marital status, military status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, or any other characteristic or basis prohibited by applicable law.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

RHI strives to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package that reflects our core values and commitment to our employees. The salary for this position is: $65,000 commensurate with an employee’s or candidate’s competencies and experience. Additionally, RHI provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental and vision coverage, an employee assistance program(EAP), which includes 12 counseling sessions per year, 403b retirement plan, flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health, dependent and commuter expenses, life insurance and a flexible hybrid work schedule, including 24 PTO days, and “Summer Fridays,” when possible. RHI also believes in the advancement and professional development of staff and are dedicated funding to support professional development. Additionally, staff are trained in topics such as Motivational Interviewing, Mental Health First Aid, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, and other topics.

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