Functional Family Therapy (FFT) Therapist

JOB TITLE:Functional Family Therapy(FFT)Therapist
EMPLOYMENT TYPE:Full-Time
LOCATION:Hybrid 2-3 days in office (Downtown Brooklyn office)
REPORTS TO:Functional Family Therapist(FFT) Supervisor
SALARY:$68000-$70500/annually

ABOUT AAFSC:

For over 30 years theArab-AmericanFamily Support Center (AAFSC) has proudly served immigrants and refugees. We help children stay safe familiesremaintogether and newcomers navigate life in New York City. While our doors are open to all AAFSC hasexpertisein serving Arab Middle Eastern North African Muslim and South Asian communities.

JOB OBJECTIVE:

To provide functional family therapy to high-risk families referred by the Administration for Childrens families may be experiencing a wide range of challenges including personal/marital/relationship problems financial stressors acculturation issues family destabilization and/or parent/child conflict. The Therapist provides intensive preventive services to avoid foster care placement and ensure the safety and welfare of children in the home. He or she provides the family with services according to ACS standards and requirements. The Therapist follows the Functional Family Therapy (FFT) model. FFT works with youth between the ages of 11 to 18 who struggle with behavioral and/or emotional problems and have been referred by the juvenile justice mental health school or child welfare system. As a strengths-based model FFT focuses on acceptance and respect and uses assessments and interventions todeterminerisk and protective factors in relation to the family andyouthsdevelopment.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage assigned caseload (typically 8 active cases at any given time though number may fluctuate) and provide direct clinical home-based treatment using methods compatible with Functional Family Therapy.
• Conduct assessments including reviewing referral informationidentifying and engaging key participantsidentifyingsystemic strengths andweaknessesand individualized case planning goals.
• Maintain clear and concise documentation of treatment efforts that promote anddemonstratecompliance withFFTmodel.
• Participate in all modeltrainings supervision consultation activities and staff meetings.
• Build relationships with community stakeholders (e.g. child protection services GuardiansadLitem judges schools etc.) to ensure cooperation among service providers.
• Manage the extensive documentation requirements to successfullycomply withvarious mandates from FFT ACS OCFS and other relevant stakeholders.
• Document contacts and case progress in the Care4 systemin a timely manner.
• Adopt astrength focusedapproach with families stakeholders and within the program/treatment team.
• Accompany families/clients to psychiatric appointments and other provider/community appointments.
• Attend weekly supervision consultations and on-call meetings.

Case Management & Advocacy

• Provide case work/case management services to families receiving FFT services which includes but is not limited to providing supportive casework coping skills parenting etc. focusing on service goals and child welfare laws and improving family relationships and bonding etc.
• Conduct home visits and office visits toassess forchild safety and riskcomplying withACS requirements. Face-to-face contacts should beconducted atweekly. More visits may contacts occur at least weekly in the home; in instances of imminent risk front loading three sessions in ten days must occur; families with children under six months of age/two visits monthly until child 6 months of age and all children in the household must be seen at least once per month.
• Ensure joint-home visits are conducted within 5 business days from the date of referral in collaboration with the Conference Facilitator Supervisor and Program Director. Usher alongdecisionfor service within10 days.
• Evaluate and assess the current family functioning including child safety and home safety (e.g. assessing other adults in the home ensuring safe sleep working fire alarms window guards etc.) and formulating goals and a service plan with the family.
• Ensure allinitialintake documents (AAFSC/FFT intake DV screening child trafficking) are completed and processed accurately using AAFSC internal databases (i.e. Apricot Care4).
• Advocate for the family by linking them to needed services in the community: medical mental health entitlements day care home health aide substance abuse treatment anger management etc. and following up tomonitorparticipation and progress.
• In collaboration with the Conference Facilitator support the facilitation of regular Family Team Conferences and Service Termination Conferences as well as other relevant ACS-led conferences. Family Team Conferences must be conducted56 daysprior to thereassessmentFASP due date.
• Ensure FASPs are launched30 daysprior to the due date andsubmittedto Supervisor 3 weeks prior to the due date.
• Complete Initial Comprehensive all Reassessment FASPs and Plan Amendments for all Advocate Preventive Only (ADVPO) cases offline.
• Complete andsubmitChild Trafficking Screening for CWS and ADVPO cases.
• Evaluate walk-ins and community referrals for needed services and potentially for advocacy cases.
• Provide case coverage in the absence of a co-worker (as needed).

Quality Assurance Communication and Documentation

• Complete all documents required by ACSin a timely manner(5 business days) including but not limited to progress notes and FASPs which should reflect the progress or lack thereof of service goals and the reaction of the family to services during the review period or contact.
• Complete all ACS and internal formsrequiredfor case opening and closing. Obtain consents and forms needed for other case activities.
• Obtain andmaintaincollateral contacts with all other service providers including school and medical reports on a regular basis.
• Comply withall data entry requirementsin a timely manner(Care4 PROMIS Connections Apricot etc.).
• Appropriately follow incident reporting procedures (as needed).
• Maintain relationships with ACS personnel including DCP workers joint homevisitACS staff and Family Service Unit (FSU) workers for ongoing ACS supervision.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
• Regularly collaborate and communicate with PPRS staff by responding to emailsmaintainingan up-to-date outlook calendarparticipatingin supervision meetings and scheduling office days.

Trainings Meetings and Audit Preparation

• Attend training provided by ACS FFT model developer and other organizations asrequired(minimum of42 hours/6 days each fiscal year) and log training bysubmittingcertificates tothe Director of Training and Development.
• Attend internal meetings and trainings as scheduled collaborating with the multidisciplinary team (e.g. monthly supervision).
• Assistin preparation of internal and external audits (PEMS PAMS safety alerts etc.) related to the program operation and delivery of services.

BACKGROUND & POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

A successful Therapist at AAFSC is one that is both compassionate and objective. The candidate must be a good communicator and problem solver who is able to quickly respond to unforeseen addition to these general skills and traits AAFSC is looking for a candidate with the following skills:

• Required MSW or equivalent human services graduate degree and at least two years of relevant experience.
• Computer skills in Microsoft Office suite and excellent writing skills arerequired.
• Bilingual MandarinArabic Bangla/Bengali Russian or Uzbek skills strongly preferred.
• Experience working with under-served students in urban schools child welfare system and/or community-basedsettingsa plus.
• Exercisesdiscretionregardingsensitive personal and legal information.
• Job contingent on pre-employment background check and fingerprint clearance.
• U.S. Work authorizationrequired.

We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. All individuals are encouraged to apply.