Adolescent and Family Clinical Counselor

Job Title: Adolescent and Family Clinical Counselor

Division - Department: Center for Recovery and Wellness

Job Classification: Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Union L215

Schedule: (3) Weekdays - 10am to 6pm, (2) Weekdays - 12pm to 8pm, two of these are remote days. 

Pay is commensurate to credentials and experience.

 

The Center for Recovery and Wellness is part of Educational Alliance (EA), which brings together diverse communities in Lower Manhattan, offering individuals and families high-quality, multigenerational programs and services that enhance their well-being and socioeconomic opportunities. One of New York City’s original settlement houses, EA was founded in 1889 to offer educational, social, and cultural services to Jewish immigrants arriving to the Lower East Side. Today, EA partners with diverse communities throughout Lower Manhattan. Across our network of community centers, we empower people of all backgrounds to flourish, recognizing the intrinsic value within each individual and the importance of building community.

JOB PURPOSE

Provide specialized clinical counseling to adolescents (ages 12–21) and their families in a New York State OASAS-certified outpatient treatment program, with a primary focus on adolescent substance use, co-occurring mental health concerns, and family systems. Utilizing a person-centered, trauma-informed, and developmentally responsive lens, individualized assessment and counseling services are delivered both in-person and virtually at Project Contact Outpatient at the Center for Recovery and Wellness. The clinician in this role will also carry a secondary caseload of adult clients and provide support to significant others and family members across treatment tracks.

 

SCOPE OF INFLUENCE

• Provide trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate individual therapy and group counseling primarily to adolescents (ages 12–21) with substance use diagnoses and co-occurring conditions, and secondarily to adults across outpatient treatment tracks.
• Provide family therapy and psychoeducation using evidence-based, family systems approaches; engage parents, caregivers, and significant others as active partners in adolescent treatment planning and recovery support.
• Partner with schools, pediatric providers, juvenile justice, and other adolescent-serving referral sources, providing regular updates and clinical progress reports on shared clients.
• Partner with a multi-disciplinary team in assessing diagnoses, planning treatment, implementing evidence-based interventions, offering clinical insight, and providing team-based support for clinical operations.

  

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Clinical Services and Documentation (80%)

• Maintain a primary caseload focused on adolescents and families, providing weekly individual counseling and family sessions consistent with individualized treatment plans across the Adolescent, Significant Other/Family, and adult Substance Use Treatment tracks.
• Continuously assess the appropriateness of the current level of treatment, corresponding with LOCADTR and utilization review instruments (Substance Use treatment track).
• Coordinate integrated services with medical, mental health, vocational, recovery services, and other social service providers.
• Complete detailed progress notes, comprehensive treatment plans, intake/admission assessments, psychosocial assessments, discharge plans, and other required documentation in accordance with OASAS and CARF standards.
• Maintain accurate and organized clinical charts, engaging in pre-audits of charts to ensure compliance with OASAS, managed care, and CARF standards.
• Send weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports to HRA through the Substance Abuse Tracking and Reporting System.
• Specimen collection for clients and monitors for treatment-related issues in order to update the treatment plan (Substance Use treatment track)
• Check the toxicology reporting portal daily to ensure any positive toxicology reports are communicated to supervisory staff, documented, and addressed with the client (Substance Use treatment track)
• Coordinate integrated services with medical, mental health, housing, vocational, recovery services, and other social service providers.
• Facilitation of individual and group-level interventions during other clinician vacations or leave
• Ensure that clients’ annual medical examinations are completed, with associated referrals as needed.
• Engage parents, guardians, and/or family contacts upon admission of adolescent and adult clients; maintain consistent communication with referents and families throughout the course of treatment, including written or oral clinical updates as required.
• Effective advocacy and collateral contacts to meet client treatment needs.

 

Other (20%)

• Work collaboratively with our Project ENTER Team to build and sustain the adolescent caseload pipeline.
• Attend staff meetings and training as required, as well as individual and group supervision.
• Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.

Job and Knowledge Requirements
 

• Master’s Degree in a mental health discipline (MSW, MHC, MFT, etc.), and either licensed in the State of New York or working under a limited permit and eligible for licensure. Experience working with adolescents and/or families in a clinical or community-based setting is strongly preferred. OR
• CASAC credentialing (Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor) or CASAC-T with a bachelor's degree in a human services-related field and a minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a substance use program and treating adolescent population.
• Possess a demonstrated ability to deliver patient treatment, including communication skills, successful engagement in specialized human services training, understanding of human interaction and personality development, and the ability to write and record case documentation.
• Familiar with Regulatory Agency/OASAS Regulations regarding the operation and practices of patient care.
• Knowledge of adolescent development, family systems theory, and group dynamics is essential; experience with motivational interviewing, CBT, and evidence-based adolescent SUD interventions (e.g., CRAFT, MET/CBT, Brief Strategic Family Therapy) strongly preferred.
• Must be computer-literate with knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Competent in electronic health records that support treatment plans and case notes such as AURA Relias, Netsmart, and AWARDS (willing to learn new systems).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to multitask and handle challenging situations in a professional and courteous manner
• Self-motivated
• Ability to work professionally and empathetically with a diverse group of clients and staff.
• Bilingual in any language preferred; Spanish fluency is a plus given the communities served.

Physical Requirements

These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position, which are reviewed in each individual case.

While performing the responsibilities of the role, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and use his or her hands and fingers to handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a teammate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Moderate noise (i.e., business office with computers, phones, and printers; moderate traffic).
• Ability to work in an open or confined area
• Ability to sit at a computer terminal, stand, or walk for an extended period of time.

Key Competencies

• Team Player
• Flexible
• Adaptable
• Skillful Communication
• Planning and organizing

Benefits:

• Generous PTO Policy
• Competitive Salary
• Medical & Dental Insurance
• Pension Plan
• 403b Retirement Plans
• Discount Perks for Movies, Broadway Shows, Amusement Parks.Etc
• Free Gym Membership to our Manny Cantor Center Gym & 14^TH ST Y Gym
• Discounts to programs at Educational Alliance

Limitations and Disclaimer

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for this position.

EEO Info

Educational Alliance is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. 

For further information about Educational Alliance, please visit https://edalliance.org.