JYF - Community Based Therapist

About the Role 

The Justice for Youth & Families Community Based Therapist team at Rising Ground supports youth ages 12–17.5 across NYC through intensive in-home, family, and community-based treatment as they transition from placement back into their communities.

Community Based Therapists work closely with youth, families, schools, and community partners to promote positive behavioral change, strengthen family relationships, and support long-term success. This role provides the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while working directly within the communities we serve.

• Conduct assessments, review referrals, identify strengths and challenges, and develop treatment plans within the youth’s ecological context.
• Engage caregivers, families, and placement staff in active, change-oriented treatment.
• Identify and address barriers to family engagement and participation.
• Provide direct clinical treatment using evidence-based and community-focused practices.
• Collaborate with schools, ACS, placement providers, and community partners to support treatment goals.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and concise documentation in CONNECTIONS within 5 days of contact.
• Participate in training, supervision, consultation, and weekly team meetings.
• Connect families to housing, health, mental health, and preventive services as needed.
• Participate in release conferences, post-discharge meetings, Elevated Risk conferences, and case update meetings.
• Stay informed on developments in the juvenile justice system, participate in a rotating on-call schedule, and perform other duties as assigned.

• Master’s Degree in a NYS licensable field preferred (LMSW, LCSW, LMFT, LMHC, PsyD, PhD).
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.
• Experience with DBT, CBT, family systems, behavioral therapies, child development, and social ecological approaches preferred.
• MST certification preferred; training provided upon hire.
• Flexible availability, including evenings and occasional weekends.

Position Type/Expected: This is a full-time, 35-hour-per-week position. Schedules vary based on the needs of families and the team, including daytime, evening, and occasional weekend sessions. Therapists are expected to be available by phone and attend weekly in-office supervision and consultation meetings.

Travel (if required): The Community-Based Therapist team serves families across all five boroughs of NYC through in-home support services. Therapists travel within the community using their own transportation, with approved work-related travel expenses reimbursed.

Benefits & Compensation

• Competitive salary structure
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match 
• PTO policy (11 Paid Holidays, Paid Sick Time, Paid Vacation & Paid Personal Days

 Additional Requirements: 

• Authorized to work in the U.S.
• Ability to work in-person in New York City (NY) for at least 3 days or more per week.
• Ability to travel to other Rising Ground sites (if required)

 Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Rising Ground that the Agency wholly complies with equal treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to an individual’s perceived or actual race, creed, color, national origin, alienate, citizenship status, gender, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or veteran status in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, layoff and termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.