The mission of CASES is to increase public safety through innovative services that reduce crime and incarceration, improve behavioral health, promote recovery and rehabilitation, and create opportunities for success in the community.

• We are committed to helping people—regardless of their past choices, present struggles, or future obstacles—to build the capacity and courage to change their lives.

• We tailor our services to each individual’s unique needs, risks, and strengths and believe the most effective programs are evidence-based, family-focused, and trauma-informed.
• We are committed to engaging the community by leveraging partnerships and resources to maximize our clients’ opportunities for success.

Reports to: Team Leader

Overview: The Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) team provides mobile community based mental health treatment to promote the recovery and community integration of individuals with serious mental illnesses, high rates of co-occurring substance use disorders and histories of criminal justice involvement. The team serves consumers on parole, probation, returning to the community from jails and prisons, participating in alternative-to-incarceration and treatment court services and those with histories of high-risk and violent behavior. The substance use specialist is an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team of mental health clinicians. The team provides 80% of its treatment services in community locations. The team has two substance abuse specialists leading the team’s integrated treatment. We are looking for clinicians with extensive experience working with adults with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. The specialists must be motivated to conduct assertive outreach and engagement, use motivational interviewing and stage-wise interventions that target an individual’s readiness for change. The substance abuse specialists must be team players with extensive knowledge of psychiatric disability, substance abuse individual and group treatment to promote wellness, recovery, public safety and reductions in criminal behavior. Specific responsibilities include:

Responsibilities:

·      Complete comprehensive assessment with substance abuse assessment and updated six month assessments using results from administration of standardized screening instruments for substance use, suicidality, and trauma

·      Complete Level of Service Case Management Inventory (LSCMI) and Criminal Thinking risk and need assessments for general offending risk

·      Complete structured assessment for violence and violence risk management

·      Complete crisis intervention and relapse prevention plans

·      Identify the treatment services consumers should receive based on severity of substance use diagnosis, stage of change, immediate needs and recommend treatment objectives for the consumer’s treatment plan

·      Assess and provide services to consumers to address housing, income support, education and vocational training, social supports, employment, and primary care needs

·      During the assessment obtains information: a) to establish the degree risk for substance use and associated harmful behaviors, and interventions required to promote progress towards recovery, and b) lead the team in daily meetings and weekly clinical meetings around substance use issues and incorporate findings into service plans

·      Complete comprehensive recovery-oriented initial treatment plans and 6-month treatment plan reviews and modify the plan in the light of feedback from recipients and relevant others

·      Use motivational interviewing, recovery and trauma-informed approaches when delivering services

·      Run weekly Harm Reduction, Engagement, Wellness Self-Management Plus, and Relapse Prevention treatment groups

·      Involve social supports in the consumer’s treatment with the team

·      Complete progress notes within 24-hours of service delivery and ensure progress notes are available to be read in the morning organizational meeting

·      Provide FACT treatment services including engagement, problem-solving, wellness self-management, medication support, family support and treatment, individual mental health, relapse prevention, harm reduction and substance use counseling based on motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral responses to mental illness and substance use

·      Work effectively with community housing providers, education and vocational training providers, and self-help groups providing services to consumers

·      Link consumers to self-help recovery groups

·      Complete expected minimum monthly treatment contacts each month

·      Direct standards for toxicology screens in accordance with Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) orders and criminal justice supervision expectations for probation and parole, etc

·      Provide weekly reports to AOT staff for consumers with AOT orders

·      Act as advocate and liaison for consumers in securing emergency detox and rehabilitation care, and other community supports that promote integrated dual disorder treatment

·      Coordinate discharge in collaboration with inpatient staff when consumers have ER and inpatient stays

·      Provide 24-hour crisis intervention on-call services on rotating basis

·      Provide 80 percent of treatment contacts in the community

·      Provide culturally competent services in accordance with CASES policies and practice

·      LMSW, LCSW, LMHC, CASAC's with current New York State license or credential.

·      At least two years of experience working with individuals with serious mental illness with co-occurring substance use disorders and involvement in the criminal justice system. 

·      Experience with various evidence-based models pertaining to treatment of substance use, mental illness, and risk, need, responsivity to criminal behavior

·      Extensive knowledge of Assertive Community Treatment, community integrated treatment, support services, and resources

·      Highly organized and self-motivated

·      Proficient in computers

·      Fluency in Spanish preferred

Salary:  Commensurate with experience. 35-hour week with excellent benefits

Benefits: Here at CASES we offer benefits that will assist you in making the most of your career and your life. Our programs include health and wellness insurance which is offered through Aetna. A retirement 403(b) plan is held with Principal, education, and training. Additionally, our portable ancillary benefits are offered through Aflac, Legal Shield, and ADP Flexible spending account; which is then deducted through payroll along with commuter benefits, additional short-term disability, cancer, additional income protection, hospitalization coverage, and identity theft protection.

In one document, attach your cover letter and resume in PDF or Word format. No phone calls please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

CASES is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with CASES is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position, without regard to race, color, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or marital, military, or citizenship status. We also actively recruit individuals with prior involvement in the criminal justice system.Your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.