CASAC Supervisor

Title:            CASAC Supervisor (multiple positions)

Unit:             Treatment Services/Behavioral Health  

Reports to:   Program Manager, Substance Misuse Program

Status:           Full Time; Regular; Exempt

Salary:          $68,000 - $72,000 annually

Location:       New York Correctional Facilities (NYC jails) and Long Island City

Days/Hours:  35 hours per week, generally Mon-Fri, 9-5pm, with the potential for an alternating 5th day on the weekend

Organization Overview:

The Fortune Society, Inc. (Fortune) has been working for over 57 years in service to our mission: to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. The organization has evolved into one of the nation’s preeminent reentry and justice-informed service organizations, providing formerly incarcerated people with the skills and wrap-around services needed to break the cycle of crime and incarceration and to build productive lives in their communities.

Fortune has grown steadily over the years to an agency with close to $90 million in annual budget with just under 600 staff. We anticipate that we will keep growing, both in size and depth of service. Fortune has a dual mission: both advocacy and service. The advocacy portion of our mission focuses on building a more just criminal legal system and reducing the barriers to reentry into society. The service side of Fortune has evolved to encompass a broad range of programs that started with employment and education and now includes a robust array of services, among them: alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, court advocacy, discharge planning within correctional facilities, licensed substance use and mental health treatment, a housing continuum ranging from emergency and transitional through permanent congregate and scattered site housing, assistance in obtaining benefits, a care management unit, HIV services, a food and nutrition program, and an arts program. Each service we provide is informed by the needs of the population we serve. Fortune currently serves approximately 14,000 people a year.. Our program models are recognized, both nationally and internationally, for their quality and innovation. We have locations in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan and Queens.

Position Summary:

This exciting new position builds upon Fortune’s decades-long partnership with the NYC Department of Correction (DOC) and NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services to offer vital services aimed at preventing substance misuse among persons in custody (PICs) on Rikers Island, with the overarching goal of facilitating connections to treatment services and other community supports post-release.  

Reporting to the Substance Misuse Program Manager, the CASAC Supervisor will be responsible for the supervision of a team of five CASACs while also conducting evidence-based therapeutic groups and screening non-classed individuals within the general population on Rikers Island. Individuals who are identified to be struggling with substance use disorder will be referred, as appropriate, for a higher level of assessment.  The CASAC Supervisor will monitor staffing and group curriculum schedules, review documentation of evidence-based screenings and group services and track the status of group participants and individual group completions.  Individuals in this role will be prepared to cover groups during staff absences when necessary, and may engage in the occasional individual counseling session, though they will not carry a caseload or conduct regularly scheduled treatment visits with PIC.  They will work closely with the staff they supervise to ensure accurate, timely documentation of group services, screening outcomes, course completions, or other pertinent information is provided. This role also includes working closely with their own supervisors to inform collaboration with CHS, DOC, and other Fortune staff on the provision of services, status of specialized placement, or internal service referrals.

Core Competencies:

Mission and Fit: Embodies Fortune’s mission and values and will be an effective member of the team in furthering both. The candidate should exhibit compassion and understanding for our participants (wherever they are in their re-entry process) and embrace Fortune’s core value that none of us should be measured against the worst things we have done.

Clinical Expertise

The ideal candidates will demonstrate an understanding of all substance use disorder (‘SUD’) diagnostic categories, general criteria and theoretical frameworks for treatment.  The successful candidate will have knowledge of, and experience with, the administration of evidence-based screening tools (such as SMAST, DAST-10, PCL-9).  The individual will have practical experience treating individuals with SUD and co-occurring diagnoses through evidence-based individual and group therapy practices.  The ideal candidates will have experience in the multiple forms of evidence-based groups provided (Anger Management, Relapse Prevention, Seeking Strength, etc.).  Deep awareness of principles and techniques of motivational interviewing (‘MI’) and the incorporation of a harm reduction approach is required.

Time Management & Documentation

This position requires solid time management skills as the person must manage multiple groups in more than one NYC jail housing unit, keeping to schedules that can change on short notice, completing paperwork accurately and staying current with various ancillary tasks. Additionally, time management is required to coordinate the oversight of multiple CASAC counselors and their tasks.  The person will have good computer skills, familiarity with using an electronic health record (EHR) system, and solid typing skills to facilitate completing all documentation correctly and in a timely manner.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supervise/mentor/support a team of five CASAC-T and/or CASACs, ensuring they deliver effective services that align with those approved by DOC and agency best practices;

• Spend up to five days working in the various facilities on Rikers per week, with the possibility of the 5th day being an alternate Saturday;

• Conduct between two and four groups daily and collaborate on the development and/or revision of group services and associated workflows;

• Conduct client assessments via evidence-based screening tools and accurately report results to the Program Manager to determine next steps;

• Review all assessments conducted by CASAC counselors, and sign off on group and individual clinical notes within 48 hours of interaction;

• Provide evidence-based therapeutic groups, 12-step meetings, harm reduction education, standalone supportive group sessions, and occasional individual counseling sessions that align with agency and DOC-approved curricula;

• Advocate for needed services, support with resources and internal or external referrals;

• Appropriately document client-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed therapeutic services with clients;

• Provide individuals completing groups with appropriate certificates;

• Maintain ongoing clinical communication with supervisor;

• Maintain productive communication with DOC, CHS, and other Fortune staff members at the facilities;

• Participate in case conferences and clinical supervision meetings;

• Participate in training opportunities to engage in his/her own professional development;

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• CASAC-Advanced, LMSW, LMHC, or LCSW strongly preferred;
• Experience with counseling substance use clients required;
• Ability to work independently with off-site supervision required;
• Experience in dealing with either psychiatric issues, trauma or incarceration;
• Excellent client-engagement and counseling skills; 
• Excellent clinical documentation and time management skills;
• Strong computer skills, particularly in electronic health records;
• Bilingual Spanish-speaking preferred;

We seek talented, dedicated individuals from all walks of life who possess a strong commitment to this mission.  Relevant personal experience is a plus.

Travel Requirements: 

• Required to travel to City jails and Fortune Society offices
• May be required to offices for meetings and/or trainings
• Must be willing to travel between DOC facilities, if necessary

Physical Demands:

• Ability to walk and stand for extended periods of time
• Ability to travel corridors and walk up and down stairs frequently
• Ability to remove yourself expeditiously if any risks are presented.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The responsibilities and requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensing, experience and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

The Fortune Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of conviction history, race, religion/creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, victim of domestic violence status or marital status