Assistant Program Director / Education Specialist (APD / ES)

Assistant Program Director / Education Specialist (APD / ES)

The Assistant Program Director serves as a liaison and advocate between SCO / JJI, NYC Department of Education, Community Stakeholders, ACS, the Department of Probation and our MST families. The assistant program director is a clinical leader who helps oversee the daily operations and the MST team providing MST-Psych treatment, supporting both the clinical supervisor and program director.

As the Education Specialist, the focus is on ensuring JJI youth receive appropriate education services and assist the JJI / MST team in implementing successful interventions targeted to reduce truancy, school violence and poor academic performance among youths enrolled in the JJI program. The APD / EP meets with the JJI crisis manager weekly to coordinate support and plans for the JJI youth and caregivers Services are provided in a home, at court, at DOP, schools and other community-based settings. Hours are based on program, stakeholders and client's need-requiring occasional evening availability.

Specific Responsibilities

• Liaison and advocacy : Act as a primary point of contact for stakeholders, collaborating agencies, schools, and families. Support with outreach to clinics and hospitals to increase utilization and community partnership. Contact potential referrals to discuss MST-Psych treatment and gain buy-in.
• Attend probation meetings, court appointments and school meetings when needed.
• Support to the clinical supervisor : collaborate on MST-Psych treatment, education needs of youths, and supervision coverage when needed. Will provide backup phone support to the clinical supervisor and MST therapists when needed in collaboration with the program director.
• Functions as a backup to Program Director and carries administrative responsibilities within program. Assists PD in monitoring program compliance and works closely with QI and staff in adherence to program deadlines and QI measures. Completes quarterly QI reports and assists with hiring.
• Become the program's expert in negotiating with NYC Department of Education and advocating for appropriate educational and mental health services and teaching JJI therapists and families how to do so on their own.
• Helps manage the crisis manager : ensure that pre and post assessments are completed, review the collection of attendance records, IEPs, report cards, and immunization records when needed for all the youth on our caseload, for court reports, and all youths listed on case address.
• In partnership with the crisis manager, act as a resource for JJI / MST team regarding educational opportunities for tracked youth, including but not limited to day treatment programs, alternative schools, D75, or vocational education programs : transfers, safety / travel hardship transfer, suspension hearings, GED program. Special Education needs (CSE evaluations, IEP diplomas, and appropriate placements).
• When needed conduct home based or community-based sessions at times when families experience education crisis and or support MST therapists in assisting families address education concerns.
• Attend ACS YD Education committee meetings and report back to JJI programs, provide on-going training to JJI team and parents on NYC Department of Education, new initiative on Special Education and the rights of students and parents.
• Coordination and development of a network of community partners consistent with the MST treatment model for after school and educational / vocational resources and opportunities for youth.
• In conjunction with DOP and DOE, oversees the SYEP application for MST youths.

Qualifications

Required Education : Masters or better in Social Work.