Social Worker

Join a Legacy of Hope and Empowerment at Covenant House New York!

For over 50 years, Covenant House New York (CHNY) has been at the forefront of transforming lives by providing comprehensive shelter, housing, and wrap-around support services for vulnerable homeless, runaway, and exploited youth. As the largest provider of these essential services in New York City, CHNY impacts the lives of over 1,500 young people aged 16-24 every year.

At CHNY, our doors are open to all young people in need, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. Our dedicated team offers various services, including shelter, housing, education, employment, health, mental health support, youth development, and anti-human trafficking initiatives. We operate with harm reduction and trauma-informed principles to ensure the best care for our youth.

But our mission goes beyond immediate support. We are passionate advocates for systemic change, influencing public policy, and raising awareness of the critical issues surrounding youth homelessness. Our ultimate goal is to provide a safe refuge and empower young people to build a brighter future founded on compassion, unconditional love, and absolute respect.

Join us in making a difference in the lives of countless young people. Join a team that inspires long-term transformation and hope.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Mental Health Services, the Rights of Passage (ROP)/Transitional Housing Social Worker provides psychosocial services using a variety of interventions, including evidence-based models such as DBT, TF-CBT, EMDR, and Motivational Interviewing, to young adults aged 16-24 with a history of homelessness. The Rights of Passage and Transitional Housing programs are transitional living programs co-located on a site in the Bronx. The Social Worker will be expected to collaborate with all multidisciplinary team members to ensure high-quality service delivery.

The Social Worker is responsible for providing psychosocial services, including developing community resources for the young adults to access long-term mental health services, risk/psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention, counseling, and psychoeducation, to a diverse youth population. The Social Worker will also serve in an informal capacity as a consultant/supportive coach to residential staff regarding young people’s psychosocial and mental health needs.

The Social Worker must be comfortable in a rapidly changing environment where processes and protocols are being developed and refined as the program operates. Flexibility, excellent communication, and problem-solving abilities are critical to successfully fulfilling the requirements of this position. This position includes opportunities to be trained and certified in evidence-based practices (EBPs). It also provides individual and group supervision by an LCSW to pursue LCSW licensure.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide individual and group counseling, and psychoeducation to youth experiencing homelessness to address mental health and psychosocial needs (per service plan). This includes short-term crisis intervention, advocacy, and follow-up for designated caseload. Monthly contact is required for all youth in the program whether they are engaging in therapy or not.
• Complete psychosocial assessments (e.g., screening for mental health and substance use concerns and mental status) for higher need residents. Identify current mental health, social, and emotional needs, making initial recommendations, in-house and outside referrals, and write appropriate summary report.
• Actively link young people who are interested in longer term mental health care and psycho-social supports to community-based providers and communicate with providers/social workers at referring agencies as necessary.
• Become trained in and integrate evidence-based programs.
• Lead meetings with assigned Case Managers to coordinate and collaboratively address the case management and social work needs of youth within respective teams.
• Provide consultation to residential staff—providing assessments, information regarding trauma, mental health, and substance use, and referrals as needed.
• Meet regularly with clinical supervisor to discuss concerns, reflect on practice and client needs, and carry out plans for young people.
• Be vigilant about maintaining a safe and nurturing environment for our youth.
• Flexible schedule required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Schedule

• On-Site Weekday Shifts (9:00 AM-5:00 PM or later, as well as one late day shift).
• On Call Weekend once per cycle.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Education & Experience

• Master Social Worker (MSW) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) required.
• Must work towards obtaining LMSW licensure within 6 months of start date.
• Must work towards LCSW Licensure within three (3) years of hire date.
• Bilingual preferred.

Knowledge/Skills

• Minimum One (1) year of experience providing counseling and case work with at-risk youth highly preferred; Internships in this field to be considered. Knowledge of trauma and mental health issues facing multi-stressed youth and families.
• Experience working in a shelter or residential setting preferred. Knowledge of external and social service systems.
• Experience working with survivors of human trafficking and/or intimate partner violence preferred.
• Solid assessment, interviewing, and crisis intervention skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, and problem-solving abilities required.
• Experience working with diverse groups preferred.
• Experience utilizing evidence-based and other social service models preferred.
• Dedicated to the mission of Covenant House.

Benefits

• Medical
• Vision
• Dental
• Life & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Short and Long-term disability insurance
• Eligibility for medical benefits begins on the date of hire
• PTO includes three weeks of vacation in the first year, ten holidays, 13 sick days, five personal days, and birthday days off
• 403b with employer contribution after 12 months