ABOUT NEW CITY KIDS

New City Kids is a high energy, creative program for and with youth that trusts teens with leadership as they develop in four key areas: spiritual, leadership, academic and music. It is a joyful place filled with laughter and hard work, and has an excellent staff of dedicated adults who love children. We employ local high school students as interns to lead an excellent and unique music-focused after school center and summer camp for children ages 6-13, which provides a platform for a whole host of development opportunities for children. As kids and teens engage New City Kids, they discover an invitation to begin a journey with Christ.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Licensed Social Worker will serve as a counselor for our Brighter Day programming who will lead a series of classes and small groups for the children and teen interns at New City Kids, which are trauma-informed, play-based, and directly address Adverse Childhood Experiences. In Brighter Day, youth learn body safety and social-emotional skills in a safe, welcoming group or class setting, supporting and empowering one another through the group experience. The Brighter Day Counselor will also provide individual mental health support and/or crisis intervention for children, teen interns and their families as needed.

The goal of Brighter Day is lifelong health and wellness for our youth, through body safety education, abuse prevention, and short term mental health support. The Brighter Day Counselor will be trained to teach proven body safety and emotional skills, and support youth to process any challenging or traumatic experiences in families, schools and neighborhoods. They will also partner with and encourage parents/guardians and school staff to seek out further mental health care for NCK youth as needed, through local referrals.

Using the Brighter Day curriculum (based in trauma-focused play therapy (TF-PT) and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) theories) the Counselor will provide 2 classes and 1 (evening) group per week. Examples of class/group topics include: feelings identification and sharing, understanding physical and sexual abuse and neglect, identifying safe adults, loss and grief (immigration, deportation, incarceration), depression, anxiety & anger, dating and relationships, suicide/suicidal thoughts, pornography, LGBTQ and gender identity issues, relationships with parents/caregivers, managing stress and worry, domestic violence.

SCOPE & RESPONSIBILITIES

For our ASC students: 2-4 rounds of 7-week body safety classes per semester, that meet once a week during regular after school NCK programming, teaching students body safety awareness and social and emotional skills.

For our Teen Life Interns: 1-2 12-week support and psychoeducational evening group per week (normally same gender group) for any interested Teen Life Intern, fall and spring semesters.

Crisis Intervention: as needed with NCK children, teens, and families

REQUIREMENTS

Master’s degree and driver’s license required; Spanish language skills helpful (but not required)

MSW, LSW, LLPC or LCSW required

A strong commitment and ability to communicate the goals and mission of New City Kids, including a personal and active Christian commitment, and alignment with our statement of faith and diversity, equity and inclusion policy

A passion to work for a mission-driven organization

Dedicated team member – flexible and willing to complete tasks that may fall outside one’s job description, and able to make things happen without being micromanaged

Emotional maturity – self-aware, teachable, sensitive to and knowledgeable about cross-cultural issues, and able to wisely engage with youth living in challenging or traumatic environments

Persistent – pursues relationships even with ‘difficult’ people with both a Christ-like insistence and gentleness/humility; pursues work goals to their completion in the face of challenges

Relational – skillful listener, trustworthy, reliable, professional and mature role model for children and teens.

DETAILS

Completes Brighter Day Training with: Brighter Day Director

Supervisors: Brighter Day Director, On site: ED, Center Director, or other designated staff (designated by ED)

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Compensation: $31/hr

Hours: Part time, 6/wk minimum; 8-15 hrs/week flexible

Start date: TBD