Mitigation Specialist, MICA - Bronx, NY

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MAJOR PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

This Mitigation Specialist position will partner with the MICA attorney and the Mental Health attorney providing comprehensive services to clients who are primarily diagnosed with mental health and substance use disorders. While working closely with criminal defense attorneys specializing in mental health law, the Mitigation Specialist is responsible for providing assessment, treatment planning, referrals, case management, and in-court advocacy for clients facing 730 exams; developing dispositional and re-entry plans for clients being released from state mental health facilities; establishing and participating in collaborative alliances with various institutional, judicial and governmental entities; and providing transitional and crisis counseling to clients.

As part of the legal team, the Mitigation Specialist also helps clients navigate through legal and social service systems and create case plans to address their identified needs. Additional responsibilities include treatment and reentry planning for clients who are incarcerated; oral and written advocacy in and out of court; conducting informational and training seminars; writing persuasive mitigation reports; serving as a consultant to attorneys and social workers; providing crisis counseling and intervention to clients.

The Mitigation Specialist is responsible for cultivating and maintaining relationships with treatment providers, government entities, and other stakeholders; and maintaining knowledge of current trends and best practices in areas of mental health and substance use.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Interview and assess clients within the court system, performing a thorough bio-psycho-social assessment. During this process, crisis intervention, brief treatment, or short-term counseling may also be performed.
• Identify and interview collateral sources of Collateral interviews are done with family members, friends, teachers, social workers, community members, and others connected to the client.
• Request, review, and analyze life history records (i.e., school, medical, psychiatric) to document specific arguments within written reports as well as analyzing expert reports.
• Develop treatment plans in conjunction with the MICA attorney, mental health attorney, and staff attorneys to develop alternative sentencing plans, provide advocacy in the courtroom.
• Assess a client's readiness for treatment, make referrals to supportive housing services (2010 E housing applications), mental health counseling, medication management services, educational and vocational programs, and any other supports to maintain stability in the community.
• Testify in court
• Working with outsides agencies (OPWDD, ACT teams) to assist with clients' restorative care.
• Accompanying MICA/ mental health attorney to Hospital Arraignments to provide support for client.
• Conduct training for LAS staff, social work interns, treatment providers, and criminal justice personnel.
• Participate in the development and ongoing practice of mental health, treatment, and veteran court.
• Act as an expert social work consultant to the stakeholders in the criminal legal system and community providers regarding court advocacy, law reform, and re-entry.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• A MSW degree and NYS certification in social work (LMSW or LCSW).
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience.
• Strong diagnostic skills with a background emphasis in working with clients with the following special needs: MICA, physical illnesses and disabilities, mental illness, intellectual disabilities and developmental delays, and histories of substance use.
• Ability to interface with Judges, District Attorneys and Correctional Personnel
• Ability to negotiate with community-based treatment centers.
• Ability to write persuasively.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Strong computer skills. Ability to work within a team model.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range: $81,195 - $120,690

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more. Click here to read more about benefits.

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email TalentAcquisition@legal-aid.org.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one's internal deeply-held sense of one's gender which may be the same or different from one's sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one's name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.

Bronx - Criminal Defense Practice Office