Careers and Internships
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy: Family & Children’s Service provides equal opportunity employment to all employees and applicants for positions with the organization. No individual will be discriminated against in application, hiring or employment on the basis of race, age, culture, ability, ethnicity or nationality, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status, religious affiliation, and socioeconomic status. Additionally, Family & Children’s Service’s policies and practices in application, hiring and employment are developed to be consistent with all applicable local, state and federally mandated obligations imposed through regulation or statute, which govern employment practices. This policy applies to all agency positions.
Title: Open Doors Team Leader and Crisis Therapist
Department: Youth and Outreach Services
Status: Full- Time, Exempt (37.5 hours/week)
Responsible To: Director of Youth and Outreach Services
Starting Salary: $53,000
General Summary: The Open Doors Crisis Therapist will be responsible for developing and delivering clinical support offered through the program, in addition to supervisory and training responsibilities. The goal of the program is to support youth ages 12 – 21 to maintain or access safe and stable housing. Positive outcomes can range from family stabilization, to family reunification, to securing safe and stable housing in a different home, depending on the circumstances.
The successful candidate for this position will have demonstrated experience with and commitment to equitable, culturally-responsive, and trauma-informed practice in all areas of service delivery. Specifically, we are looking for someone who has demonstrated skill and success working with LGBTQ+ and BIPOC youth, especially trans youth. People with lived experiences relevant to this work will receive strong consideration, as well. Strong family therapy and mediation skills, collaborative skills, and flexibility are required.
Responsibilities:
- Provides emergency mental health support and intensive, solution-focused therapy for youth and families in crisis
- Supervises two Open Doors caseworkers
- Provides ongoing orientation, certification, training, and support for Host Home families (community members who volunteer a room in their home to provide emergency, short-term shelter for an unaccompanied youth)
- Represents the program and the agency on community-wide advocacy and planning teams
- Provides after-hours crisis response one week per month
- Assumes all responsibilities of a mandated reporter.
Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in counseling, marriage and family therapy, clinical social work, or psychology, along with at least three years’ experience in counseling with adolescents and families in high-conflict family systems
- Familiarity with community youth services, the juvenile justice system, and knowledge of adolescent social, emotional, and developmental needs.
- Ability to work well independently and on a team.
- Collaborate well with other organizations, advisory groups, and the public.
- Ability to operate a computer and other general office equipment. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, candidates must be familiar with remote meeting platforms such as Zoom and must have reliable internet access.
- A clean driving record and ability to reliably provide transportation.
Contact Information:
Please send a resume and cover letter to Mike Ellis, Director of Youth and Outreach Services at the email listed below.
All applications will be considered through Friday, April 1, 5PM. If you have questions about the position prior to submitting an application, you can email or call.
Mike Ellis, Director of Youth and Outreach Services
Attn: mellis@fcsith.org
Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca
127 W. State Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-239-7845
Title: Open Doors Runaway and Homeless Youth Advocate
Department: Youth and Outreach Services
Responsible To: Open Doors Crisis Therapist/Team Leader
Status: Non-Exempt
Salary: $38 – 40,000 Range
General Summary:
The Open Doors Runaway and Homeless Youth Worker provides crisis intervention, case management, and mentorship to youth who are facing housing instability or homelessness, or at risk of leaving home without a safe option for alternative housing. Responsibilities include developing, implementing, and monitoring individual service plans, responding to youth in crisis on a rotational on-call basis, community outreach and education, providing transportation, and connecting youth with additional community supports.
The successful candidate for this position will have a passion for providing safety and support for adolescents and young adults, demonstrate readiness to work in an agency committed to anti-racist and equitable practices in all facets of service, and have the knowledge and skills to provide attuned and trauma-informed support for LGBTQ+ youth.
Responsibilities:
- Carries a caseload of runaway, homeless or at-risk youth and performs all related case management activities including:
- Completes intakes, assessments and determines case plan; implements and monitors case plan, and develops appropriate termination plan.
- Provides a bridge of support and advocacy between youth and the systems to which they are connected.
- Maintains flexibility of time to accommodate client needs; responds to crises, emergencies and difficult situations immediately or as soon as possible. Available on a rotational basis for on-call after-hours, evenings, and weekends.
- Responsible for on-call coverage one week per month. Backs up other staff in crisis or emergency situations, additionally provides coverage during other staff absences.
- Available to make shelter placements when necessary
- Assumes all responsibilities of a mandated reporter.
The information presented here is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.
Qualifications:
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Worker should possess a Bachelor’s Degree in a Human Service-related field, have relevant lived experiences, or comparable education and experience working with vulnerable populations. The ideal candidate should also demonstrate familiarity with community youth services, the juvenile justice system, and knowledge about the needs for the social and emotional growth of youth. Additional knowledge about the needs of LGBTQ+ youth, youth with significant mental health needs, and abused and exploited youth is helpful. The ability to work well independently and on a team, to collaborate well with other organizations, advisory groups, staff and the public is a requirement. A valid driver’s license and car are required for this position. The ability to operate a computer and other general office equipment is required.
Employment Opportunity Policy:
Family & Children’s Service provides equal opportunity employment to all employees and applicants for positions with the organization. No individual will be discriminated against in application, hiring or employment on the basis of race, age, culture, ability, ethnicity or nationality, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status, religious affiliation, and socioeconomic status. Additionally, Family & Children’s Service’s policies and practices in application, hiring and employment are developed to be consistent with all applicable local, state and federally mandated obligations imposed through regulation or statute, which govern employment practices. This policy applies to all agency positions.
Contact Information:
Please send a resume and cover letter to Mike Ellis, Director of Youth and Outreach Services at the email listed below. All applications, will be considered through Friday, April 29, 5PM. If you have questions about the position prior to submitting an application, you can email or call.
Mike Ellis, Director of Youth and Outreach Services
Attn: mellis@fcsith.org
Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca
127 W. State Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-239-7845
Title: Clinician
Department: Mental Health Clinic
Status: Full- Time, Exempt
Responsible To: Director of Clinical Services
Starting Salary: $45,000 – $50,000 Commensurate with Experience
General Summary: We are currently seeking a therapist to join our dynamic clinical team in providing high quality, client-centered, affordable psychotherapy services in a supportive and collaborative work environment. Our therapists generally work across the age span, but we have a particular need currently for clinicians who have interest and experience in working with young children (under age 10). Individuals who work with adults and adolescents are also needed, and are welcome to apply. The successful candidate for these positions will have experience with individuals, youth and families facing significant interpersonal and systemic challenges, and will demonstrate readiness to work in an inclusive agency culture specifically committed to anti-racist practices in all facets of service.
We offer professional development opportunities in the form of weekly clinical supervision (twice weekly for new staff), weekly clinical team meetings, some reimbursement and leave time for outside trainings, and periodic in-house CEU-eligible staff presentations. We believe that having a staff that represents different therapeutic disciplines is beneficial to both our clients and our staff. We strive to maintain busy but manageable caseloads, for the dual purpose of quality of client care and staff resiliency. Our clientele comes from all segments of Tompkins County, giving our therapists the opportunity to have diverse clinical experiences. We are a NYS Office of Mental Health licensed clinic, as well as a rural health services corps approved site (NHSC).
COVID – 19 update: We are currently in the process of transitioning to a fully hybridized (in person and telehealth) clinic. Most therapists work from the office at least part-time. We have, as an agency, prioritized staff and client safety, and will continue to do so; currently staff members are in the process of resuming in person sessions with clients who indicate their preference to do so. We able to offer a partial hybrid working situation, with most time spent in the office but some optional days spent working from home doing telehealth. Telehealth experience is a plus but is not required.
Qualifications: Candidates must possess a master’s degree or PhD and related professional license in a counseling field (LMSW, LCSW, LMFT, LCAT, LMHC, PhD, PsyD). Candidates interested in working with older adults must be licensed social workers or psychologists. Our ideal candidate would have at least two years of post-master’s experience in a counseling setting. Experience working across the lifespan (children, youth, adults) preferred. Candidates must be able to build rapport with clientele who are diverse in their race, culture, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and abilities.
Part time positions may be available, please inquire.
Contact Information:
Please send a resume and cover letter to the address or email listed below. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Attn: cmccarter@fcsith.org
Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca
127 W. State Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Clinical Internships
F&CS accepts graduate students in mental health disciplines (social work, mental health counseling) for clinical internships. (Psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and creative arts therapist trainees should inquire- availability may vary.) Mental Health Counseling Students: We are able to host students who wish to perform their practicum and internship at the same site successively, however we do not host practicum only students.
We require a two semester minimum commitment. Applications for the Fall-Spring semesters should be submitted in March of the previous academic year. Students who are interested in an alternate start date are encouraged to inquire for availability. Students should be aware that typically our site requires more than the minimum weekly hours required by most programs to meet the required face to face hours components. Internship hours are scheduled during business hours only.
In our clinical internship, students will work with an identified caseload of individual psychotherapy clients. There may be opportunities to work with groups, and with our EAP or intake services. Students receive at least weekly individual supervision, group supervision, and access to staff trainings and professional development.
Strong preference is given to students with previous human service experience, and those looking to develop skills working with underserved populations, particularly older adults and young children.
Please send a resume, brief letter of interest, and any specific requirements of your program to Lead Clinical Supervisor, Judy Clay at jclay@fcsith.org.