The Bridge offers supportive housing and behavioral health services to vulnerable New Yorkers facing behavioral health and substance use challenges. We provide individuals with the tools they need to pursue their dreams and live meaningful lives. The Bridge envisions a world where adults experiencing serious mental illness can live and thrive within their communities. As a recognized leader in developing and operating supportive housing and community-based programs, The Bridge has 70 years of experience helping New Yorkers with mental illness, including those affected by homelessness, incarceration, and institutionalization.
Scope of Position: The Assistant Director will play a crucial role in a newly launched Safe Options Support (SOS) team led by the Governor, dedicated to providing comprehensive care to street homeless or subway dwelling individuals. This multi-disciplinary team includes a Director, Assistant Director, Licensed Clinicians, Care Managers, a Registered Nurse, and a Peer Specialist. They will implement the Critical Time Intervention model of care, supporting program participants through their transition from street to home. Responsibilities include overseeing staff, program operations, community outreach, enhancing daily living skills, offering counseling, and advocating against discrimination or healthcare disparities. The role involves field-based work, periodic on-call coverage, and flexible hours. This opportunity offers clinicians a chance to reshape community healthcare in NYC and positively impact the lives of homeless New Yorkers.
Essential Position Functions:
- Provide clinical and operational leadership to the SOS team in collaboration with the Program Director.
- Conduct persistent and assertive outreach using strength-based approaches, starting at transit "hot spots" or during hospital admissions.
- Collaborate with street outreach teams, local police, hospitals, MTA, Department of Homeless Services, and family/caregivers to identify individuals in need.
- Assess health and social needs through conversational and observational assessments and formalized risk tools.
- Coordinate with the SOR Hub to secure housing, assist with applications, interviews, and moving in.
- Participate in hospital discharge planning to connect participants with community resources.
- Offer short-term therapeutic counseling pre and post-housing placement.
- Collect and report data, collaborating with analysts to inform future care strategies.
- Address clinical issues impacting housing retention, working with housing providers and participants.
- Establish relationships with community providers to ensure seamless transitions and access to services.
- Navigate appointments, provide travel training, and address barriers to accessing care.
- Facilitate crisis interventions, referrals, and hospitalizations as needed.
- Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments, reviewing documentation and collateral information.
- Monitor participant progress towards care plan goals and record outcomes.
- Attend team meetings, supervisory sessions, and fulfill assigned duties as required.
- Licensed Master’s degree in social work, mental health counseling, nursing, or psychology.
- Experience working with homeless and/or precariously housed populations preferred but not required · Interest in developing management skills.
- Knowledge of homeless resources, NYC shelter systems, and MTA transit systems is a plus.
- Knowledge of counseling principles and methods for mental illness and substance use disorders.
- Knowledge of treatment, rehabilitation, and community support programs as they relate to recipients/residents, families, and staff.
- Knowledge of techniques for identifying, assessing, and preventing potentially violent behavior, including crisis management and de-escalation techniques.
- Ability to develop, evaluate, implement, and modify treatment intervention to meet the needs of individual recipients.
- Ability to prepare accurate and timely reports.
- Computer proficiency in Health Information Technology and Microsoft applications such as MS Word, Excel, Power Point.
- Spanish speaking is a plus.
The Bridge Inc. is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer
Skills Required
- Licensed master's degree in social work, mental health counseling, nursing, or psychology
- Knowledge of counseling principles and methods for mental illness and substance use disorders
- Knowledge of treatment, rehabilitation, and community support programs
- Knowledge of techniques for identifying, assessing, and preventing potentially violent behavior
- Knowledge of crisis management and de-escalation techniques
- Ability to develop, evaluate, implement, and modify treatment interventions
- Ability to prepare accurate and timely reports
- Computer proficiency in health information technology and Microsoft applications
- Experience working with homeless or precariously housed populations
- Interest in developing management skills
- Knowledge of homeless resources, NYC shelter systems, and MTA transit systems
- Spanish language proficiency
What We Do
The Bridge is a New York City nonprofit serving people experiencing serious mental illness and substance-use concerns. It provides behavioral-health treatment, supportive housing, outpatient and community-based programs, and other services that help clients pursue recovery, independence, and meaningful lives. Its mission is to strengthen the community by offering help, hope, and opportunity to vulnerable New Yorkers, regardless of ability to pay.
