MICA Specialist, Park Slope Women's Shelter

Who We Are: CAMBA is a community of staff, volunteers, clients, donors, neighbors and partners who work together to build an inclusive New York City, where all children and adults have access to the resources and supports, they need to thrive. We take a comprehensive approach by offering more than 180 integrated programs in:
Education & Youth Development, Family Support, Job Training & Employment Support Services, Health, Housing, and Legal Services. We reach almost 80,000 individuals and families, including almost 13,000 youth. CAMBA serves a diverse cross section of New Yorkers from new mothers in Brownsville to job seekers in the Rockaways. More than half of our clients are immigrants and refugees from around the globe.

Over 85% of our families are living in poverty, reflecting the challenges faced by nearly 1.7 million New Yorkers today.

CAMBA operates 6 single adult shelters and 6 family shelters and one drop in center. Each shelter offers clients a supportive, structured therapeutic, safe, and drug-free facility. Homeless (often mentally-ill and substance-abusing) men and women are provided with comprehensive services to stabilize their condition in order to successfully transition into to permanent and/or supported housing.

The Park Slope Shelter for Women serves 100 MICA (mentally ill chemical abusing) women at the Park Slope Armory in Brooklyn.

Position: MICA Specialist

Reports To:
Assistant Program Manager

Location: 1402 Eighth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

What The MICA Specialist Does:

• Serve as a liaison with outside organizations regarding such matters as employment, education, healthcare, housing, social services, legal issues, etc.
• Assist clients in reducing/stopping their alcohol and other drug use by identifying and referring clients to appropriate services both within and outside CAMBA.
• Provide individualized counseling on drug and alcohol addiction and related topics.
• Counsel clients in dealing with drug and alcohol use and such issues as: behavior, educational progress, family dynamics, mental and physical health, housing, personal finances, substance abuse, mental and/or physical trauma.
• Develop and facilitate group counseling sessions on drug and alcohol use and related topics (i.e., psychological education, learning triggers, skill development, maintaining sobriety, etc.).
• Consult with others to determine causes of client problems and effect solutions.
• Conduct assessment to determine clients alcohol and other drug use.
• Conduct initial intake and assessment of clients’ needs and periodic re-assessments.
• Create and maintain client electronic and paper files.
• Prepare initial psychosocial evaluation and update according to regulations.
• Obtain and maintain relevant documentation and release forms from clients (i.e., birth certificate, proof of income, medical documents, release of Personal Health Information, etc.).
• In collaboration with clients, conduct periodic revisions of independent living plans including short-term and long-term client goals.
• Assist clients in attaining their goals by identifying community resources and by referring clients to appropriate services both within and outside CAMBA (i.e., On-site medical services and psychiatric services, etc.).
• Work with clients to break through barriers to their goal(s) attainment.
• Assist clients in advocating for themselves in order to gain housing stability.
• Recommend and implement strategies to persuade clients to participate fully in the process in order to transition into permanent housing.
• Monitor clients' progress toward their goals via regularly scheduled face-to-face contacts/sessions.
• Document all client encounters via progress notes using DHS CARES Database and printout notes for client’s paper file.
• Ensure CARES Database is updated to reflect client request for services (i.e., car fare, appointments, passes, referrals, etc.).
• Follow-up with clients and with referral organizations regarding client contact and progress with referral organization.
• Provide all required information for weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual reports.
• May act as client liaison/client advocate with outside organizations regarding such matters as education, healthcare,…