Program Director of PAATHS and Recovery Support Services

City of Boston Residency Required

Mission Statement

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of anti-racism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

Job Description

The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) Recovery Services Bureau (RSB) offers comprehensive programming and resources aimed at reducing the harms associated with substance use, including providing treatment services, recovery supports, and youth prevention. RSB operates across the continuum of care, spanning outreach and engagement, drug user health, naloxone distribution, residential treatment, referral services, and more. RSB has over 150 personnel working across more than 10 programs.

PAATHS (Providing Access to Addictions Treatment, Hope and Support) is a centralized resource for individuals and families seeking addiction treatment and recovery support. PAATHS has a total of 12 staff and can supervise 1-2 social work interns.

Safe and Sound Recovery Center (SSRC) provides peer-led outpatient substance use services to individuals in recovery. The center serves as a day space for 20-25 individuals experiencing homelessness. SSRC has 2-3 staff and has capacity to supervise 1-2 interns and/or external providers onsite.

Operations and Programming

• Works to help BPHC advance as an antiracist organization by meeting or exceeding the standards set by the BPHC Anti-Racism Policy.
• Oversees the daily operations of the PAATHS Program and the Safe and Sound Recovery Center (SSRC) as ensuring seamless coordination and service delivery across both sites.
• Organizes and facilitates BPHC program and partner meetings, including daily huddles with external partners and providers to support case management of individual needs across outreach and partner providers.
• Assists PAATHS staff with daily community outreach to engage clients and support access to care through new partnerships, programs, and promotional materials.
• Assists SSRC staff with the day space and helps staff incorporate services to help individuals who are active members of the center.
• Provides direct supervision to staff while in the field, including when co-responding with the Street Outreach team.
• Serves as a member of the BPHC Recovery Services leadership team, contributing to cross-departmental initiatives that enhance RSB's ability to serve individuals impacted by SUD and homelessness.
• Conducts outreach and builds relationships with community-based human service agencies and shelter providers to expand treatment access for clients.
• Develops and implements programming that supports client engagement and ensures consistency between staff in following established PAATHS and SSRC policies and procedures.
• Ensures PAATHS and SSRC data are collected, analyzed, and reviewed regularly to monitor and improve the program.
• Establish new innovations, partnerships, and trainings to address barriers to the continuum of treatment.
• Collaborates with housing, behavioral health, and workforce development providers to help client transitions into treatment, housing, and support services.
• Participates in on-call rotation as needed.
• Meets regularly with supervisors and colleagues regarding all aspects of program operations, including but not limited to matters pertaining to program staff and other confidential matters.
• Uses independent judgment and discretion to make decisions affecting the program and staff as it relates to program operations/services and BPHC policy.
• Performs other duties as required.

Management

• Provides direct supervision, documentation and oversight to assigned staff
• Leads recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, evaluation, and disciplinary processes for assigned staff.
• Ensures all staff use a trauma-informed care and harm reduction approach in their interactions with guests and clients.
• Creates a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for clients, staff and client workers. Works to identify ways to strengthen morale and build teamwork.
• Makes and recommends management and personnel decisions including but not limited to supervision, promotion, transfer and assignment of staff, and imposition of discipline, in coordination with Human Resources and Labor & Employment teams
• Oversees the proper implementation of policies to identify and implement operational improvements.
• Builds and sustains an organizational culture that prioritizes professional growth and staff development through supervision and the use of BPHC's employee performance management system.
• Assesses staff training needs and develops comprehensive training plans to support ongoing professional development.
• Oversees process improvement initiatives and ensures timely completion of related goals and activities.
• Represents management in grievance and arbitration proceedings, including reviewing and responding to grievances, attending hearings, and contributing to collective bargaining proposals as a management representative.
• Routinely monitors the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of data entered into electronic medical records (EMR) and program databases.
• Quickly identifies and resolves operational, client-related, and staffing issues to maintain service continuity.
• Acts in a confidential capacity, exercising independent judgment and discretion in decisions that impact staff, program operations, and adherence to BPHC policies.
• Collaborates effectively with colleagues across the Recovery Services Bureau, regularly attends Director meetings, and works closely with teams at the Mattapan Campus, Atkinson Campus, and Finland Building.
• Prepares strategic plans, reports, and presentations as needed to support operations and communication of program outcomes to internal and external stakeholders.

Community and BPHC Partnerships

• Establishes partnerships, linkages, and collaborative programming with a broad range of community-based organizations and service providers, including knowledge of the substance use treatment care continuum providers for Boston residents.
• Maintains partnerships with external organizations such as Boston Health Care for the Homeless, Eliot Human Services, and Boston Medical Center.
• Serves as the primary liaison for PAATHS and other Recovery Services programs, representing the program in external meetings and initiatives.
• Oversees the maintenance and appearance of program facilities, ensuring they are ADA-compliant, clean, welcoming, and aligned with trauma-informed design principles.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of or willingness to learn about the role of public health in addressing racism, the social determinants of health, and inequities in health outcomes as well as strategies to advance racial justice and health equity.
• Master in Mental Health field with LCSW, LICSW, LMHC or Master in Mental Health with CADC/ LADC I preferred. Bachelor's degree and 6 years of relevant experience or 10 years of relevant experience.
• 2 years or more of supervisory experience with the ability to effectively motivate, train, and supervise staff.
• Experience in the delivery of services to individuals with substance use and/or co-occurring disorders, mental illness, HIV risk, incarceration and/or criminal justice involvement.
• Familiarity with area resources for use disorders and mental health including those for acute and crisis level of need, and the continuum of care.
• Knowledge of trauma and trauma-informed care principles and best-practices.
• Experience with individual and group treatment modalities, psychosocial assessments and comprehensive treatment planning.
• Experience in working with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds preferred.
• Familiarity with operations of clinical projects, protocols, ethical standards, and staff training.
• Highly organized and independent leader, with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Computer Proficiency Required, preference for familiarity with SMART or other EMR software Bilingual/bicultural skills strongly preferred.

Additional Information

• City of Boston residency is required; Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway-Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mid-Dorchester, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, West End, West Roxbury, Wharf district.
• A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position. However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for.
• Certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties.
• Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification.
• Certain positions at the BPHC may be Grant Funded.
• The Boston Public Health Commission is an EEO Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum requirements are eligible to apply.
• Certain positions at the BPHC may require Child Protective Service Background verification.
• The advertised shift and schedule are subject to change at the department's discretion.

Shift

35 hours, Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM

Grant Funding Information

This position is not dependent on grants / external funding sources.

Pay Range

$80,000 - $90,000 Annually