Director, SAMHSA Child Trauma Initiatives

Summary: Safe Horizon manages a 5-year grant by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to raise the standard of care for traumatized children in New York City. REACH focuses on school-aged children and older through the implementation of anti-oppressive, age-appropriate trauma interventions. The Director SAMHSA Child Trauma Initiatives is responsible for integrating the staff development and direct service components of REACH to facilitate their implementation in Safe Horizon’s child trauma cluster which includes our Safe Horizon Counseling Center (SHCC), Child Advocacy Centers (CACs), Child Trauma Response Team (CTRT), and Safe Way Forward (SWF) program. The Director will continue to serve as Principal Investigator (PI) of REACH initiative. They will be responsible for the activities of the program to provide all our clients, school-age children up to age 17 and their families, with a service experience while maintaining data collection systems, evaluation programs, and maintaining full compliance with all federal regulations and reporting requirements for the program The Director also ensures the implementation of effective evaluation measures and completion of all client-level assessments and data gathering that is required for REACH. The Director will report to and collaborate regularly with the Vice President Children and Mental Health on REACH administration activities.

Responsibilities: The Director is responsible for the design, launch, administration, evaluation, reporting, and outcomes of REACH while maintaining this child trauma program that includes influencing city-wide systems and practice enhancements in collaboration with national child trauma model developers, government partners, and an array of internal stakeholders to ensure the success of these initiatives. Internally, stakeholders include over 100 staff, functioning in both direct service and leadership positions, within our SHCC, 5 CACs, CTRT, and SWF programs, operating out of nine distinct site locations, located in each of the five boroughs. The Director will:

• continue as the federal PI, and government liaison, and Safe Horizon representative on the 5-year, multimillion federal grant;
• support the Children and Mental health cluster with new program initiative that would support staff development, onboarding and collaboration
• ensure the timely administration of baseline and follow-up evaluation measures required by SAMHSA;
• Oversee a 5-Year Project Plan and Timeline that integrates the workforce development (training) initiatives and client service delivery components of REACH in collaboration with the Vice President of Mental Health Treatment, and the Vice President of Child Advocacy Centers and Mental Health;
• Collaborate with our Research & Evaluation Department implementing a robust mixed methods process and outcomes evaluation, as well as the administration of both the federal and local evaluation components for REACH;
• collaborate with external model developer, Dr. Isha Metzger to deliver training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Racial Trauma to staff of the SHCC and SWF programs;
• oversee the development of Racial Socialization for Racial Trauma training for staff of the CACs, CTRT, SHCC and SWF programs in collaboration Dr. Metzger and a newly developed Racial Socialization Workgroup;
• advance Safe Horizon’s work on the “racial retrofitting” of evidence-based trauma treatments for families of color;
• monitor the progress of REACH against project milestones, metrics and outcome targets within a data-driven, continuous quality improvement process
• design our GPRA program in alignment with SAMHSA SPARS data reporting guidelines and overseeing full compliance with federal requirements
• provide fiscal oversight, management, and federal reporting of REACH program budgets
• represent Safe Horizon, and REACH at local, state and national forums, including professional speaking and training engagements
• analyze client data to inform program enhancements
• complete presentations, publications, briefings, and formal reports to share with NCTSN (REACH).

Qualifications

An advanced degree (MA, MSW, PhD in social work, psychology, or related field) required.

Required:

• A minimum of two years of experience directly managing SAMHSA grants; Experience as a SAMHSA Principle Investigator (PI) is strongly preferred.
• Two years of experience implementing CFTSI and other child trauma interventions in diverse communities
• Large scale project management experience
• Ability to provide high-level strategic leadership, expert consultation and management to a diverse, multi-disciplinary team including internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent interpersonal, teambuilding, organizational and conflict-resolution skills
• Significant experience working with child-serving systems including the criminal justice, child protection and social service systems
• Deep Knowledge of domestic violence, child abuse and child trauma with a strong commitment to Safe Horizon’s mission and strategic goals, including our anti-racism work
• Expertise or an appreciation for acute, trauma-focused, evidence-informed practices working with children and families impacted by domestic violence and trauma
• Preference for bilingual individuals and candidates experienced working with diverse communities

If hired, I agree to abide by all of Safe Horizon’s rules and regulations, and understand that, if employed, my employment may be terminated with or without cause, and with or without notice, at any time, at the option of either the company or me. I further understand that no representation, whether oral or written by any representative or agent of the organization, at any time, constitutes a contract of employment.

AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Technology Statement:

Applicants may be responsible for providing the equipment and tools they need to work remotely as required, such as access to a computer, internet service, and phone service. Safe Horizon will discuss potential solutions with candidates and may assist where needed and agreed to in advance.

Please follow this link to view complete EEO Law and complaint filing information:

https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf

Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal.

Hiring Range: $82,000 to $88,000

Full-time Hours: 35 Hours per week

Full-time Benefits: Vacation Time, Paid Sick Time, Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(b) Retirement Plan, Company Life Insurance, Medical/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Tuition Assistance Program, Commuter Benefits Program, Gym Reimbursement, Parental Leave, Employee Learning Center

Safe Horizon was named one of City & State New York Top Workplaces of 2025