Program Director (Functional Family Therapy)

Salary: $85,000 - $95,000/yr

Position Summary: The Functional Family Therapy (FFT) Program Director in the Family Assessment Program (FAP) Program provides administrative supervision to three (3) FFT Supervisors. The Program Director is responsible for ensuring that the FFT teams in the Bronx and multi-borough program Manhattan/Staten Island meets all ACS accountability mandates to ensure positive outcomes on all ACS measurements. The Program Director also serves as the main point of contact with the FFT consultant and is responsible for ensuring that the team meets all of the fidelity measures and outcomes set forth by FFT. In addition, this position is responsible for ensuring the FFT program is compliant with Children’s Aid policies, procedures, and is aligned with the mission of Children’s Aid and the Division’s goals and strategic priorities. Directors are required to ensure that interactions involving staff and clients are trauma informed.

FFT is a therapeutic program in our preventive continuum of services. It is a home-based intensive therapeutic model for families with multiple risk factors. Services are offered in the home to families with substantiated physical abuse and/or neglect of a child or young person 17 or under. This model addresses child abuse and neglect, substance abuse, mental illness, school difficulties, and history of out-of-home care or involvement with the child protection system. A central component of the program is engaging with the family’s broader social environment and developing each family’s social and community networks.

Essential Duties:

• Understand and promote the organization’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.
• Provide Administrative and Clinical oversight of the FFT model/site program and staff.
• In addition to the 3 supervisors, the Director supervises the Multiborough Administrative Assistant and Educational Employment Specialists for Multiborough and Bronx teams.
• Collaborates with the CQI to improve program practice and key performance indicators and outcomes by conducting monthly case record reviews and reviewing CQI Utilization dashboard and Monthly Performance Reports.
• Provide weekly coaching, trauma informed supervision and professional development to supervisors.
• Promote self-care and healthy work-life balance activities. Maintain positive work environment to support productivity and staff retention.
• Ensure that the program complies with ACS accountability mandates which result in excellent ratings on Performance Evaluation (VENDEX), OCFS and PAMS reviews.
• Maintain utilization expectations to satisfy performance-based funding requirements for sustainable funding. Ensure ongoing outreach activities in the community in order to attain required 20% utilization from self-referrals as required by contracts
• Director of the multiborough program has to maintain regular presences in both Manhattan and Staten Island sites in order to ensure consistent operation of program at both sites.
• Responsible for administrative aspects of ACS accountability systems including PROMIS & CNNX
• To supplement QA oversight, conduct review of case records, monitor Child Not Seen, Supervisor Monthly Reviews, FASP Timeliness Reports and PROMIS and CONNX entries, to ensure compliance and best practice.
• May be required to function in the role of Supervisor and/or carry a caseload or perform other duties due to Supervisor and/or Therapist or other staff vacancies.
• Act as liaison with ACS (Office of Program Planning and Policy (OPPP)), FAP, Community based Initiatives, Referral Management, Family Team Conferencing and DCP staff in regard to audits, training on the models, and other inter-agency matters.
• Become familiar with FFT model fidelity standards and its child welfare practice implications. Ensure that practice is delivered in a culturally sensitive manner that also adheres to model fidelity.
• Collaborate with other Children’s Aid (CA) Prevention Program Directors to develop policies, procedures that are uniform across similar models/programs.
• Arrange and coordinate external and internal training. Ensure scheduling of and compliance with Workforce Institute training mandates.
• Partner with the Sr. FAP Director, Deputy Division Director of Prevention Services to develop ACS contract budgets, modifications, oversight of spending and reconciliations for fiscal sustainability.
• Attend meetings and network in the community to obtain referrals, build linkages and strengthen interagency collaborations.
• Attend required ACS FAP meetings, such as the Bi-monthly FAP Model Meetings, quarterly Preventive Directors meetings, COFCCA meetings as indicated. CA internal meetings including administrative meetings, SI Regional Cabinets, ODMs Meetings, etc., and budget meetings as indicated.
• Ensure compliance with all CA internal fiscal and accountability procedures and policies including payroll issues and purchasing procedures. Ensure timely and accurate usage of UKG system by program staff.
• Ensure that all staff demonstrate competencies in the execution of daily responsibilities, comply with TMHR conditions of employment including telecommuting policy, as delineated in the Employee Handbook and that staff meet performance and behavior standards of Code of Conduct and Anti-harassment policies. Utilize progressive disciplinary process when indicated.
• Familiarize self and staff with agency and Division Objectives and Strategic Priorities which are integrated into practice that enhance overall agency operations and improve outcomes.
• Collaborate with TMHR/Talent Partners to identify appropriate candidates to fill program vacancies in a timely fashion. Ensure that new hires receive a comprehensive onboarding.
• Collaborate with Division CQI Directors to ensure preventive standard compliance and best practices.
• Ensure optimal integration and cross collaboration with other CA Divisions/ programs, as well as other community-based services.
• Perform other duties as assigned Sr. FAP Director and/or Deputy Division Director of Prevention Services.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum master’s degree in social work or a related field required; with a minimum of 5 years of supervisory and administrative experience working with children and families in a child welfare or mental health setting. Professional licensing in Social Work or Mental Health Treatment preferred.

Key Competencies:

• Good organizational skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• Good managerial, interpersonal, leadership skills with ability to function effectively as a role model.
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills.
• Good team building skills.
• Some knowledge and experience in developing and managing/monitoring budgets that are aligned with programmatic needs.
• Willing and available to respond to emergencies and urgent situations 24/7.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children’s Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children’s Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children’s Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.

• Medical, Vision, Dental
• 403b + employer match
• Up to 20 vacation days
• Sick days
• Personal days
• Paid holidays
• Flexible spending accounts (FSA)
• Pre-tax transportation account
• Voluntary benefit plans & life insurance
• Education support program