Artist Social Worker

Recess seeks an experienced, licensed social worker and creative practitioner to support mental health integration, healing and wellness across the organization.

The Artist Social Worker will serve as a key member of the Recess ecosystem, ensuring mental health integration across the organization through: individual and group counseling; trauma-informed crisis and safety intervention; psychoeducation in mental health topics; and community based referrals. The Artist Social Worker has a specific focus on weaving together art and mental health into Assembly, a trauma-informed, arts-based diversion program for system-impacted young people aged 18-26, nurturing greater self-reliance, empowerment and the long-term success of its participants.

Application Instructions: Submit a cover letter, cv, and three references as a combined pdf by email to employment@recessart.org with the subject line “Artist Social Worker”. Applications submitted via Linkedin will not be considered.

Responsibilities

Assembly Programming & Counseling

• In collaboration with Youth & Community Organizer who leads Assembly programming, develop trauma-informed arts-based activities and projects that offer a creative starting point to the cultivation of mental health culture and awareness
• Advocate for and develop plans to improve Assembly participants’ wellbeing
• Provide ongoing individual and group counseling and therapeutic support for Assembly youth
• Research and refer Assembly participants to community resources 
• Refer Assembly participants to doctors, therapists, and medical professionals for diagnosis and treatment, as needed
• Support of Assembly community members involved in court diversion, supervised release, and mental health court in collaboration with attorneys, advocates and case workers
• Provide psychoeducation on mental health topics for Assembly youth, including but not limited to: trauma (PTSD, C-PTSD, relational), neurobiology of trauma and healing, somatics/integrative healing practices, identifying healthy and abusive relationships, self and collective care

Crisis Intervention & Resourcing

• Crisis counseling for Assembly participants and strategizing of internal support systems and external support through referrals
• Collaborate with staff in support of community members (Session Artists, Critical Writers, program partners, etc.) for safety crisis intervention

Organizational Leadership & Capacity Building

• Cultivate a holistic culture of mental health wellness by instituting a knowledge base of trauma-informed practices into organizational structures
• Development of practices, research, and program evaluation at the intersection of the arts and mental health
• Guidance and advising on community and physical space safety protocols
• Provide psychoeducation on mental health topics for all staff, including but not limited to: trauma (PTSD, C-PTSD, relational), neurobiology of trauma and healing, somatics/integrative healing practices, identifying healthy and abusive relationships, self and collective care

Organizational Culture & Operations

• Along with the rest of the staff, maintain a clean space stocked with necessary supplies
• Actively participate in collective trainings, retreats, visioning, and other internal workings that enact Recess values and shared power model

Requirements:

• Passion for art, social justice, wellness, arts administration, youth development, and innovative strategies
• A commitment to abolition and community based safety, approaching trust-building with compassion and patience
• At least 3 years arts administration and/or non-profit experience and 3-5 years experience in licensed social work, including clinical social worker license (LCSW)
• Ability to apply a racial justice and equity lens to social work
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Flexibility and confidence in managing projects independently and with others
• Ability to thrive in both collaborative and independent work environments, including multitasking, problem solving, and prioritizing well
• Experience using one or more communication platforms such as Whatsapp or Slack; strong working knowledge of google suite
• Strong referral network in NYC a plus
• Artist practice and/or working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite a plus
• Relevant lived experience a plus

Reports to Co-Directors

—utilizing an abolitionist framework to embed shared power in our internal decision-making.

Reports to Co-Directors 

Salary: Recess two-tier universal salary at 84k; full health, dental, vision benefits (covered at 100% for individual); optional 401K plan; professional development and care & capacity funds; paid time off including vacation, holidays, and breaks 

Schedule: Monday-Friday or Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm or 11am-6pm; Saturday shifts at least 3x a month; hybrid work week with up to 2 days remote; occasional events and programs outside regular hours

Application Deadline: July 21, 2024

Position start date: September 2024

Recess is an equal opportunity employer and considers all candidates for employment regardless of age, color, sex, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, veteran status, housing status, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or previous homelessness or legal system involvement.

Note: Statistics show that individuals coming from historically excluded or oppressed groups apply to jobs only if they meet all qualifications. Recess invites you to skew that statistic. Applicants rarely meet 100% of qualifications. We look forward to hearing from you.