Organization Summary: Prep for Prep is an education and leadership development program that develops ethical and effective leaders who reflect our diverse society. Prep identifies New York City’s most promising students of color, prepares them for success at the nation's top independent schools throughout the Northeast, and supports their academic and personal growth through college graduation. Today, over 5,000 students and alumni in the Prep for Prep Community are leaders in every field imaginable.
The Opportunity: Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Mental Wellness is in charge of setting the strategic vision for a holistic approach to mental wellness at Prep for Prep. The Director will coordinate mental wellness programming across the organization's many departments, student age groups, and stakeholders. Employing a systems approach, the Director will ensure Prep for Prep provides a cohesive continuum of developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant programming, training, and resources for Prep’s students, families, and staff.
General Responsibilities:
- In conjunction with the individual department directors, design and implement mental wellness curricula across Prep’s continuum of programming
- Coordinate Prep’s team of social workers and mental wellness staff members. Supervise graduate school interns
- Coordinate and lead training for Prep staff on topics such as adolescent development, signs of harm, healthy boundaries, and strategies for anxiety/stress reduction
- Monitor and suggest programming that responds to Prep students’ wellness needs
- Provide training and clinical consultation to the Preparatory, Post-Placement, and Undergraduate Affairs department staff on a regularly scheduled and ad hoc basis
- Develop and lead family workshops on the Prep experience, early adolescent development, transitioning to Post-Placement, stress, and the intersection of the BIPOC experience at predominantly white independent schools
- Direct service, including counseling/therapy for Prep students, consultation with families
- Managing referrals for ongoing psychological services
- Collaborate with the Executive Director and other stakeholders in designing and implementing creative virtual and in-person mental wellness programming that is student-centric and culturally responsive
- Identify and develop resources for Prep students re: academic progress and success (e.g., evaluation resources, ADHD support, etc.), connect students and families with resources
- Develop clinical intervention and wellness programs for students and parents re: cognitive/social/emotional wellbeing
- Collaborate with the Executive Director in building partnerships and collaborations with other nonprofits and CBOs to provide mental wellness programming and services for Prep students and families
- Acting as liaison between Preparatory and Post-Placement; planning transition of students and parents to Post-Placement; and clinical consultation with schools.
- Liaison with schools to assist in supporting students, work in partnership with schools to create and utilize preventive strategies that promote social-emotional growth and wellbeing, sound mental health, and academic functioning.
- Play a highly visible role in ongoing parent education as well as faculty and staff professional development
- Teaching of selected conclave classes in the Preparatory component
- Master’s degree in mental health, clinical social work, psychology, or related field required
- Must be licensed to provide direct service in the State of New York
- Embody and advocate for Prep for Prep’s values of Excellence, Integrity, Commitment, Courage, and Community
- Sound judgment, compassion, a self-directed work ethic, and a commitment to achieving Prep for Prep’s Mission
- Experience working with adolescents and their parents, as well as working with a culturally diverse population
- Training in cultural sensitivity strongly recommended
- Professional experience or familiarity with independent schools or similar setting preferred
- Strong clinical skills to identify, evaluate and provide services to students with a range of mental and emotional health needs
- Must be able to maintain a calm and supportive demeanor when working with students, families, and colleagues
- Effective communication skills that promote positive relationships
- Demonstrate an understanding and use of equitable and culturally responsive practices
- Demonstrate leadership and project organizational skills, planning, implementing, and evaluations
- Exercise a strong sense of priority, time management, and follow-through
Please email a cover letter and resume with the subject line “Director of Mental Wellness” to [email protected] and [email protected]