THIS IS A PART TIME POSITION AND THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY OF $105.59 AN HOUR.

The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of New York City’s children and families by providing child welfare, juvenile justice, and early care services. In child welfare, ACS contracts with private nonprofit organizations to support and stabilize families at risk of a crisis through preventive services and provides foster care services for children not able to safely remain at home. Each year, the agency’s Division of Child Protection responds to more than 50,000 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. In juvenile justice, ACS manages and funds services including detention and placement, intensive community-based alternatives for youth, and support services for families. ACS is also a key part of NYCs early childhood and education continuum, providing child care assistance to thousands of child welfare involved and low-income children so they can access safe, affordable, quality care.

The Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Unit (PBHU) within the Office of Child and Family Health (OCFH) is responsible for promoting best Mental Health practice principles to guide decision-making, program and policy development, and development of resources to ensure that children known to ACS are receiving the best possible care to address psychiatric and behavioral health conditions. The PBHU is also responsible for providing direct assistance to all ACS Divisions and contracted agencies in promoting best practices and ensuring that children have timely access to high-quality mental health care. The Unit works to ensure that psychiatric medications are used and monitored appropriately. The New York City Administration for Children’s Services’ OCFH is seeking a Medical Director to provide clinical and administrative oversight for the PBHU. The Medical Director will report to the ACS Chief Medical Officer.

Specific duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Manage and oversee all Unit activities, including psychiatric medication consents, tracking and technical assistance for psychiatric inpatient admissions and case audits.
- Provide clinical and administrative supervision to the Assistant Director of Psychiatry and the [psychologist].
- Provide administrative oversight for mental health services at the Nicholas Scoppetta Children’s Center.
- Implement and modify standards for prescribing and monitoring treatment of psychiatric diagnoses and respond to questions and feedback from the community, practitioners, and foster care
agency administrators.
- Review requests for consents and overrides for pharmacological treatment of psychiatric diagnoses for children and youth in foster care.
- Collect data, develop reports and recommend database modifications related to completing required reports on the psychotropic medication use, prescription, and consent approvals and
reviews for any and all children and youth under the care and custody of the ACS Commissioner.
- Develop and update audit and monitoring tools for assessing agency consent procedures for psychiatric medications.
- Provide case-specific consultation for issues involving management of psychiatric illnesses for children under the care and custody of the ACS Commissioner.
- Participate in a behavioral research review committee that will evaluate and approve mental-health related studies in which children and youth in foster care will be invited to enroll.
- Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders and represent OCFH on issues surrounding pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of psychiatric diagnoses for
children in foster care, juvenile detention, close to home, and preventive care.
- Develop and update ACS practices, policies and procedures related to mental health and behavioral health.
- Provide guidance and training to all ACS staff on topics related to mental health and behavioral health.
- Provide partial oversight to the Medical Audit Team in developing and updating auditing and monitoring tools for assessing agency procedures for pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic
treatment of psychiatric diagnoses in foster care children and youth.
- Represent ACS on citywide functions and activities related to mental health and behavioral health.
- Perform other duties and tasks as assigned.

1. Possession of a valid license to practice medicine in the State of New York plus valid Board Certification issued by the appropriate American Specialty Board in an approved medical specialty; and four years of medical practice including one year of experience in an administrative or supervisory capacity; or
2. A combination of education and/or experience equivalent to that listed in "1" above. However, all candidates must have a valid license to practice medicine in the State of New York, and one year of medical practice in an administrative or supervisory capacity.

New York City Residency is not required for this position.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

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Director of Psychiatry