Creative Arts Therapist, BuildaBridge

Posted by on April 04, 2011

Title: Creative Arts Therapist
Employer: BuildaBridge
Location: 205 West Tulpehocken Street, First Floor, Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and locations in the Northeast and South Philadelphia
Timeframe: May 9th –June 30th Planning Phase with Refugee Mental Health Collaborative
July 1, 2011 to May 2012, Implementation begins and will consist of 1.5 hour sessions on alternating Saturdays

Employer:
BuildaBridge is a nonprofit arts education and intervention organization that engages the life changing power of the arts to bring hope and healing to children, families and communities in the tough places of the world. BuildaBridge spans barriers of race, class, faith and culture to promote holistic personal, family and community development.  Committed to principles of love, compassion, justice, reconciliation and service to others, BuildaBridge motivates, enlists, trains and connects those with artistic gifts with those in greatest need. BuildaBridge offers unique programs featuring cross-cultural perspectives and arts-integrated approaches to holistic personal and community development.

Position Summary
BuildaBridge is seeking two qualified and dedicated Creative Arts Therapists (Visual Arts, Dance/Movement, Drama, or Music) to facilitate group arts therapy sessions with refugee populations consisting of children and youth ages 6-18.  A Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services Grant has provided funding for a group of non-profits making up a collaborative of health, social service, and community agencies. This project is part of the Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative between refugee resettlement agencies and health providers in Philadelphia.  The project will engage ethnic community resilience and cultural strengths to address flight and resettlement stressors that impact the success of refugee children and youth.  The collaborative seeks to provide mental health screenings and education to refugee families within 30 days after arrival and to provide both formal and non-traditional services (creative arts therapy) as needed to prevent the stresses experienced by children and youth from negatively impacting future success.

Responsibilities
•    Further BuildaBridge’s work in transforming lives through the arts as a part of the Refugee Mental Health Collaborative, supported by the Department of Behavioral Health & Intellectual Disability Services
•    Provide insight and expertise in the planning phase of culturally appropriate adjustment groups for youth in need of a therapeutic arts outlet
•    Use expertise to help vulnerable refugee children and youth cope with the issues of neglect, abuse, poverty, trauma, resettlement and violence that they currently encounter or have faced in the past
•    Create creative arts experiences to be used in sessions
•    Complete all required paperwork on time, including: attendance records, time sheets, BuildaBridge’s Online class assessment and progress notes for each client
•    Submit progress notes and recommend youth who require more therapeutic interventions to the collaborative coordinator
•    Live as inspiring examples and mentors to constituent children, youth, and families through caring interactions, consistency in word and action, and maintaining clear personal and professional boundaries
•    Attend all mandatory training sessions and meetings
•    Attend an on-site orientation prior to the start of classes
•    Lead a team including 2+ assistants
•    Arrive 10-15 minutes early to set up; stay late to clean up as needed
•    Complete a final written evaluation of the class and program
•    Notify BuildaBridge of inability to teach (due to sickness or emergency) 24 hours in advance, or by 9:00am the day of the class if possible.

Qualifications
•    Must be a board certified Art Therapist with Master’s degree or higher in Creative Arts Therapy, specializing in either music, dance, drama or visual arts
•    Must be flexible, able to work in a changing environment
•    2-3 years of experience providing therapeutic services to children and adolescents, including experience working with low-income/at-risk populations
•    At least 5+ years working with children in any setting
•    Undergraduate level education in the arts, arts education, psychology or social work a plus
•    Strong communication skills (verbal and written)
•    Second language skills a plus though not required
•    Experience working in  a non-profit a plus
•    Must be able to work in a team setting to provide clients appropriate level of therapy and provide expert input to collaborative partners

Candidate qualities, hours per week, and compensation:
Candidate must evidence a love for people, the arts, and a strong passion and understanding of the healing power of the creative arts.  Applicant must be committed to the principles of love, social justice, reconciliation, and redemption; the desire to learn in multicultural contexts; dependability and faithfulness in completing assignments; and a spirit of teachability.

The Creative Arts Therapist position is part-time, consisting of the following:
•    Provision of input during planning phase and training May 9-June 30 totaling no more than 35 hours @$15/hour; dates & times vary
•    Teaching hours are on alternating Saturdays for 2 hours (1.5 hours teaching time, 15 minutes prep and assessment before and after class respectively) @$45/hour
•    Preparation/Online Assessment: 1.5 hours per week @$25/hour

Reporting
Creative Arts Therapist reports directly to BuildaBridge Collaborative liason and indirectly to the Refugee Mental Health Collaborative coordinator.

To Apply:  Please send a cover letter, resume and references to Danielle Dembrosky, Programs Administrator, ddembro@buildabridge.org by April 25, 2011