Trauma-Informed Intake Therapist for Youth & Emerging Adults

The New Foster Care; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The New Foster Care in Michigan seeks an Intake Therapist (Personal Wellness) to serve as the primary entry point for services, delivering outpatient, trauma-informed therapy to a capped caseload of youth and emerging adults with foster care experience.

You will lead intake, screenings, biopsychosocial assessments, and referrals, coordinate with navigators and care team, and maintain thorough clinical documentation within an integrated, relationship-based care model.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related human services field.
• Current State of Michigan licensure (LMSW, LPC, or LP) with LLMSW considered; fully licensed clinicians preferred.
• Experience providing therapy to youth or emerging adults impacted by child welfare, complex trauma, or system involvement.
• Substance use credential (CADC/CAADC) preferred or willingness to pursue if required by program needs.

Responsibilities

• Manage the participant intake lifecycle from initial contact through program assignment or external warm handoff.
• Conduct phone screenings and integrated biopsychosocial assessments using required screening tools and trauma-informed evaluation approaches.
• Triage incoming cases based on clinical appropriateness, acuity, and program capacity.
• Coordinate active, warm-handoff referrals to external community providers when internal clinical capacity is full or when specialized care is required.
• Maintain and monitor internal clinical waitlists and intake tracking, communicating with prospective participants and referral partners.
• Provide individual, group, and/or family therapy using evidence-informed and trauma-responsive approaches to a capped caseload of 12 active participants.
• Collaboratively develop treatment goals aligned with participant-identified priorities.
• Monitor progress, adjust interventions as needed, and support emotional regulation, coping, and wellbeing.
• Maintain clear boundaries around therapy scheduling to ensure dedicated availability for intake screenings and triage remains uninterrupted.
• Build trusting, respectful therapeutic relationships with participants, including those who may be ambivalent or difficult to engage.

Skills

Trauma-informed practice

Relational approach

Cultural responsiveness

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work or related field

Job description

The New Foster Care in Michigan seeks an Intake Therapist (Personal Wellness) to serve as the primary entry point for services, delivering outpatient, trauma-informed therapy to a capped caseload of youth and emerging adults with foster care experience.

You will lead intake, screenings, biopsychosocial assessments, and referrals, coordinate with navigators and care team, and maintain thorough clinical documentation within an integrated, relationship-based care model.