Karen A. Dubin-McKnight, PhD, LCSW EDUCATION University of North Carolina Kenan Flagler Business School MBA@UNC Master of Business Administration, pending Adelphi University Garden City, NY Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work (Ph.D.), May 2016 Published Dissertation: Crossing the Line: The Identity of People with Psychiatric Disabilities Employed in Partnership Model Programs Columbia University New York, New York Master of Science from the School of Social Work, May 2000 Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY Bachelor of Arts, English and Psychology, December 1998 LICENSURE / NYS Licensed Clinical Social Worker: License #074366 Human Subjects Training Certification: March 2012 CERTIFICATIONS Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI) Certification: January 2003 NYS Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment Certification: May 2000; July 2014 Trained in administration of the Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) Trained in administration of Women s Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA) Trained in HCR-20 Violence Risk Assessment TEACHING/ TRAINING EXPERIENCE Hunter College School of Social Work Behavioral Health Care Coordination Training Program Trainer February 2014 - Present CUCS The Academy for Justice Informed Practice New York, New York Trainer October 2014 present Howie T. Harp Peer Advocacy Center New York, New York Trainer September 2012 Present Adelphi University School of Social Work Adjunct Professor January 2009 Present Columbia University School of Social Work Adjunct Professor September 2007 Present INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING Legal Aid Society: 2005-2013 TOPICS: Mental Health Ethics and Practice Issues in Criminal Court Mental Health Court Ethical Dilemmas and Self-determination in Forensic Social Work Introduction to Mental Health Diagnosis and Psychotropic Medications Trauma and Vicarious/Secondary Trauma Termination and Social Work Practice Seeking Alternatives to Incarceration for Mentally Ill Clients: Criminal and Supreme Court Practices Consumer Debt and Collections Training Series - Interviewing: Making the Most of the Time Introduction to Mental Health Diagnosis and Medication Ethics, Self-Determination, and Social Work Practice Use of Screening and Assessment Instruments in Social Work Evaluations Behavioral Health Issues and Criminal Practice Social Work Ethics and the Legal System Mental Hygiene Law 9.43: History, Practice, and Considerations Sex Offender Screening Instruments
CASES: 2013 Present TOPICS: Use of a RAP Sheet as a Clinical Instrument Navigating the Criminal Justice System Engaging Justice-Involved Participants What does Alternative-to-Incarceration and Alternative-to-Detention Really Mean? In-Court training Legal Process, Advocacy, and Practice PRESENTATIONS Association of Community Living Agencies in Mental Health 21 st Annual Conference November 2000. The Nathaniel Project: An Alternative to Incarceration for people with serious mental illness in the Criminal Justice System. (Presenter) 2001 Annual Conference: Advancing Together into the 21 st Century The New York Association for Alternative Sentencing Programs and the New York Pretrial Services Agencies. Assessment for the Criminal Justice Practitioner. (Presenter) Testified at City Council Hearing on March 6, 2002 regarding Compliance with Brad H v. City of New York s Discharge Planning Mandate. (Witness) March 14, 2002 and June 7, 2002: Forensic Mental Health Planning and Advocacy Project Institute Against Violence The Impact of the Criminalization of Mental Illness. (Presenter) Testified at City Council Hearing on June 12, 2002 regarding Collaborative Crisis Intervention and Alternatives to Incarceration Initiatives for Persons with Mental Disabilities. (Witness) September 2002 New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitative Services - 20th Anniversary Special Conference Program and Celebration. Out of the Hospitals and into the Jails: Mental Health Issues in New York State's Criminal Justice System. (Presenter) October 9, 2002 Columbia University School of Social Work Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System. (Presenter) October 29, 2003 November 1, 2003 American Psychiatric Association: Psychiatric Services Convention Is there a Doctor in the Court. (Presenter) November 5, 2003 - Queens County Bar Association panel on the Diversion of Mentally Ill Defendants: From Incarceration to Treatment. (Presenter) January 27, 2004 Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State, 7 th Annual Statewide Conference- Court Diversion Services for Co-occurring Clients. (Presenter) March 28, 2008-2008 Power of Social Work Annual Conference Forensic Social Work and Ethical Dilemmas.NASW. (Presenter) April4, 2008 Criminal Justice Committee s Networking Panel on Suicidality, Hospitalization and the Criminal Justice System. Queens Bar Association (Organizer/Moderator) May 27, 2008 Housing, Hope and the Promise of Recovery Housing: Avoiding Return to Prison Life NYU School of Social Work.(Presenter) December 5, 2008 Criminal Justice Committee s Panel Presentation on Traumatic Brain Injury, Developmental Disabilities and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in the Criminal Justice System. Queens Criminal Court. (Organizer/Moderator). March 13, 2009 Focus Group with the Department of Corrections on Trauma. Department of Corrections Corrections Academy (Facilitator) May 8, 2009 Criminal Justice Committee s Conference on Becoming a Trauma-Informed Criminal Justice Practitioner. New York University School of Social Work. (Organizer/Moderator/Presenter)
February 8, 2010 Introduction to Mental Health Diagnosis, Psychotropic Medications and Community Resources NYC Department of Probation. (Presenter). March 22, 2010 Introduction to Mental Health Diagnosis Queens Criminal Court Judges and Criminal Court Officers. (Presenter). September 29, 2010; September 14, 2011 Introduction to Mental Health Diagnosis. Hofstra Law School. (Presenter). April 19, 2011 NOFSW 28 th Annual Conference: Forensic Social Work: Global Horizons. Frontline Public Defender Teams: Addressing the Needs of Those Living With Mental Illness to Avoid Their Penetration into the Criminal Justice System. (Presenter). April 20, 2011 - NOFSW 28 th Annual Conference: Forensic Social Work: Global Horizons. Innovations in Public Defense: Incorporating Peers into Criminal Defense Legal Teams. (Presenter). June 8, 2011 - Criminal Court Judge s Association. Dealing with Vicarious Trauma and Stress on the Bench. (Moderator). December 9, 2011 Criminal Justice Involvement of Adolescents with Behavioral Health Problems Queens Criminal Court. (Organizer/Moderator). July 19, 2012 Community Oriented Defender Conference New York University School of Law. Views and Voices from Real Former Defender Clients: Empowering the Client in Your Client Centered Training. (Presenter) April 21, 2017 Columbia Presentation: Advocating for Justice in the Carceral State: Innovative Social Work Methods. (Presenter) AFFILIATIONS Mayor s Office of Criminal Justice Post-Arraignment Diversion Working Group NYC-H+H Correctional Health Services Neurodevelopmental Disorders Working Group Mayor s Office of Criminal Justice Release and Reentry Working Group New York City Peer Specialist Certification Advisory Committee New York County Behavioral Health Diversion Forum New York Association for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) Policy Task Force New York Association for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) Criminal Justice Task Force Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. Expert Panel on Parents with Psychiatric Disabilities New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Medical Reserve Corps Volunteer Chairwoman Criminal Justice Committee of Queens County, NY EXPERIENCE SWEET INSTITUTE (SUPPORTING WELLBEING THROUGH EMPOWERMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING) New York, NY Co-Founder, Vice President, Chief Operating Officer April 2017 to present Work directly with Founder and CEO on all aspects of development of start-up organization including, and not limited to: business plan and development, market analysis, certification process, networking, research design and analysis, strategic planning, public relations, marketing, social medial and website design, curriculum design and instruction. Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES), New York, NY Director Court Operations July 2016 to present Restructured Court operations (Alternative-to-Incarceration [ATI] and Alternative-to-Detention [ATD])for organization from seven different programs to one over four boroughs of New York City Reviewed quantitative and qualitative data to develop organizing principles and structural options in line with strategic and intake goals and overall employee job satisfaction Ongoing evaluation of court operations fiscal integrity through comparison of actual court operations staffing models against contract performance; researching and determining causative factors in
performance trends related to admissions, retention and completions; interpreting trends, formulating and developing solutions and corrective action plans Overseeing a multidisciplinary staff of 35, including 4 supervisors. Developing and implementing court operation written policies and procedures Identifying technology and database customization needed to facilitate court processes (Salesforce, AWARDS, Carelogic/Qualifacts) Facilitating the professional development and growth of court supervisors and court staff through training, case conferences, individual and group supervision, peer review, ongoing continuing education and presentations to criminal justice stakeholders Developing effective screening, assessment, advocacy and supervision processes for complex, high risk, and media cases Coordinating and developing strategic relationships with the Mayor s Office of Criminal Justice, Department of Corrections, Probation, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Coordinated Behavioral Care and Brooklyn Health Homes, Health and Hospitals Correctional Health, New York Police Department, Managed Care Organizations, Department of Homeless Services, outreach providers, Co-Responder Teams, ACT teams, Youth providers, ATD/I providers, Treatment Courts, Office of Court Administration, OASAS, District Attorney offices, Special Narcotics Prosecutor s office, public defender offices, 18b panel, Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center, and hospitals and NGOs to facilitate effective court operations Director CIRT December 2013 June 2016 Responsible for program development, hiring and supervision of 15 multidisciplinary staff (Clinical Supervisor, Court Social Workers, Resource Coordinator, LPN, Psychiatrist, Community Social Workers, Case Managers, Peer Specialists, Administrative Assistant) Maintained oversight of program operations to ensure participants received services that were recovery-oriented, developmentally appropriate for youth participants, strengths-based, and culturallyinformed, and that adhered to the core principles of risk, need, and responsivity to reduce recidivism, increase engagement in community treatment services and support participants to achieve their selfidentified goals for treatment, recovery, rehabilitation, and crime-free community integration Developed and updated CIRT policy and procedures for screening, assessment, court advocacy and reporting, supervision, discharge planning, continuous quality improvement, risk management, incident reporting, mandated reporting, ATD and ATI supervision of individuals subject to Assisted Outpatient Treatment, and coordination with Health Homes Oversaw risk management, incident reporting, and quality assurance plan activities, including consumer input is received to improve program operations Oversaw Court and Community clinical and rehabilitation services delivered by CIRT staff Ensured that CIRT achieved its performance outcomes as defined by City (Criminal Justice Coordinator and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene) contracts and CASES quality assurance plan. Worked in collaboration with senior staff representing the Manhattan District Attorney s office, public defender agencies, judges, Health Homes, and community-based providers Legal Aid Society, New York, NY Supervising Social Worker of Special Projects January 2013 December 2013 Provided individual and group task and clinical supervision to social workers and paralegals in special practice (Mentally Ill Chemically Addicted unit, Adolescent Intervention and Diversion unit, Trafficking unit, Misdemeanor Arraignment Project unit) Collected, ran, and interpreted data on trends in Special Projects for monthly and quarterly reports to state and federal funders Organized and ran multidisciplinary Mental Health Team meetings consisting of social workers and attorneys throughout the organization Advised and provided clinical technical assistance to Court Staff, District Attorney s Office, and Department of Probation city-wide regarding mental health treatment and community based treatment services MICA Project - Expanded Administrative Role November 2011- January 2013 Organized and ran multidisciplinary MICA Project/Mental Health staff monthly team meetings and monthly trainings Provided cross-disciplinary supervision to MICA Project attorney s and social workers Quarterly reporting to state and federal funding agencies
MICA Project - Mitigation Specialist August 2005 January 2013 Screened, assessed, and diagnosed psychiatrically disabled defendants that have been adjudicated in Queens County Criminal Court and are eligible for diversion or alternative to incarceration dispositions Conducted Psychosocial and Risk Assessment interviews and wrote assessments using validated instruments Provided in-court testimony regarding defendant progress, treatment needs, and system issues Stakeholder in the development and implementation of Queens Supreme and Misdemeanor Mental Health Courts Advised and provided clinical technical assistance to Queens Court Staff, District Attorney s Office, and Department of Probation regarding mental health treatment and community based treatment services Supervised and provided training for Social Work Students Interns and Mental Health Peer Advocate Interns Group facilitator for Family and Friends psychoeducational group MercyFirst, Syosset, NY Abuse Treatment and Prevention Program (ATTP) Family Specialist June 2004 July 2005 Provided weekly Cognitive Behavioral based Individual and Group therapy in a residential setting to 10-18 year old boys who incurred juvenile delinquency charges for rape, sexual abuse and/or sexual assault Provided weekly Family Therapy to assist in exploring healthy and unhealthy dynamics within the family as well as developing better communication between family members Assessed the family and resident s safety in returning to their natural, adoptive or foster family Provided reunification between siblings, where the victim was a sibling living in the home Collaborated with outside, individual therapists working with parents and abused sibling (victim) Co-facilitated weekly Parent Group Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES), New York, NY Nathaniel Project Assistant Team Leader June 2003 June 2004 Worked collaboratively on a multidisciplinary treatment team in the first Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team in New York City Participated in the hiring of other team members Provided clinical and task supervision and training to new team members Developed ongoing relationships with medical providers, pharmacists, and other specialty practitioners to ensure holistic care Senior Forensic Clinical Coordinator May 2000 June 2003 Assisted with program development of the grant funded project Screened and interviewed referred individuals at Riker's Island Correctional Facility and in the Supreme Court holding pens Advocated to Assistant District Attorney s and Supreme Court Judges for the release of potential psychiatrically disabled clients Completed Psychosocial Assessments, Treatment Plans, Court Reports, HRA Housing Applications and provided ongoing Individual therapy, Crisis Intervention and Psycho-education to psychiatrically disabled clients and their families Worked in developing relationships and collaborating with various Treatment Providers, Hospitals, Defense Attorney s, Probation and Parole offices, Office of Special Narcotics, SSI and Medicaid Offices to ensure appropriate treatment