Public Counsel Posting--Filled!

Children’s Rights Project

Foster Youth Advocate

Job Opportunity

Public Counsel Law Center is proud to announce an opening in the Transition-Age Foster Youth (TAFY) team  of the Children’s Rights Project for a full-time foster youth advocate. 

Who We Are

Public Counsel Law Center is the largest pro bono public interest law firm in the world.  Founded in 1970, Public Counsel is dedicated to advancing equal justice under law by delivering free legal and social services to the most vulnerable members of our community, including abused and abandoned children, homeless families and veterans, senior citizens, victims of consumer fraud and nonprofit organizations serving low-income communities.  Our staff of thirty-three attorneys and five social workers along with thousands of volunteer lawyers, law students and legal professionals assist over 26,000 low income children, youth, adults, and families, as well as eligible community organizations each year. 

Position 

Transition-Age Foster Youth Advocate, Children’s Rights Project

Project Description

Through a combination of education advocacy, legal representation, transition support, and case management, the Transition-Age  Foster Youth program strives to ensure that foster youth in grades 9-12 graduate from high school, have access to post-secondary education options, and receive the necessary resources to achieve success.  

Job Description

The Foster Youth Advocate works closely with a Staff Attorney partner and with the TAFY team, and has the following general responsibilities: 

• Conduct outreach, intake and assessment with foster youth who are students at an on-site clinic at Fremont High School.
• Advocate for individualized and effective transition and education plans with foster youth and monitor the progress of foster youth
• Provide case management to foster youth with a specific focus on grade promotion, enrollment in the “A-G” curriculum and access to post-secondary education in the form of two-year or four-year colleges;
• Work collaboratively with foster youth’s Children’s Law Center attorneys, caretakers, social workers and others involved in providing care, support to the youth.
• Provide foster youth and their caretakers with “Know Your Rights” trainings on Transition Independent Living Plans (TILP) and Individualized Transition Plans (ITP);
• Conduct outreach and training presentations for teachers, counselors, administrators and other school staff at Fremont High School and for other agencies working with transition-age foster youth.  ;
• Meet regularly with the supervising Staff Attorney and with the TAFY team to identify issues that require legal interventions including systemic barriers to TILP and ITP development and implementation and assist in devising strategies to remove those barriers.
• Develop and maintain complete and accurate case files and notes for all youth; obtain and review all relevant education, mental health, health and other records; enter case information into computerized case management system; and work with TAFY team to collect, analyze, and report on outcome data.

Skills Required/Preferred: 

• A Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW) (preferred);
• Proficiency in the Spanish language;
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and phone skills;
• Public speaking experience;
• An interest and/or experience in juvenile court proceedings, including the dependency and delinquency systems,; and
• Knowledge of the special education, college access, and transition planning processes and experience with advocacy in these areas.

Salary:  DOE

Availability:  Immediately

Application Deadline:  Continuous until the position is filled.
How to Apply: 
Please submit a resume, cover letter and list of references by email to:

Martha Matthews and Laura Faer.

Children’s Rights Project

610 South Ardmore Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90005

mmatthewsr@publiccounsel.org

lfaer@publiccounsel.org

No telephone inquiries please.