Public Counsel Posting-Temporary

TEMPORARY SOCIAL WORKER POSITION AVAILABLE (September 2013-January 2014)

Position 

Temporary Full – Time Transition-Age Foster Youth Advocate, Children’s Rights Project

Duration of Position:

Start date: Mid- September 2013

End Date: Late January 2014

Project Description

Through a combination of education advocacy, legal representation, transition support, and case management, the Transition-Age  Foster Youth (TAFY) 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
• 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 support to the youth;
• Provide foster youth and their caretakers with “Know Your Rights” trainings on education and transition related issues for foster youth;
• Conduct outreach and training presentations to school staff, community based agencies and other stakeholders working with transition-age foster youth ;
• Meet regularly with the supervising Staff Attorney and with the TAFY team to identify case specific and systemic issues that require legal interventions;
• 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) or equivalent experience;
• Experience working with high school aged youth;
• An interest and/or experience in juvenile court proceedings, including the dependency and delinquency systems;
• Knowledge of the special education, college access, and transition planning processes and experience with advocacy in these areas;
• Excellent interpersonal, written, advocacy and phone skills;
• Public speaking experience;
• Proficiency in the Spanish language (preferred).

Salary:  DOE

Application Deadline:  July 31st, 2013

How to Apply: 

Please submit a resume, cover letter and list of references by email to:

Martha Matthews

Children’s Rights Project

610 South Ardmore Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90005

mmatthews@publiccounsel.org

No telephone inquiries please