Peer Advocate Benefits Specialist, Defender Association of Philadelphia

Posted by Defender Association of Philadelphia on January 7, 2025

The Defender Association of Philadelphia seeks a Peer Advocate Benefits Specialist in our Child Advocacy Unit (CAU). The CAU’s collaborative team of attorneys and social workers provide high quality, client centered legal representation to dependent clients who range in age from birth to 21 years, advocate in court for the delivery of effective community-based services for our clients and their families and develop an appropriate permanency plan for every child and youth. The Peer Advocate Benefits Specialist is a temporary, grant funded position and is not guaranteed to be funded beyond three years. The Peer Advocate Specialist will work with clients from three youth-serving units at the Defender Association. In addition to serving our clients in the CAU, this role will support our clients being represented by our Juvenile Special Defense Unit (JSDU) and our Children & Youth Justice Unit (CYJ). The Peer Advocate Specialist will join this holistic team to support system-involved older youth. The mission of this role is threefold; (1) to ensure pregnant and parenting clients  have access to essential resources and services concerning public benefits, taxes and housing to prepare for life for themselves and their child, (2) to work with CYJ and JSDU clients and their families that have children 0-8 in the household to access public benefits, tax and housing information; and (3) strengthen individuals, and the communities we serve by promoting self-sufficiency self-determination, and community engagement.

The ideal candidate for the role is a former system (dependency, delinquency, mental health) involved youth who has transitioned out of the system at least two to three years ago. The ideal candidate will have at least a base level understanding of public benefits.

The position of the Peer Advocate Benefits Specialist requires the management of a caseload of approximately 20 pregnant and parenting older youth or families of our CYJ and JSDU units. The Peer Advocate Benefits Specialist will routinely visit older youth in court, the community and office setting and consult with the client’s team to assess a clients’ well-being, as well as the approach and support needed to assist the youth.  The Peer Advocate Benefits Specialist will prepare detailed case notes and data on the number of clients served and the outcome of the assistance.

Learn more and apply.