Child Advocate Social Worker, Support Center for Child Advocates

Posted by Support Center for Child Advocates on March 19, 2018

The Support Center for Child Advocates (Child Advocates) is seeking a full-time CHILD ADVOCATE SOCIAL WORKER to serve the agency’s Core Program on Child Protection. Work for a premier child advocacy program. Experience multidisciplinary practice of lawyers and social workers, outstanding staff collegiality, and commitment to quality service.

Agency: The Support Center for Child Advocates is Philadelphia’s volunteer lawyer program for abused and neglected children, providing legal and social service advocacy, through the service of volunteer attorneys, paralegal and legal assistants, working in conjunction with staff social workers, attorneys and other staff. Child Advocates seeks to protect children by securing social services, finding alternative homes and helping them testify in court. For all of the children committed to our care, we work to ensure safety, health, education, family permanency and access to justice. Systemically, we promote collaborative, multi-disciplinary casework and solutions to recurrent problems. For the community, we provide educational programs to increase awareness about the problems of and ways to prevent child abuse. Whenever possible, Child Advocates seeks to maintain children and families in their own homes. Respected for diligent and effective advocacy throughout its more than 36 years of service, Child Advocates attorneys and social workers move public systems to deliver entitled services and private systems to open their doors to needy children and their families.

Position Summary: Direct service social work for child victims of abuse and neglect, in model of lawyer-social worker collaboration. Team with volunteer attorneys from the Philadelphia legal community to serve a caseload of approximately 55-60 children. Child Advocate teams conduct home visits, analyze records, initiate child protective proceedings, maintain contact with all other professionals serving the child and family, train volunteer attorneys and attend and participate in court hearings. Other typical tasks include: accompanying children to court and supporting child witnesses throughout court testimony; arranging evaluations of children, family members and prospective caretakers; advocating for special school placements and treatment needs; providing victim assistance; and applying for victim compensation (VCAP).

Qualifications: M.S.W. required, other similar or joint degrees welcome. Spanish-language proficiency, familiarity with child welfare & related issues preferred. Computer proficiency required (Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook). Experience with case management databases a plus. Salary: $42,000+ (based on experience). Benefits incl. health, disability & life insurance, 401-K, cafeteria plan for dependent care expenses, and generous leave program. Apply to: Social Work Search, Support Center for Child Advocates, 1617 JFK Boulevard, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19103 or email cover memo and resume to: personnel@advokid.org (include “Social Work Search” in subject line).

Child Advocates does not discriminate in any aspect of employment on account of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

BENEFITS
Benefits incl. health, disability & life insurance, 401-K, cafeteria plan for dependent care expenses, and generous leave program.

PROFESSIONAL LEVEL
Professional

MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIRED
Master’s degree

HOW TO APPLY
personnel@sccalaw.org