About The Position
The Forensic Family Advocate (FFA) provides ongoing support and guidance to indigent dependency clients appointed to the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, Region One (RC1). The FFA collaborates with the attorney and client as part of a legal team to provide support and guidance to the client as they navigate through the dependency process. The RC1 Social Services program is titled the Parent Support Specialist Program. The FFA is assigned immediately upon the appointment of Regional Counsel at the shelter hearing and completes an intake on the client to determine what support and services are needed as the case progresses. The FFA will communicate regularly with DCF case management to ensure all services, visitation and information is provided to the client on a timely basis as ordered by the court. The FFA will attend court hearings to support the client and attorney. The FFA will input data regularly and timely, including spreadsheets, to ensure all information is up to date on the client. The FFA will meet with and update the attorney regularly on any changes in the client’s status or legal case. The FFA will work closely with the attorney, but the attorney will provide all legal advice to clients, ensure timely filings of legal documents, and represent RC1 at all court hearings. The FFA will work with clients who have mental health, substance abuse and parenting needs working towards a goal of reunifying the child(ren) with the parent. The FFA will attend all permanency staffings, placement staffings, and case plan compliance staffings set by the Department to support the client and advocate on their behalf. The FFA will report to the Assistant Director and Director of the Social Services/Parent Support Specialist Program.
Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree in social work or equivalent mental health degree from an accredited university.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in child welfare or the dependency system is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Provide ongoing support and guidance to indigent dependency clients
- Collaborate with the attorney and client as part of a legal team
- Complete an intake on the client to determine what support and services are needed
- Communicate regularly with DCF case management
- Attend court hearings to support the client and attorney
- Input data regularly and timely, including spreadsheets
- Meet with and update the attorney regularly on any changes in the client’s status or legal case
- Work with clients who have mental health, substance abuse and parenting needs working towards a goal of reunifying the child(ren) with the parent
- Attend all permanency staffings, placement staffings, and case plan compliance staffings set by the Department to support the client and advocate on their behalf
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
