Peer Support Advocate - CAFL Transition Age Youth Office

Committee for Public Counsel Services • Framingham, MA

6d • Remote

About The Position

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), the public defender agency for Massachusetts, is establishing a new Transition Age Youth Office within the Children and Family Law Division. This office aims to improve representation and advocacy for young adults and transition-age youth navigating the family regulation system. Initially operating as a fully remote office, the final location is anticipated to be in Framingham or another Metro West or Greater Boston area. CPCS is dedicated to fighting for equal justice and human dignity by supporting clients in achieving their legal and life goals, zealously advocating for rights, and promoting just public policy. The agency's mission is to protect constitutional and human rights through zealous advocacy and excellent legal representation, embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values. CPCS provides legal representation when individuals cannot afford an attorney in various case types, including criminal, delinquency, family regulation, and mental health matters. The Transition Age Youth (TAY) Office is a new unit offering multidisciplinary support for transition-age youth, focusing on holistic and high-quality representation in Care and Protection cases (ages 14-22), Children Requiring Assistance, and Permanency for Young Adult cases. The TAY Office is part of the Family Justice Advocates (FJA), a conflicts trial office within CAFL.

Requirements

• Personal, lived experience as a child/youth in the child welfare system.
• At least one year of full-time work experience, or equivalent part-time experience, or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and skills.
• Access to reliable transportation in order to travel to courts, clients, and other locations that are not easily accessible by public transportation.
• Access to home internet access sufficient to work remotely.
• Candidates will only be considered if they have been separated from DCF for at least 1-year by the time of their start date.

Nice To Haves

• Foreign language skills are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Meeting with Trial Attorneys and Social Workers as a three-person team to discuss case assignments and develop plans to engage youth.
• Interacting frequently and consistently with youth through face-to-face meetings, home visits, phone calls, text messages, and emails depending on client availability and preference.
• Effectively sharing their personal story to connect, engage, and motivate youth.
• Researching, sharing, and helping access community resources for youth.
• Supporting youth at critical meetings and appointments.
• Working with youth on skill building, such as communication, scheduling, and advocating with service providers.
• Collaborating with other professionals serving the youth such as caseworkers and treatment providers while maintaining the appropriate level of confidentiality for a legal team.
• Updating information on any interactions with the client through the case management program, Zelly on a regular basis.
• Other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed