Social Worker

Legal Services of the H•White Plains, NY

18d•$65,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

For over 50 years, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) has provided free, high-quality legal counsel in civil matters concerning basic human needs such as eviction and foreclosure prevention, domestic violence, disability, elder law, healthcare, and consumer fraud. Serving nearly 600,000 low-income families and individuals across a seven-county area, LSHV is dedicated to ensuring equal access to justice. As the sole provider of comprehensive civil legal services in the lower and mid-Hudson Valley, LSHV handled over 12,000 cases last year, impacting approximately 27,000 household members. The organization comprises ten offices and a skilled staff of attorneys, paralegals, and administrative professionals. LSHV is committed to fostering a diverse workforce that reflects the communities it serves, promoting equity, and empowering staff and clients. Respect is a core value, and affinity groups offer support and shared vision. Applications from individuals of all identities are encouraged. As part of a collaboration with Westchester County and NYS’s Indigent Legal Services, LSHV’s Family Defense Unit (FDU) offers holistic, interdisciplinary legal services to families involved in child welfare matters. The FDU represents parents in Family Court proceedings, including Article 10 cases, custody, visitation, permanency planning, and termination of parental rights. The unit also works to prevent foster care placement by advocating for parents early in the child welfare process and litigating emergency removal hearings. Utilizing a nationally recognized approach, the Social Worker collaborates with a team of staff attorney, social worker, and family advocate to ensure parents receive necessary benefits and services for family safety and stability.

Requirements

Master of Social Work
Two or more years of experience working with families in crisis, preferably in the Child Welfare or Family Court System
Excellent people skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to work effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders
Ability to work independently as well as collaborate in a multidisciplinary team with other legal professionals, social workers, government agencies and other service providers
Demonstrated enthusiasm for the work of defending parents in Child Welfare Proceedings and Investigations and a desire to support parents

Nice To Haves

Fluency in Spanish
LMSW license
Commitment to supporting the defense of people targeted by the family regulation system in Westchester County.
Understanding of systemic oppression and Child Welfare as well as the impact on marginalized communities.
Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people of various backgrounds
Effective research, writing and advocacy skills
Ability to multitask, organize schedule and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment
Meticulous attention to detail
Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstacles
Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters

Responsibilities

Working collaboratively with attorneys, parent advocates and paralegals to represent parents in Child Protective (Article 10) and Termination of Parental Rights proceedings in Family Court.
Providing social work support and advocacy to clients.
Conducting intake and client interviews.
Assessing clients’ needs and goals.
Ensuring clients are engaged in appropriate and meaningful service plans.
Completing strength-based family assessments and address acute needs.
Referring clients for necessary services and at times accompanying them to meetings with CPS and other entities.
Maintaining contact with service providers to obtain letters for court.
Advocating for clients with CPS and at foster care agency conferences.
Participating in team meetings as well as administrative meetings within LSHV.
Keeping up to date client legal notes and entering data in LSHV’s database.
Developing a holistic case management plan in consultation with clients, attorneys, and the parent advocate, accounting for the strengths and needs of the client and the family.
Providing crisis management.
Ensuring clients have the support that they need to access critical legal and non-legal services to achieve clients’ goals of child safety and family stability including leveraging LSHV’s other programs and providing referrals to outside providers.