Social Worker

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 multi- disciplinary practice of lawyers and social workers, outstanding staff collegiality, and commitment to quality service.

Agency: Child Advocates is Philadelphia’s volunteer lawyer program for children who have experienced abuse and neglect, providing legal and social service advocacy, through the service of volunteer attorneys teamed with staff social workers and attorneys. Child Advocates utilizes a “whole child” model of representation, focusing on advocacy for safety, health, education, family permanency, and access to justice for child clients. 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 in their homes of origin. Child Advocates further seeks to protect children by securing social services, advocating for safe and supportive home environments, and supporting children when testifying in court. Respected for diligent and effective advocacy in 45 years of service, Child Advocates attorneys and social workers move public systems to deliver entitled services and private systems to open their doors to children and their families.

Position Summary:

• Partner with volunteer attorneys to provide legal and social services advocacy to children and youth who have experienced abuse and The Child Advocate Social Worker (CASW) will maintain a caseload of approximately 50 child clients, ages 0-21.
• Train and support volunteer attorneys in whole child representation, legal strategies in advocacy, and trauma-aware practices.
• Attend court hearings, conduct home visits, analyze records, and maintain contact with clients and caregivers, as well as all other professionals serving the child and family to develop and utilize social work assessments in the team’s representation of child clients.
• Engage and build trusted working relationships with child clients and
• Collaborate with Department of Human Services (DHS), Community Umbrella Agencies (CUA), Philadelphia Law Department, and Parents’ attorneys to pursue and advocate for the child’s best interest and expressed desires.
• Accompany child survivors of sexual and physical assault to court and support child witnesses throughout court testimony and criminal or delinquent proceedings;
• Advocate and arrange for behavioral health, medical, and/or educational evaluations and appropriate services for children; provide victim assistance; and apply for victim compensation (VCAP).

Minimum Qualifications: Required: Master of Social Work Degree (MSW or equivalent), experience working with and advocating for children and youth, understanding of child development, familiarity with child welfare practice, trauma-awareness, computer proficiency (Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook).

Preferred: Spanish-language proficiency, experience with system-involved children or youth, home visiting experience, familiarity with case management databases.

Salary: $54,000+ based on experience. Benefits incl. health, disability & life insurance, 401-K employer contribution, cafeteria plan for dependent care expenses, and generous leave program.