Social Worker

Job Description

Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights invites applications for the full-time position of Social Worker to be based in Washington, D.C.

This position is a unique opportunity for a social worker to join a passionate team made up of social workers, attorneys, and administrative staff, to engage in interdisciplinary written and oral best interests advocacy on behalf of children in immigration removal proceedings. Young Center is appointed as independent Child Advocate for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children and advocates for their best interests with respect to their custody, placement, conditions of release, reunification with caregivers, repatriation, and their immigration proceedings. Young Center does not directly represent children in immigration matters but works closely with the legal service providers who may represent the children’s legal interests. Young Center also does not provide direct mental health or therapeutic services to children but gathers information about access to and advocates for trauma-informed and culturally responsive services. The Social Worker will help recruit, train, and supervise bilingual and bicultural volunteer Child Advocates—teachers, law students, social workers, community members—who will work one-on-one with children. Young Center team is a passionate and collegial group of professionals committed to ensuring that children receive the full protection of federal immigration law, domestic child welfare law and international human rights law.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Advocate for children’s best interests before government or other interested parties

Supervise volunteers appointed as Child Advocate for unaccompanied and separated children in federal custody in or near Washington, D.C. across the United States as needed

Serve as Child Advocate to a limited number of cases or as needed

Visit children as needed and communicate with caregivers, family members and stakeholders

Provide internal case consultation and case support on matters involving child welfare, child development, and trauma-informed practices for the Washington, D.C. office

Support the local and national efforts to recruit, train, support, and retain volunteer Child Advocates

Participate in internal and external working groups

Meet regularly with local stakeholders (government field staff, facility staff, immigration judges, ICE officers, and legal service providers); collaborate on presentations to local stakeholders; attend case staffings or other stakeholder meetings; and speak about the Child Advocate Program at local, regional, and national events

Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders or organizations in the community

Assist the team in meeting case goals and other deliverables for the government contract and private grants

Capture accurate and timely data management to inform reports to the government, other funders, and internal Young Center departments regarding children served, case outcomes, program metrics, and current trends

Participate in a supportive, collaborative work culture that allows for creative, thoughtful, high-quality, and effective interdisciplinary advocacy

In collaboration with the Managing Attorney, consult with attorney colleagues for legal analyses and legal advocacy to identify and advocate for the best interests of unaccompanied and separated children

Under the supervision of the Managing Social Worker and with input from the Deputy Program Directors (Attorney and Social Worker), draft and submit best interests determinations to immigration judges, asylum officers, attorneys, and federal agencies incorporating state, federal, and international law and applying social science research and social work best practices, including, but not limited to trauma informed and culturally sensitive approaches

Actively engage with colleagues and supervisors in developing and editing interdisciplinary best interests determinations

Under the supervision of the Managing Attorney or Deputy Program Director (Attorney), accompany children to court hearings and interviews related to their immigration case

Assess which children may need additional supportive and/or mental health services and accompany them to appointments as needed

Other duties as assigned

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please apply on the Young Center website with a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three references. Only complete applications will be considered.

https://jobs.localjobnetwork.com/job/detail/79586548/Social-Worker-Washington-DC