POSITION SUMMARY
The Alliance for Children’s Rights seeks a Benefits Program Director to oversee program operations and supervise program staff. The Benefits Program objective is to secure funding to support children living in out-of-home care. Previous experience with advocating for youth in the foster care, Dependency Court and/or Child Welfare System and litigating writs of administrative mandamus are helpful but not mandatory. Spanish fluency is strongly preferred but not required. This is an exempt, full-time paid position.
ABOUT THE ALLIANCE
The Alliance for Children’s Rights is a nonprofit organization that provides free holistic legal services and advocacy to youth and families impacted by child welfare and juvenile justice systems in Los Angeles County, and works to enact policy changes statewide. Our lawyers, advocates, and social workers, together with hundreds of pro bono attorneys and community volunteers, work to ensure that those we serve have the tools to overcome barriers to stability and success, and access to the education, healthcare, and financial supports that they need. Since 1992, we have helped over 150,000 children.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direct supervision of the Vice President of Legal and Program Services, the Benefits Program Director will perform the following responsibilities:
· Analyzing public benefits issues that arise for children and caregivers in the child welfare system and at risk of entering the child welfare system.
· Representing caregivers to secure public benefits in various proceedings, including but not limited to Juvenile Court, administrative fair hearings, re-hearings, writs of administrative mandamus, and other appellate litigation.
· Working on impact litigation and both local and statewide policy advocacy.
· Preparing case summaries and files for placement of cases with pro bono attorneys.
· Providing training and technical assistance to pro bono attorneys, staff, and community partners.
· Training and supervising volunteers and law clerks.
· Developing and updating benefits materials for clients, pro bono attorneys, and the community.
· Maintaining knowledge of current trends and policies in public benefits that affect children and families in the child welfare system.
· Supervising Intake, identifying legal issues and strategies, and training and providing guidance to student interns and staff on benefits issues.
· Conducting community outreach and trainings and work with service providers and community partners, to maximize effective resources and support for families and children.
· Completing additional administrative duties including data entry and filing.
· Performing other duties as required.
WHAT YOUR IMPACT WILL BE
The Benefits Program Director works in close collaboration with the Vice President of Legal and Program Services to identify and implement strategic programmatic objectives, maintain a successful service delivery model for clients and securing funding to support children living in out-of-home care. These benefits are essential to ensure a stable environment for youth and their caregivers. The Benefits program advocates for the removal of systemic barriers from a perspective of equity and intersectionality. The incumbent has a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children living in foster care and poverty.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL POSSESS
· 10 to12 years of experience as a practicing attorney with civil litigation and/or writs of administrative mandamus are strongly preferred.
· 5 to 7 years of previous supervisory experience.
· Demonstrated experience in the foster care, Dependency Court and/or child welfare system.
· Advanced experience with public benefits, administrative advocacy and/or public speaking.
· Ability to speak Spanish is strongly preferred
This job description is of a general nature and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties of the position.
COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS:
This position would work typically from our Los Angeles office. However, due to Covid-19, this position will temporarily work remotely from home. This position may be asked to return to work in the office at any time at the employer’s discretion. In office presence will be required as needed at the Director and employee’s discretion to help advance Adoption Program and general Alliance events, for training and collaboration with the Adoption team and to help manage Adoption cases.
Vaccination Requirement
The Alliance is committed to prioritizing and safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our employees, their families, our clients, and members of our community against the COVID-19 coronavirus. In response to COVID-19 and the increased transmissibility with recent variants, and to support a safe environment for everyone, all new Alliance employees must provide original documentation confirming they are fully vaccinated, and or evidence of an approved qualifying medical exemption or religious held belief exemption at the time of hire.
Expirience and skills
· JD degree required.
· Active membership in the California state BAR.
· Excellent written and oral communication and advocacy skills.
· Excellent analytical skills.
· Strong interpersonal skills – ability to communicate effectively with clients, attorneys, child welfare agencies, the judiciary and the public.
· Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills.
· Strong desire to help others.
· Ability to manage a high-volume caseload.
· Self-starter.
Salary Range
This is an exempt, full-time paid position, with target starting annual salary in the range of
$100,000 -$115,000 DOE. Benefits include generous vacation and paid holidays; comprehensive health plans covering 100% of the employee cost of medical, dental and vision insurance; life insurance; flexible spending accounts for childcare and health expenses; generous retirement savings plan with company contributions to your 403(b) after one year of employment, and discounts on fitness memberships and other activities.
TO APPLY
Please email resume and cover letter to Denise Velasquez, Director of Human Resources at dvelasquez@alliancecr.org. Due to a high volume of interest, we are not able to contact each interested applicant. If selected for consideration, candidates will be contacted to discuss our recruitment process and next steps. No calls please.
The Alliance for Children’s Rights is committed to building and supporting a culturally diverse and inclusive environment that values all staff members’ backgrounds and perspectives in our work. We strongly encourage individuals from all traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and prohibit discrimination against employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, veteran status, or any other unlawful basis.
