Family Defense Practice Social Work Training Advocate

The Bronx Defenders – an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office in the South Bronx – seeks a passionate advocate with a commitment to social justice to fill a position as Family Defense Practice Social Work Training Associate.

The Bronx Defenders is a public defender non-profit that is radically transforming how low-income people in the Bronx are represented in the legal system, and, in doing so, is transforming the system itself. BxD seeks thoughtful, creative individuals with a strong commitment to social justice to join our dynamic and diverse staff. Our staff of over 400 includes interdisciplinary teams made up of criminal, civil, immigration, and family defense attorneys, as well as social workers, benefits specialists, legal advocates, parent advocates, investigators, and team administrators, who collaborate to provide holistic advocacy to address the causes and consequences of legal system involvement. Through this integrated team-based structure, we have developed a groundbreaking, nationally-recognized model of representation called holistic defense that achieves better outcomes for the people we defend.

Each year, we defend more than 20,000 low-income Bronx residents in criminal, civil, family, and immigration cases, and reach thousands more through our community intake, youth mentoring, and outreach programs. Through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community organizing, we push for systemic change at the local, state, and national level. We take what we learn from the people we represent and communities we work with and launch innovative initiatives designed to bring about real and lasting change.

Family Defense Practice

The Bronx Defenders Family Defense Practice (FDP) provides legal representation and social work support to parents charged with abuse and neglect of their children and who are at risk of losing custody. Our Family Defense Practice is at the forefront of a movement to provide holistic representation to parents in the Bronx while creating long-term solutions for the reunification and stability of families.

Social Work

Strategizing with lawyers and other advocates, social workers at The Bronx Defenders assist the people we represent with issues that both precipitated and are exacerbated by contact with the criminal, family, immigration, and civil legal systems. Using an ecological framework, social workers are responsible for conducting assessments, making referrals to treatment programs and social service providers, collaborating on case strategy, and working with attorneys and other advocates as part of a holistic defense team throughout the duration of the legal case.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Social Work Training Director, the Family Defense Social Work Training Advocate will have a reduced caseload while working to develop and implement substantive and procedural social work trainings in the Family Defense Practice. Working in conjunction with the FDP Training Director, the Social Work Training Advocate will collaborate with FDP supervisors, FDP Directors, and the Social Work Training Director to identify and meet training, professional development and mentorship needs of FDPSW advocates to ensure they become zealous and effective advocates. In addition to representing a reduced caseload, the FDP Social Work Training Advocate will have the following responsibilities:

• Develop, review and revise the training curriculum for FDP social workers in consultation with the Training Director(s)
• Coordinate onboarding and legal training for new advocates and FDPSW
• Collaborate with the Recruiting and Hiring Team to recruit and pair FDP summer interns and Social Work Interns
• Coordinate onboarding and relevant legal training for interns
• Create and implement a first-year training program for new social workers and advocates, including an onboarding series geared towards new Training Team attorneys. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Ongoing communication and collaboration with the Recruiting & Hiring Team and Director of Family Defense Social Work for new hire planning and onboarding
  • Curriculum development and implementation of practice-specific and cross-practice new staff onboarding and trainings for advocates, social workers and attorneys
  • Scheduling implementation of said curriculum
• Provide FDP attorneys and FDPSW advocates with continuous training and professional development opportunities to sharpen their advocacy skills and parent-centered representation, and ensure they stay up to date on developments in family defense social work and practice
• Develop substantive best practices and strategy guides to support ongoing learning and practice
• Identify and encourage participation in external training opportunities appropriate for FDPSW
• Maintain and develop an organized resource of high-quality training materials, strategy guides, and service providers resources
• Maintain an active shadowing calendar to support social work advocate observations of members of the practice
• Create, develop guidelines for and implement comprehensive professional progression standards for FDPSW advocates
• Meet with the FDP Training Director and Social Work Training Director on a regular basis to discuss practice goals and professional development of staff

Qualifications

To be eligible, candidates must have:

• M.S.W. from an accredited School of Social Work
• Minium of three years' experience as a family defense advocate

Candidates must demonstrate:

• Commitment to directly defending parents accused of abuse and neglect by organizations such as the Administration for Children’s Service (ACS) and Child Protective Services (CPS)
• Understanding of how systemic oppression affects marginalized communities and their experience in the criminal legal system
• Experience working in and with racially, ethnically and socioeconomically marginalized communities targeted by carceral systems
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities and experiences
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team of lawyers and non-lawyers, and external service providers
• Commitment to fierce advocacy, and willingness to strategically challenge authority in defense of the people we represent
• Effective written and verbal advocacy skills
• Knowledge of substance use disorder, domestic violence, parenting, and mental health systems
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with external partners and service providers
• Strong analytical skills and capacity to employ non-legal resources while advocating in legal cases
• Ability to create thorough lesson plans and deliver strong presentations
• Comfort with public speaking.
• Commitment to a flexible teaching and training approach that accommodates for individual learning styles and neurodivergences
• Ability to multitask, maintain order 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 receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection and shift behavior accordingly
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters
• Commitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional level

Preferred but not required:

• Experience working with and on behalf of parents navigating the family regulation system
• Spanish language proficiency
• Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI) Certification

This is a hybrid position with a minimum expectation of 21 hours of in-office work per week. Candidates in this position must also be available to work flexible hours, including nights and/or weekends when urgent needs arise.

Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 1-10 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $82,574$111,240. Full-time employees are also eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental and vision coverage; a 403(b) plan with employer contribution; and a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy. More specific information about salary and benefits will be provided when and if an offer is extended. 

Approximately 70% of The Bronx Defenders' staff, including attorneys and non-attorneys, are represented by UAW Local 2325 - Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (AFL-CIO). This position is within the bargaining unit. 

This position is exempt. By law, non-exempt employees are compensated hourly based on their annual rate and therefore are entitled to over-time, whereas exempt employees are not.