Professional Opportunities
Thank you for your interest in CFR!
Staff Opportunities:
Staff Attorney, Manhattan and Queens Family Defense Practice
CFR has an immediate opening for a Staff Attorney in our Manhattan and Queens offices. Due to COVID-19 we are currently working remotely and initial training and direct client work will continue virtually until we have more information from New York City about plans for reopening court and ACS.
Responsibilities
• Work as part of CFR’s interdisciplinary legal teams (comprised of attorneys, social work staff, paralegals and parent advocates) to provide our clients with high quality legal defense and meet objectives such as keeping children out of foster care, shortening lengths of stay for children in foster care, promoting quality visiting arrangements and insuring that families receive services that are well-tailored to expediting safe and lasting reunification
• Represent parents in Family Court who are respondents in Article 10 and Termination of Parental Rights proceedings
• Pursue interim appeals on behalf of CFR’s clients
• Write final appeals
• Keep case data, client legal notes and files up to date
• Participate in CFR’s policy initiatives
• Work collaboratively with CFR’s Home for Good teams
• Supervise law school interns
• Present to community-based agencies about our model
Qualifications:
• Applicants must be admitted to practice law in the State of New York and demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills, an ability to work as part of a team and a desire to share in both the exhilaration and challenges of a growing endeavor.
• Prior experience with public benefits, housing, criminal defense or immigration is preferred.
Salary:
Commensurate with experience; excellent benefits package.
How to Apply:
Applicants should e-mail a cover letter and resume to [email protected]. Please write “Staff Attorney Applicant” in the subject line and indicate your preference for a position in Manhattan or Queens. No phone inquiries please. Please note we are not able to respond directly to each applicant to acknowledge receipt of materials. See Full Job Description Here.
Family Advocate, Manhattan and Queens Family Defense Practice
CFR has an immediate opening for a Family Advocate in our Manhattan and Queens offices. Due to COVID-19 we are currently working remotely and initial training and direct client work will continue virtually until we have more information from New York City about plans for reopening court and ACS.
Responsibilities
• Working collaboratively with attorneys representing parents in Child Protective (Article 10) and Termination of Parental Rights proceedings in Family Court. Teams are comprised of attorneys, social work staff, paralegals and parent advocates (parents who have successfully reunified with their children). Objectives of the teams include shortening lengths of stay for children in foster care, promoting quality visiting arrangements and ensuring that families receive services that are well-tailored to expediting safe and lasting reunification.
• Providing direct social work support and advocacy to clients
• Conducting intake and client interviews, assess clients’ needs and goals, and ensure clients are engaged in appropriate and meaningful service plans
• Maintaining contact with service providers, and advocate for clients at ACS and foster care agency conferences
Qualifications:
• Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree, preferably with some prior experience with the NYC child welfare, education, housing or public benefits’ systems or other social justice experience.
• Applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong undergraduate academic record, strong interpersonal and communication skills, a commitment to supporting families, and a desire to share in both the exhilaration and challenges of a growing endeavor. Fluency in Spanish or other foreign language is highly desirable.
Salary:
Commensurate with experience; excellent benefits package.
How to Apply:
Applicants should send or email a cover letter and resume (including phone and email contacts) to [email protected] with “Family Advocate Applicant” in the subject line. Please indicate your preference for a position in Manhattan or Queens. No phone inquiries please. Please note we are not able to respond directly to each applicant to acknowledge receipt of materials.
Social Worker, Manhattan and Queens Family Defense Practice
CFR has an immediate opening for a Social Worker in our Manhattan and Queens offices. Due to COVID-19 we are currently working remotely and initial training and direct client work will continue virtually until we have more information from New York City about plans for reopening court and ACS.
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, assess clients’ needs and goals, and ensure clients are engaged in appropriate and meaningful service plans
• Referring clients for necessary services
• Maintaining contact with service providers to obtain letters for court
• Advocating for clients at ACS and foster care agency conferences
• Participating in team meetings as well as administrative meetings within CFR
• Keeping up to date client legal notes and entering data in CFR’s database
• Objectives of the teams include shortening lengths of stay for children in foster care, promoting quality visiting arrangements and ensuring that families receive services that are well-tailored to expediting safe and lasting reunification.
Qualifications:
• Applicants must have an LMSW or have an MSW degree and be eligible and willing to become licensed within three months of hire. Prior experience working in or with the NYC child welfare system or family court is preferred. Fluency in Spanish or other languages and experience with public benefits, education, housing or immigration is all desirable.
• Individuals who apply should be able to demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills, a commitment to interdisciplinary representation of parents and a desire to share in both the exhilaration and challenges of a growing endeavor.
Salary:
Commensurate with experience; excellent benefits package.
How to Apply:
Applicants should send or email a cover letter and resume to HR at [email protected] with “Social Work Applicant” in the subject line. Please indicate your preference for a position in Manhattan or Queens. No phone inquiries please. Please note we are not able to respond directly to each applicant to acknowledge receipt of materials.
Social Work Supervisor, Juvenile Justice Practice
CFR has an immediate opening for a Social Work Supervisor to help build and sustain our Juvenile Justice Practice (JJP).
Responsibilities
• Working in partnership with the JJP Litigation Supervisor to oversee JJP, including developing and monitoring AO and D/Pins intake schedules, providing formal training to CFR’s JJP staff, developing group supervision routines where appropriate, engaging with the Court and other stakeholders on issues of practice administration;
• Supervising 4-5 MSW and non-MSW (Family Advocate) Social work staff of varying degrees of experience, who work in interdisciplinary teams with attorneys to represent JJP clients; this Supervisor may also supervise a Youth Advocate (who will be a staff person with lived experience of the juvenile justice system) or Educational Advocate (both may be but are yet to be hired);
• Helping JJP social work staff develop mastery as well as reinforcing and building upon skills and values introduced in initial and ongoing trainings which include:
o Working collaboratively with attorneys, JJP social work staff and paralegals to represent youth in AO Youth part and Delinquency/PINS cases
o Providing social work support and advocacy to clients
o Preparing mitigation reports, pre-pleading memoranda, and other written advocacy materials on behalf of clients
o Intake and client interviews, assessing clients’ needs and goals, and ensuring clients are engaged in appropriate and meaningful service plans
o Referring clients for necessary services (mental health services, Alternative to Detention and Alternative to Placement programs, recreational or job programs)
o Maintaining contact with service providers to obtain information for court
o Advocating for clients with Probation during the Adjustment Process and with any service providers working with a client as a result of a parole or dispositional order
o Keeping up to date client legal notes and entering data in CFR’s database
o Interviewing clients and their family/community members in various settings
o Conducting home, office and field visits (including Correctional facilities)
o Conducting psychosocial assessments
o Referring clients to programs (for youth – mental health services, Alternative to Detention and Alternative to Placement programs, recreational or job programs)
o Providing oral and written advocacy in/for court, including testimony (fact and/or expert), especially at disposition in juvenile cases in family court
o Developing dispositional plans and recommendations to prevent out-of-home placement
o Preparing youth and their families for Probation adjustment conferences, I&R interviews, and MHS evaluations
o Providing educational advocacy and resources for clients.
Qualifications:
• The ideal candidate will have familiarity with the law and procedure involving AO/Youth Part and D/PINS cases, service and education options available for juvenile justice involved youth, experience working directly with juvenile justice involved youth and their families, and 3 to 5 years of supervisory experience.
• LMSW is required and SIFI eligibility is preferred. Fluency in Spanish or other languages and experience with public benefits, education, housing or immigration is all desirable. Individuals who apply should be able to demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills, an aptitude for productive, team problem-solving, a commitment to interdisciplinary representation of clients and a desire to share in both the exhilaration and challenges of a growing endeavor.
Salary:
Commensurate with experience; excellent benefits package.
How to Apply:
Applicants should send or email a cover letter, resume, writing sample and three references (including phone and email contacts) to HR at [email protected] with “JJP Social Work Supervisor Applicant” in the subject line. No phone inquiries please. Please note we are not able to respond directly to each applicant to acknowledge receipt of materials.
Diverse candidates are encouraged to apply; CFR is an EOE.