Los Angeles, CA

Attorney, TAY Program Manager, Alliance for Children's Rights

The Organization

ABOUT THE ALLIANCE

The Alliance for Children’s Rights protects the rights of impoverished, abused and neglected children and youth. Our lawyers, advocates and social workers, together with hundreds of pro bono attorneys and community volunteers, ensure that children who are in foster care or need guardians have safe, stable homes, and can access the education, healthcare, and financial supports that they need. We also help young adults overcome barriers to their stability and success as they transition from foster care to independence, and we advocate for systemic reforms to improve child welfare practices and policies. Since 1992, we have helped over 150,000 clients.

For the past ten years, Charity Navigator has awarded the Alliance its highest 4-star rating. This puts the Alliance in the top 2% of charities rated by Charity Navigator, and reflects the Alliance’s sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

The Alliance is well known in the child welfare community for its knowledge, expertise, and accomplishments.  Alliance staff members and our partnering pro bono attorneys are advocates for our most vulnerable children and their caregivers. Being the voice of young people who often have no voice, and otherwise could be forgotten, is incredibly rewarding.

Position Overview

The TAY (Transition Aged Youth) Program Manager will lead the Alliance’s TAY Program, which supports teens and young adults who have experienced foster care with a range of legal and non-legal services to promote their independence and well-being. Advocates in this program help current and former foster youth aged 16-24 to overcome legal and other hurdles that they encounter on their path to adulthood, through individual advocacy, connection to resources, and case management. Life skills workshops and the development of innovative training tools are also dynamic components of this program that inform and empower youth to know and exercise their rights. The Program Manager will manage this work, represent youth in legal matters, and work with our policy program to promote legislative and other reforms to remove barriers to employment, housing, education, and health for young people who are or have been in foster care. This is a full-time exempt position.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The TAY Program Manager will report to the Vice President of Legal & Program Services.  The TAY Program Manager’s work includes but is not limited to:

* Handling a caseload including but not limited to housing advocacy, redressing identity thefts and consumer frauds, sealing juvenile records, dismissing juvenile citations, assisting clients in re-entering foster care, resolving credit/collections issues, and advocating for public benefits

* Housing advocacy includes advocating for youth who are improperly discharged from their transitional housing programs and analyzing youth’s eligibility for various housing programs

* Advocating for public benefits includes representing claimants in administrative hearings to appeal the denial of SSI benefits and to appeal the denial or delay of foster care benefits

* Working directly and in workgroups with Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services and Probation Department, minor’s attorneys, the Juvenile Court, and other advocates to ensure youth receive benefits and services to overcome barriers to housing, healthcare, education, and employment

* Supervising one or more non-attorney advocates on the TAY Services team

* Working with the Policy Director and policy program staff to develop and implement state and county policies

* Participating in a specialized court for TAY to ensure they receive services, benefits, and information

* Collaborating with staff on development of youth leadership, job coaches, and mentors

* Working with Pro Bono Director to recruit and train volunteer attorneys, law students, and community volunteers, and supervising volunteers, including pro bono attorneys and interns

* Developing and providing educational programs and materials for youth, caregivers, and other community stakeholders

* Working with the Communications and Development Departments on electronic, print, and video communications and youth-focused events

* Supporting and engaging with the Opportunity Youth Collaborative (OYC), a collective of public and private partners, led by the Alliance and focused on improving education and employment outcomes for TAY

QUALIFICATIONS

Highly motivated attorney with 3-5 years of experience, ready to work in a multi-faceted program that provides holistic services including legal representation, social services, and case management for young people. This is an excellent opportunity for an attorney who cares about improving outcomes for transitioning foster youth in a program that combines legal and social work advocacy and solutions.  Other qualifications include:

* Knowledge of basic poverty law such as housing, public benefits, and consumer law preferred

* Knowledge of juvenile dependency or delinquency system and/or demonstrated experience working with youth preferred

* Excellent written and oral skills

* Excellent interpersonal skills

* Demonstrated leadership ability

* Comfortable with public speaking

* Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment

* California Bar admission required

We believe that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunities, and we are committed to supporting an inclusive environment that values all staff members’ diverse backgrounds and perspectives in our work. We’re an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and do not discriminate against any employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, or any other unlawful basis.

This job description is of a general nature is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties of the position.

The Alliance for Children’s Rights offers a competitive salary and a generous benefits package. For more information about the Alliance visit http://kids-alliance.org.

Covid-19 Considerations

Normally, this position would work 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 and at the employer’s discretion.

TO APPLY:  

To be considered, please submit a resume and a cover letter that outlines your interest in joining the Alliance, relevant work experience, and how you heard of the position to a.zometa@kids-alliance.org (E-mail submissions only/no phone inquiries). Responses will be sent only to individuals meeting the outlined qualifications of the position.

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