Position: Pre-Trial Interventionist

Reports to: Youth Justice Program Manager

Status: Full-time, Exempt, benefits eligible

Location: Hybrid, flexible work environment - remote and on location at Edmund D. Edelman Children's Courthouse

Salary: $64,480 annually

VISION STATEMENT

CASA/LA’s vision is a Los Angeles in which all children and families impacted by the child welfare and juvenile justice systems have equitable access to the resources and support they need to thrive.

ORGANIZATON MISSION

CASA of Los Angeles organizes the community to show up for children and families in LA County’s overburdened child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Through an intentional, restorative and culturally responsive lens, we train committed, consistent and caring adults who take action by providing strengths-based advocacy and equitable access to resources and life-affirming connections. CASA/LA strengthens our community, ensuring that children and families have what they need to thrive.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Pre-Trial Interventionist reports to the Youth Justice Program Manager and provides the highest level of advocacy intervention and efforts for each child referred for pre-trial advocacy. The interventionist must demonstrate general subject matter expertise in the area of child welfare, youth justice, and child advocacy (0-21 years of age) and use that knowledge to provide culturally responsive, trauma informed, and youth centered advocacy. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Youth Justice Advocacy 

• Ensure practices and advocacy efforts are centered around the needs of the child.
• Complete assessments for child referrals to youth justice programming.
• Support the youth justice program manager in visiting youth detention settings to collect referrals and facilitate check-ins and group discussions with detained children.
• Visit juvenile halls across Los Angeles County to check in with youth, advocate for services, and collaborate with internal service providers.
• Provide strengths-based, trauma-informed advocacy for up to 15-25 children in pre-trial stages of their justice case—including meeting with the child and their family once a month, and writing a letter of support, attending necessary hearings and meetings, then transitioning them to a CASA Volunteer once the child’s case is post-disposition.
• Serve as an educational rights holder/developmental decision maker, as needed, for children in pre-trial stages.
• Communicate with defense attorneys, community-based organizations, probation, and Court personnel for the purpose of increased referrals and to track referrals.

Electronic Case File Oversight

• Maintain children’s case files up-to-date in Efforts to Outcomes database system by
• Entering initial baseline scale and advocacy goals and keeping goals current;
• Entering monthly case reviews for each child and advocate supervisor notes for each CASA volunteer;
• Indicating justice system involvement and outcomes for children via the Justice Involvement Touchpoint; 
• Ensuring CASA volunteers document monthly progress notes on advocacy work through Case Notes and Visitation Notes 
• Determining and entering outcome ratings for completed child cases;
• Completing all status changes in a timely manner (e.g., case closure, reappointment) 

Other duties

• Assist in the identification, screening and referral process for justice involved youth. 
• Provide tracking of metrics/deliverables for maintaining full caseload capacity of CASA and Peer Coordinators and children served.
• Provide tracking of metrics/deliverables toward all program initiatives as required by grants or general program coordination.
• Attend and actively participate in one-on-one supervisory meetings and team group supervisory meetings as scheduled.
• Travel required on an as-needed basis, including occasional evening and weekend work.
• Other special projects as assigned.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

• A Master’s degree is preferred but may be substituted with significant and relevant experience in volunteer management, social justice work, case management, or lived experience.  
• Bilingual in Spanish
• Experience in the field of child welfare and youth justice working with transition age youth. Understanding of the developmental, social and emotional, and academic needs of this population.
• Solid understanding of the scope, nature and referral protocol for public sector and community-based agencies serving children, youth and families.
• Understanding of the principles and practices of community agencies and community resources and their role in the treatment of at-risk children.
• Operate from a trauma-informed, culturally-responsive, and harm reduction lens.
• Ability to work within a multicultural environment serving children and families of diverse backgrounds.
• Minimum of 1- 2 years of experience in the area of case management/advocacy in a human service setting.
• Knowledge of clinical and case management service work with practical experience.
• Highly proficient in MS Office, and ability to work with new systems including database management systems.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills. Must be able to comprehend, discern and make appropriate judgements that are consistent with policy and culture.
• Ability to flex communication style to that of the receiver to ensure collaborative communication that does not escalate but diffuse potentially heightened situations.
• Must maintain a level of composure and professionalism at all times.
• Must be able to frequently communicate to callers, visitors, co-workers, attorneys, social workers, and any other member of the case team/members of management and be able to exchange accurate information.
• Must pass a Livescan background check for CASA of Los Angeles.
• Must pass a Livescan background check for our community partner, Los Angeles County Office of Education.

Physical/Mental Requirements and Work Environment

• This position requires the ability to work remote, in the office, and in the field. The CASA office is an open office layout. Candidates will be working in varying levels of noise and foot traffic all in accordance with CDC and Cal/OSHA guidelines.
• Office environment consists of moderate fluctuations in air temperature.
• Physical requirements include extensive seated work at a computer, standing, bending, reaching, sitting, grasping, fingering, repetitive motion both hands/feet, and walking. Lifting requirement is up to 20 lbs.
• Must be able to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.