Parent and CARE Support Specialist

Parents and CARE Support Specialist Full-Time

The San Mateo County Private Defender program is currently looking to fill the Parents and CARE Support Specialist position. That position entails the following qualifications and responsibilities:

Qualifications and Requirements:

Required Skills and Abilities

• Client Engagement: Establish and maintain effective case work relationships with clients, service providers, and the assigned attorney.
• Field Work Expertise: Provide effective field-based support for Parents and Respondents, many of whom are chronically unhoused, and manage substance use and/or health conditions.
• Liaison Duties: Act as a liaison between behavioral health agencies, full-service partners, and other members of the Dependency and CARE teams through regular engagement and rapport building.
• Documentation: Accurately document all client contacts and outreach efforts.
• Resource Knowledge: Familiarity with community groups, housing services, mental health supports, and social service programs in San Mateo County and surrounding areas.
• Cultural Competency: Competency in culturally responsive approaches when working with families and individuals from diverse backgrounds, interpersonal styles, and abilities.
• Professionalism: A high degree of personal integrity to maintain confidential and sensitive information.
• Soft Skills: Strong conflict-resolution skills and the ability to maintain a calm demeanor while multitasking, prioritizing work, handling interruptions, and meeting deadlines.
• Tech Proficiency: Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and MS Outlook. Experience with other database systems is helpful.
• Office Administration: Working knowledge of general office equipment (copy machine, fax, postage machine, etc.) and basic office procedures.

Education and Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Social Work, Counseling.
• Bilingual: Bilingual in Spanish is highly preferred.

Reporting and Work Environment

• Location: This position is based at the Juvenile Office but requires regular field visits.
• Reporting: This position reports to the Assistant Chief of the Juvenile and Civil Commitment Branch.
• Hours: While the base is 8:30 am–5:00 pm, the candidate must be willing to be flexible, as the position can require working outside of normal business hours depending on the case and client availability. Offsetting hours will be discussed with the supervisor when needed.
• Physical Demands: This position involves sitting, walking, bending, lifting, reaching, keyboarding, and the use of a computer and various office machines.

Key Responsibilities

1. Parent Support Specialist (Dependency Cases)

The Parent Support Specialist provides crucial support, guidance, and motivation to parents whose children have been, or are currently at risk of being, removed from their care.

• Work directly with PDP parents’ attorneys as part of an interdisciplinary legal team to encourage early engagement in reunification services.
• Provide guidance to parents as they navigate the complexities of the child welfare system.
• Assist parents in accessing necessary services and identifying community support with the goal of enhancing their abilities to complete reunification plans.
• Conduct field visits to meet with parents in various locations (e.g., drug treatment facilities, shelters, jails, etc.).
• Upon attorney request, coach parents on how to effectively interface with service providers in both the criminal justice and dependency settings.
• Assist in other supportive tasks as requested by parents’ attorneys and approved by the Assistant Chief of the Juvenile Branch.

2. CARE Court Respondent Support Specialist

The CARE Court Respondent Support Specialist provides critical support, guidance, and motivation to individuals (Respondents) navigating the CARE Court system.

• Work directly with PDP CARE attorneys as part of an interdisciplinary legal team to encourage early engagement in mandated CARE services.
• Provide guidance to Respondents to enhance their abilities to complete their CARE Agreement or Plan.
• Conduct field visits to meet Respondents in various locations (e.g., Cordilleras Health Campus, jail, shelters, temporary housing, encampments, etc.).
• Appear at the CARE Calendar to provide in-person client support during court hearings.
• Administrative Responsibility: Regularly meet with CARE attorneys to collect data necessary to complete quarterly reports in the SmartSimple system for the California State Bar.
• Assist in other supportive tasks as requested by the Respondents’ attorneys and approved by the Assistant Chief of the Juvenile Branch.

3. Fill-in Administrative Assistant

The Specialist will serve as a fill-in administrative assistant for the Juvenile and Civil Commitment Branch, assuming all associated responsibilities and tasks to ensure the uninterrupted daily operations of the Branch. This includes working at the direction of the Juvenile Branch Administrative Assistant.

• Answer calls and assist walk-in clients, as needed.
• File, scan, and keep documents current at the Juvenile Branch.
• Assist with the handling of Discovery exchange between the County Attorney, Child and Family Services, DA’s, and the PDP Office.
• Data entry in sophisticated databases, including Defender Data and SmartSimple.
• Handle the administrative responsibilities for the Juvenile Justice Community Dispute Resolution Program.
• All other duties as assigned.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $43.59 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Administrative: 2 years (Required)

Language:

• Spanish (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• San Mateo, CA 94402: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person