About the position
MetroWest Legal Services is looking for a Parent Partner to join the new Family Preservation Project (FPP) legal team. The Parent Partner will help to launch FPP to provide civil legal aid and other supports to families who have open cases with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF). The FPP team will support clients who are part of DCF-involved families by providing them with legal help, case management support, and guidance through the DCF process. This Project aims to keep children safe with their families and minimize the emotional trauma experienced by families whose children are at risk of removal by DCF. The Parent Partner is someone who has personal experience navigating the DCF system in Massachusetts, or another state, on behalf of their own family. The Parent Partner will help DCF-involved families to navigate the process by sharing their own knowledge and experience of being part of a DCF-involved family.
Responsibilities
- Provide emotional and moral support to clients who are part of a DCF-involved family.
- Travel throughout the MWLS service area and to occasional statewide events.
- Prepare clients in advance for DCF visits to client’s home.
- Attend in-person DCF visits to clients’ homes.
- Observe DCF interactions with clients and their families during the home-visit.
- Model appropriate communication with DCF for clients, and support clients in advocating for reasonable services from DCF.
- Coordinate services with healthcare and/or social service providers, local school districts and other types of agencies as needed on behalf of clients.
- Assist clients with their applications for public benefits, housing programs, and other types of essential services.
- Maintain case notes and timekeeping in MWLS’ electronic case management software (Legal Server).
- Contribute to the development of program materials for the Family Preservation Project.
- Participate in statewide legal services coalition groups focused on issues related to child welfare law and related matters.
- Participate in training and other programs related to the Family Preservation Project.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Direct, first-hand experience navigating the DCF system in Massachusetts, or another state, on behalf of applicant’s family.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
Nice-to-haves
- Spoken fluency in Spanish or Portuguese is strongly preferred.
- Familiarity with the destabilizing impacts of poverty on the lives of individuals and families.
- Experience providing support to survivors of trauma, abuse, and/or neglect.
- Experience providing support to individuals with mental health conditions, substance abuse disorders, and/or disabilities.
- Experience working with people experiencing a crisis.
- Familiarity with the community-based and social service resources available to residents of MWLS service area.
- Familiarity with state and federal income-based benefit programs, the public housing systems in Massachusetts, and/or public-school enrollment process.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team; flexible and adaptable.
- Committed to the de-escalation of stressful situations and the resolution of conflicts in a calm and respectful manner.
- Committed to race equity, anti-racism and economic justice in the workplace and in the provision of legal services.
