Case Support Associate, Los Angeles

Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights invites applications for a Case Support Associate (CSA) position to be based in Los Angeles, California. The Case Support Associate will provide administrative support to Young Center cases that involve vulnerable, unaccompanied and separated immigrant children, including children who U.S. immigration authorities separated from their family.

In collaboration with the Manager and Child Advocate Supervisors, this position monitors all requests for Child Advocates and administratively supports all cases through closure.

ABOUT THE YOUNG CENTER

Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and best interests – safety and well-being – of unaccompanied immigrant children in the United States. The immediate focus of the Young Center’s Child Advocate Program is to serve as Child Advocate for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children pursuant to the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection and Reauthorization Act and the 2013 Violence Against Women Act. Our role is to identify and advocate for the best interests of immigrant children both while they are in federal custody and after they are released, applying federal and state law and long-recognized principles of the best interests of the child. Young Center also engages in policy work, advocating with legislators, federal agencies, and other stakeholders to promote consideration of the best interests of the child in all decisions concerning immigrant children and to create a dedicated juvenile immigrant justice system that treats children as children. Young Center has offices in Houston, San Antonio, Harlingen, Chicago, New York, Washington DC, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages requests for Child Advocates (or referrals) from public, institutions, and organizations.
• Ensures that information is complete/accurate and follows up on pending referrals. Reports all updates regarding referrals to Child Advocate Supervisors.
• Reviews and maintains case files, ensuring relevant documentation and stakeholder contact information are included and accurate. Flags issues or concerns for Child Advocate Supervisors.
• With direction from Child Advocate Supervisors, researches, compiles, and highlights resources that support the Child Advocate Program in advocating for a child’s best interests. This may include identifying relevant experts or establishing contact with the child’s parents/family in the United States or their home country.
• Prepares and submits court filings to immigration courts (in-person or via email as local jurisdiction requires) and ensures all Child Advocate Supervisors receive all details and documentation to support that court date.
• Routinely checks Child Advocate Program case management system and government portals and uses this data to update Young Center trackers on case statuses, court preparation, and case closures.
• Compiles and maintains contact information for a variety of stakeholders, which includes legal service providers, government agencies, and immigration courts.
• Supports the facilitation of communication between Child Advocate Program staff and the child, their families, and stakeholders.
• Upon release from custody or repatriation, the Case Support Associate provides post-release follow-up and shares with the child relevant resources (including educational, legal, mental health, financial, medical, etc.) in their community.
• Serves as a Child Advocate for at least one child to learn about the role of the Child Advocate.
• Performs other duties as assigned

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• At least 2 years of post-high school experiences that may include a combination of employment, community organizing, internships, student leadership and/ or volunteer experience.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Highly collaborative and willing to work creatively as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Detail oriented with strong organization skills, particularly as it relates to documenting and tracking information.
• Able to engage with a variety of audiences that include children and/or their families, colleagues, community partners, and volunteers.
• Able to follow up with key stakeholders to close gaps in information and answer pressing questions/concerns.
• Resourceful and takes a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Able to gather, summarize, and present large amounts of information.
• Commitment to comprehensive culture of feedback, including seeking and providing positive and constructive feedback.
• Desire to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or anti-racism principles.
• Able to effectively engage across different cultures, identities, and ethnicities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products, Zoom, Adobe Acrobat, and willingness to learn new technology and/or platforms.
• Fluent in English and Spanish (oral and written)
• Basic data collection and analysis ability.
• High School Diploma required, college degree a plus.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Lived, volunteer, or professional experience with immigration, child welfare and issues affecting migrant/refugees/unaccompanied children.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Physical demands include regular attendance; keyboarding; sitting for long periods (at least 5 hours a day); driving and/or using public transportation in site location and surrounding areas. Ability to use computer, telephone, and copy machine. Ability to travel by plane, car, and other conveyances within U.S.

COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS

All employees must be fully vaccinated prior to the first day of employment.

APPLICATION DETAILS

Young Center is an "at-will" and equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in and affirmatively factors diversity into its hiring practices. Young Center encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, marital or parental status, pregnancy, citizenship, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, genetic information, or veterans’ status. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process; no application will be penalized for requesting an accommodation. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

For roles working directly with children, clearance of a fingerprint-based criminal background check, child abuse and neglect check (CANS), and tuberculosis test is a condition of employment.