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About the Role

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) seeks a master’s level social worker for its Family Defense Unit (FDU). This role supports parents facing child welfare matters, including neglect, abuse investigations, and termination of parental rights cases. The FDU uses a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to ensure parents receive necessary legal and social services for child safety and family stability.

Responsibilities

• Develop holistic case management plans in consultation with clients, attorneys, and parent advocates, considering client and family strengths and needs.
• Provide crisis management and connect clients with critical legal and non-legal services to achieve child safety and family stability goals.
• Leverage LSHV programs and refer clients to outside providers.
• Collaborate with attorneys, parent advocates, and paralegals to represent parents in Child Protective (Article 10) and Termination of Parental Rights proceedings.
• Provide social work support and advocacy to clients.
• Conduct intake and client interviews.
• Assess clients’ needs and goals.
• Ensure clients are engaged in appropriate and meaningful service plans.
• Complete strength-based family assessments and address acute needs.
• Refer clients for necessary services and accompany them to meetings with CPS and other entities.
• Maintain contact with service providers to obtain court letters.
• Advocate for clients with CPS and at foster care agency conferences.
• Participate in team and administrative meetings within LSHV.
• Maintain up-to-date client legal notes and enter data in LSHV’s database.

Requirements

• Master of Social Work degree.
• Two or more years of experience working with families in crisis, preferably in the Child Welfare or Family Court System.
• Excellent people skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team with legal professionals, social workers, government agencies, and other service providers.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for defending parents in Child Welfare Proceedings and Investigations.
• Desire to support parents.

Skills

• Spanish fluency (preferred)
• LMSW license (preferred)
• Understanding of systemic oppression and Child Welfare (preferred)
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people of various backgrounds (preferred)
• Effective research, writing and advocacy skills (preferred)
• Ability to multitask, organize schedule and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment (preferred)
• Meticulous attention to detail (preferred)
• Ability to think critically and creatively in fast-paced settings, finding innovative solutions to unique obstacles (preferred)
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive matters (preferred)

Location

• White Plains, NY
• Westchester County, NY

Work Type

• Full-time
• Hybrid (up to two days per week remote after probationary period)

Experience Level

• Two or more years of experience

Education Level

• Master of Social Work

Salary/Compensations

• $65,000 - $85,000 DOE

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Defined contribution to a 403(b)
• Loan repayment assistance
• Paid parental leave
• Access to job-related training
• Mentoring Program
• Emerging Leaders Program

About the Company

• For over 50 years, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) has provided free, high-quality legal counsel in civil matters concerning basic human needs.
• LSHV serves almost 600,000 low-income families and individuals across seven counties.
• LSHV is the only provider of comprehensive civil legal services in the lower and mid-Hudson Valley.
• Last year, LSHV handled over 12,000 cases impacting nearly 27,000 household members.
• LSHV operates ten offices with a dedicated staff of attorneys, paralegals, and administrative professionals.
• LSHV is committed to building a diverse workforce and promoting racial justice and equity.
• Respect is a cornerstone of relationships among LSHV staff.
• LSHV has affinity groups for staff support.
• LSHV's Family Defense Unit (FDU) provides holistic legal services to families with child welfare matters in collaboration with Westchester County and NYS’s Indigent Legal Services.
• The FDU represents parents in various Family Court proceedings and advocates to prevent child placement in foster care.

Equal Opportunity

• All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.