OPD is seeking a Youth Social Worker to join our Juvenile Division.

The Orleans Public Defenders Office provides holistic, community-based representation in Orleans Parish. We represent thousands of people each year utilizing a client-centered defense model that puts the client first and takes a 360 degree approach to our advocacy and representation. We recognize our clients are unique individuals and work to address their needs both in the court and out. Our diverse staff includes adult and juvenile attorneys; social workers; client, youth and parent advocates; investigators, and administrators all working together for equal justice for our clients, their families, our community, and a better New Orleans. In short, we protect innocence, defend the constitution, demand justice, and hold power accountable.

The Youth Social Worker is part of OPD’s multidisciplinary juvenile team, along with the attorneys, investigator, and youth advocate. The team offers client-centered representation, working for fair, community-oriented legal outcomes for clients aged 17 and under. The Youth Social Worker will work to support and improve advocacy for juvenile clients throughout the case process and in the community. The responsibilities of the Youth Social Worker include the following:

• Completing intake of clients and their parents or guardians;

• Interviewing clients and performing assessments to determine client needs, including psychiatric, social, emotional, and educational needs;

• Gathering and analyzing information relevant to assessing client needs through records collection and collateral interviews;

• Developing and maintaining competency in assessing and meeting the needs of every client;

• Providing crisis mediation as needed;

• Developing social service plans – including sentencing plans that present the court with compelling alternatives to incarceration, and plans for provision of services on release from incarceration – for clients, driven by clients’ expressed interests and goals, in collaboration with other members of the juvenile team;

• Becoming and remaining familiar with relevant service providers – including community-based providers of mental health care services, job training, counseling, and housing – and conducting site visits to assess the quality of service providers and their suitability for clients;

• Becoming and remaining familiar with the range of benefits that may be available to clients and their families, and with the mechanisms for accessing those benefits;

• Counseling clients and client families on available services and benefits and on overcoming potential barriers to accessing those services and benefits;

• Making referrals, finding placements, and assisting with logistics and enrollment to help clients and their families access needed services and benefits;

• Advising attorneys and other staff on issues within the expertise of social workers, including family dynamics, adolescent development and psychology, the use of standard social work assessment tools, and available community-based services;

• Assisting attorneys in understanding mental health records and other materials related to the social worker’s area of expertise.

• Maintaining regular contact with clients, including regularly visiting clients at home and in custody, and thoroughly documenting all work and information gathered.

Qualifications: Applicants must have experience working with children and young people from diverse cultural, racial and socio-ethnic backgrounds, and a commitment to improving the lives of New Orleans' youth. Knowledge of the social and educational services available to young people in New Orleans is a plus.

While experience working in an established public defender or legal aid office is not required, the ideal candidate would provide services consistent with OPD’s mission of client-centered, zealous representation, and be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with clients and various groups, colleagues, staff and members of the juvenile justice community.

Other qualifications include the ability to remain organized and prioritize assignments. The ideal applicant will demonstrate comfort working in a high-volume, fast-paced legal environment, multi-tasking many different responsibilities and clients, and be able to work independently as well as in a team-driven environment.

Applicants must have a graduate-level social work degree from an accredited school of social work, and licensure or certification to practice master’s level social work in Louisiana, or eligibility to obtain such certification or licensure in the immediate future.

This is a full-time position with competitive salary and benefits. Compensation includes employer paid Employee Medical coverage, available Dental and Vision coverages, employer matching contribution to Retirement Plan, and generous paid, sick and parental leave.

To Apply: Qualified and interested applicants must submit all of the following to be considered for this position: cover letter explaining your interest in the position, resume and three professional references. Applications deadline is June 2, 2023 at 5pm CST. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

OPD is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability, veteran status or sexual orientation.

The Orleans Public Defenders provide representation to indigent criminal defendants in Orleans Parish. OPD’s mission is to fight for our clients by providing excellent client-centered representation, reforming the system and partnering with the community. OPD is committed to representation that respects the humanity and dignity of those within the criminal legal system.