Job Description

About KIND:

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety. KIND has provided nearly 18,000 children with high quality representation in their immigration proceedings by training more than 41,000 attorneys and legal staff and cultivating partnerships with over 600 law firms, corporate legal departments, law schools, and bar associations across the country.

KIND’s social services program ensures that migrant and refugee children – who have often endured trauma – receive counseling, educational support, medical care and other comprehensive services.

To address the root causes of child migration from Central America and strengthen protection of unaccompanied children, KIND advocates for policy changes and educates lawmakers, the media, and the broader public on the conditions that drive these children to flee their home countries. KIND supports children returning to their home countries by connecting them to essential support services and sponsors gender-based violence prevention programs in Central America to protect children in countries of origin and transit.

KIND is also building upon its expertise in the protection of unaccompanied children to encourage the development of pro bono initiatives across Europe in partnership with European NGOs.

Position Summary:

KIND seeks a Regional Director of Social Services to join the Social Services program in the provision of Trauma Informed and Culturally Responsive services to migrant and refugee children. The Regional Director of Social Services will work under the supervision of the Director of Social Services and in collaboration with the Legal Services team in an interdisciplinary model providing direct oversight to the West Coast Field offices and programs working with detained youth. The Regional Director of Social Services will have both internal and external facing responsibilities ranging from direct supervision of Social Service Coordinators, data tracking and evaluation, program policies and guideline development, consultation and trainings as well as strategic program planning. The Regional Director of Social Services will also liaise with external partners including donors, funders, and the ORR facilities and disseminate best practices and social service needs of clients.

This position can be based in Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle. 

Essential Functions:

• Social Services Team Management:
  • Participate in drafting Social Services team components, including metrics, logic models, and narratives, for grant applications and reports.
  • Support fundraising and development efforts, as well as grant reporting for the Social Services team.
  • Supervise, analyze, and systemize Social Services team’s data entry and metrics tracking in Legal Server.
  • Create, update, and implement ethical policies, procedures, and guidelines to be implemented across all field offices and compiled in an updated Social Services Handbook.
  • Create, update, and implement guidelines for the Social Services team in an interdisciplinary model pertaining to attorney-client and work-product privilege, federal and state confidentiality, and mandatory reporting laws.
  • Create and implement guidelines on working with unaccompanied children working with pro bono volunteer attorneys that KIND provides mentoring for.
  • Create guidelines and lead Social Services team on self-care, wellness, prevention of vicarious trauma and burn out, as well as appropriate professionalism in client relations.
• Supervision of Case Work
  • Monitor and evaluate case activities, including client referrals, intakes, case strategy, and case closure through case rounds and regular check-ins.
  • Consult and work regularly with KIND attorneys and legal staff to integrate holistic, trauma-informed, and client-centered services that consider both legal strategy and service needs.
  • Evaluate and provide expert consultation to the Social Services team and KIND attorneys on services referral, needs assessments, advocacy strategy, safety planning, and crisis management.
• Technical Assistance, Training, and Outreach:
  • Provide technical assistance and expertise to KIND staff and community partners.
  • Obtain external expertise and trainings for the Social Services team for relevant case situations as needed.
  • Prepare practice advisories and gather materials regarding best practices on various topics.
  • Work with community partners to coordinate services and collaborate in efforts.
  • Assist with trainings and presentations.
  • Represent KIND at local coalitions, courts, and agencies.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Graduate degree in Social Work, Social welfare, or Mental Health care.
• Advanced fluency in Spanish language.
• Five to seven years of experience in social work, counseling, coordinating services, or related field.
• Experience working with immigrant and refugee children and youth, and low-income, diverse communities.
• Experience with program metrics and evaluation.
• At least three years of supervisory experience of multiple supervisees in social services context.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientation and genders in a multicultural setting.
• Experience working with ORR,CBP and Detained Populations.
• Ability to work collaboratively across disciplines, and preferably, prior experience working with attorneys, law firms, or other legal service providers.
• Direct experience with crisis intervention, crisis counseling, and safety planning for clients; through a Trauma Informed Lens.
• Experience working with survivors of abuse, human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual assault or other traumatic experiences.
• Experience advocating on behalf of limited English proficient clients.
• A strong record of cultural humility and equity, as well as cross-cultural communication skills.
• Willing and able to travel periodically to field offices sites and their satellite locations.
• Detail and solution-oriented and be able to effectively multi-task in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint or contemporary suite of skills, and data tracking tools.
• Ability to periodically travel to other field offices.

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Full-Time. Job Tags: immigration, Legal, refugee, and social services.

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