Social Worker 4

Job Opportunity: Mental Health Advocacy Services

The Mental Health Advocacy Services has a vacancy. This job title has an assigned pay grade of SS-415. Our mission is to ensure that our clients' voices are heard and that they receive every right and remedy afforded them under law. Our goal is to provide high-quality legal counsel and representation to our clients, address systemic issues that affect the rights of more than one client and require a remedy, act as a clearinghouse for information relative to adults and children with mental health diagnoses and children in need of care, and provide training to various individuals/agencies. This position was created within the MHAS Child Advocacy Program, to institute a multidisciplinary team approach to children's legal representation. National child welfare representation organizations have conducted extensive empirical research to determine that the multidisciplinary model is the best practice for children's legal representation. This allows MHAS staff to make tailored recommendations and advocate to increase the rate and speed of reunifications from foster care, decrease the time spent in foster care for youth who get adopted or live permanently with a relative, and effectuate a successful transition to adulthood for those teenage clients aging out of the system.

Job Duties:

• Serve as a social work consultant to attorneys and multidisciplinary teams, supporting client engagement, case evaluation, and case strategy development.
• Conduct initial and ongoing client assessments to identify needs, supports, crisis interventions, and appropriate services, and make recommendations to attorneys.
• Advocate for clients in and out of court by addressing mental health and social service needs, coordinating with providers and agencies, and assisting clients in preparation to testify.
• Perform investigative and case support activities, including client visits, background research, records requests, subpoenas, documentation, and case management for assigned caseloads.
• Prepare and maintain comprehensive social work documentation, including assessments, social histories, case summaries, and quality assurance evaluations to monitor service outcomes.
• Participate in special projects, professional committees, trainings, and conferences; provide guidance and training to peer mentors; and represent the agency's social work programs at local, state, and national levels.

Performs case management on an interdisciplinary, inter-agency team:

• Support a holistic, client-centered approach to child representation by addressing social-emotional and developmental needs, allowing attorneys to focus on legal advocacy.
• Conduct comprehensive evaluations in complex and high-risk cases, including those involving trauma, mental health concerns, and special needs, and recommend appropriate services and referrals.
• Collect, review, and interpret educational, medical, and psychosocial records; prepare required social work documentation such as assessments, case summaries, and social histories.
• Collaborate with attorneys and multidisciplinary partners by participating in planning meetings, providing case updates, developing strategies, and advocating for resources to meet client needs.
• Maintain regular contact with clients and key stakeholders (e.g., DCFS, foster parents, CASAs, service providers) through visits, check-ins, and consultations to ensure continuity of care and communication.
• Manage an assigned caseload of CINC clients, document case activity in the PRIME system, attend court hearings, and provide expert testimony and client support as needed.

Enhances MHAS staff development and meets agency and statewide requirements:

• Attends all MHAS staff meetings.
• Provides in-services to staff on the appropriate use of various treatment modalities, the availability of regional and state resources for our clients, and the psychosocial aspects of service to children in foster care.
• Completes all requirements to maintain professional licensure and as required of all state employees.
• Provides data and/or reports to data administrator upon request.

Position-Specific Details:

Appointment Type: This vacancy will be filled by new hire or by promotion of a current permanent status classified employee. Louisiana is a "State as a Model Employer" for People with Disabilities. Preference may be given to applicants with experience working with juveniles and persons with mental illness and/or disabilities.