Adoption Caseworker

The Mental Health Advocacy Services has a vacancy. 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.

Serve as a social work consultant to attorneys and multidisciplinary teams, supporting client engagement, case evaluation, and case strategy development.

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.

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

To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete. Also, prospective employees may be subject to pre-employment drug testing. New hires will be subject to employment eligibility verification via the federal government's E-verify system Applicants qualifying based on college training or receipt of a baccalaureate degree will be required to submit an official college transcript to verify credentials claimed prior to appointment. Please make every effort to attach a copy of your transcript to your online application. The transcripts can be added as an attachment to your online application. Gay HR Specialist Division of Administration/Office of Human Resources Email: Erica.