Full Jobs List Full Exams List
Family Court Parent Advocate
Description of Duties
This position, located at the Public Defender’s Office, is responsible for assisting and guiding clients through the court and other institutional processes. The employee assists in preparing clients for Child Protective Services (CPS) interactions and attends interviews and meetings with clients. As the employee actively participates with the attorney and staff to develop case management plans, the employee also provides encouragement to clients to engage in services to avoid State intervention. The employee develops a relationship with the clients and provides emotional support, mentorship and advocacy assistance to clients during the various processes. The employee reports directly to, and works under the general supervision of the Special Assistant Public Defender or other higher-level staff member.
Minimum Qualifications
Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements on or before the date of the written exam:
Graduation from high school or possession of an equivalency diploma plus, EITHER:
- Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with an Associate's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, Sociology or a closely related field; OR,
- Two (2) years paid or volunteer* full-time or its part-time equivalent** experience working with the child welfare or family court system; OR,
- An equivalent combination of education and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B) above.
*Volunteer experience must be documented by the participating agency and signed by the appointing authority. Employment dates, average number of hours worked per week, and job duties must be included. Documentation must be included with your application.
