United States: Senior Social Services Coordinator - Detained

Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is a global leader in the protection of unaccompanied and separated children who are forcibly displaced from their countries of origin. Launched in 2008, KIND champions a world in which every child’s rights and well-being are protected throughout their journey to safety.

Building on its extensive programming and successful model in the United States, KIND is expanding in the Americas and Europe to bring its experience to bear in working with unaccompanied and separated children. Our work focuses on addressing the legal and mental health needs of this population; building strong partnerships and engaging in training and capacity strengthening with governments, NGOs, and the private sector; and advocating for systemic and pragmatic reforms to advance the rights of unaccompanied and separated children.

Position Summary:

KIND seeks a Senior Social Services Coordinator to serve alongside the Social Services Management team. Senior Social Services Coordinators provide therapeutic support to high-risk cases, clinical consultations, and contribute to the design and implementation of trauma informed outreach and training within KIND and to external partners.

Essential Functions:

• Supports the development of programmatic framework for Social Services including metrics, logic models, and narratives, for grant applications and reports.
• Supports fundraising and development efforts, as well as grant reporting for the Social Services team.
• Provides consultation on high risk and vulnerable cases across KIND offices.
• Creates, updates, and implements ethical policies, procedures, and guidelines to be implemented across all field offices and compiled in an updated Social Services Handbook.
• Creates, updates, and implements 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.
• Creates and implements guidelines on working with unaccompanied children working with pro bono volunteer attorneys with a focus on trauma informed care.
• Creates guidelines and leads Social Services team on self-care, wellness, prevention of vicarious trauma and burnout, as well as appropriate professionalism in client relations.
• Maintains working partnership with local graduate program and provide supervision to graduate level interns from social work/mental health programs.
• Monitors and evaluates case activities, including client referrals, intakes, case strategy, and case closure through case rounds and regular check-ins of social service interns.
• Consults and works regularly with KIND staff to integrate holistic, trauma-informed, and client-centered services that consider both legal strategy and social service needs.
• Evaluates and provides expert consultation to the Social Services team and KIND attorneys on services referral, needs assessments, advocacy strategy, safety planning, and crisis management.
• Directs client work, technical assistance, therapeutic supports, training, and outreach.
• Works with small caseload of high-needs clients utilizing a range of therapeutic interventions with an emphasis on screening for trauma, establishing safety, building trust, increasing coping strategies, and providing in-depth support during legal proceedings.
• Conducts needs assessment with KIND’s U.S./Mexico Special Programs team to design and implement quarterly trainings for staff and PBAs. Trainings will include such topics as Trauma Informed Interviewing Skills and Culturally Responsive Practices with Indigenous Populations.
• Provides technical assistance and expertise to KIND staff and community partners with an emphasis on Trauma Informed interventions when working with UAC and refugee populations.
• Works with community partners to coordinate services and collaborate in efforts; with emphasis on include language access, mental health supports and avoiding re-traumatization.
• Assists with trainings and presentations.
• Represent KIND at local coalitions, courts, and agencies.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Graduate degree in social work or related field or 6 years of work experience, combined with Undergraduate degree in social work or related field, in lieu of advanced degree.
• Depending on location- at least 2 years of experience working with Tender Age children, foster care, at risk youth.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in social services or non-profit organizations; community organizing, or grassroots and partnership development experience preferred.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Suite including Outlook, Excel (including formula function), and Teams; competence with technology-related items including audio-video set-up and execution.
• Demonstrated commitment to improving and/or understanding issues impacting immigrants in the U.S.; preferred experience working with trauma survivors.
• Experience working with immigrant and refugee children and youth, LGBTQA communities.
• Ability to work independently, anticipate needs, and take initiative in a high volume, fast-paced environment.
• Experience supervising interns and volunteers; highly skilled at conducting outreach and managing external partnerships.
• Experience in data entry and/or data management; experience in case and document database navigation such as ShareFile and Legal Server, including running and interpreting reports.
• Ability to handle tech related responsibilities including management of digital calendars and video conferencing.
• Strong record of intercultural responsiveness, sensitivity and awareness, and cross-cultural communication skills, responsive practices, and a racial equity lens.
• Ability to effectively conduct trainings to diverse audiences in person and virtually.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary teams.
• Excellent organizational, time management skills, and attention to detail; ability to work collaboratively; excellent writing an oral communication skill.
• Ability to thrive in a high-volume workload with fast-changing deadlines and priorities.
• Advanced fluency in English and Spanish, spoken and written, required.
• Ability to travel as assigned.
• Ability to work within an office environment, have regular interaction via telephone, teleconference, IM and email with KIND’s team and have in-person meetings with clients.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suites (such as Teams, Excel, etc.).
• Ability to work collaboratively and multi-task in our KIND environment, managing numerous priorities and emerging opportunities.
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to work on multiple projects in a deadline-oriented environment. Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate as appropriate.
• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, and communication styles.
• Committed to prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as embracing transparency and authenticity in daily work life.
• Be disciplined and nimble to ensure delivery on our core mission of access to justice and protection of children’s wellbeing and rights.

Salary Range: $61,360 - $76,700 a year

Our Benefits: 

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with KIND paying 100% of the employee only portion of the premium for one of the two medical plan options, dental, and vision.
• Pre-tax flexible spending account (FSA) for both medical and dependent care.
• Pre-tax transit and parking spending account.
• Employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
• Employer-paid short and long-term disability insurance.

For a complete list of benefits, please click here.

Our Focus on Wellness: 

KIND recognizes that our ability to help our clients starts with helping our team members. KIND has prioritized wellness for employees through Mindfulness and Wellness Trainings, Wellness Platforms, Employee Assistance and Resilience Programs, Time Away and Office Wellness Activities.

For more information regarding our Wellness initiatives please visit this link.

KIND requires all staff be COVID vaccinated with the exception of those who have medical or religious beliefs exemptions.

How to Apply: 

To be considered for this role, please submit an employment application here, along with your resume and cover letter.

KIND has an organization-wide commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We strive to create a work environment where everyone has a sense of belonging. Individuals from historically underrepresented or underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Disclaimer: KIND is committed to an ethical recruitment and hiring process and maintains a firm “no fees” recruitment policy. We will never charge a fee or ask for money as part of the application process. KIND also conducts all interviews via telephone or video conference, and at no time will KIND engage in a text or mobile app-based application or interview process. For more information, please visit the following website: https://supportkind.org/join-the-team/kind-employment-practices/.