Mitigation Specialist, Adolescent Intervention and Diversion Program; AID

Mitigation Specialist, Adolescent Intervention and Diversion Program (AID)

#26-50

Brooklyn, New York, United States

MAJOR PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice has one opening for a Mitigation Specialist in the Brooklyn office of the Adolescent Intervention and Diversion Program. The Adolescent Intervention and Diversion Program specializes in working with adolescents who are charged as adults in criminal and Supreme court matters. These clients range in age from 13 to 18 years old and often have experienced a multitude of traumas including childhood neglect and abuse, long term poverty, educational disruptions, mental illness, substance abuse, physical illness, and developmental and intellectual disabilities.

These experiences impact their functioning level and provide mitigating circumstances that must be incorporated in the defense advocacy. The Mitigation Specialist works directly with an assigned AID attorney to strategize a plan that incorporates both legal and therapeutic approaches to mitigate the court case and meet the individualized needs of the adolescent client. Participating in the intake process in Supreme Court and other hearings and providing both oral and written advocacy in collaboration with the assigned attorney is a key aspect of this role.

The Mitigation Specialist will interact with the client, family members, friends, school personnel, service providers, and community members, among others. The Mitigation Specialist is also an integral part of the process in advocating for removal to family court.

• Interview clients, and complete psychosocial and risk assessments using validated instruments
• Provide crisis intervention, brief treatment, or short-term counseling to adolescents and their families
• Identify and interview collateral sources of Collateral interviews are done with family members, friends, teachers, social workers, community members, and others connected to the client
• Assess a client's readiness for treatment and/or programming and make appropriate referrals for mental health, family interventions, ATIs (Alternative to Incarceration), drug programs, violence interrupters, etc
• Develop relationships with school partners to support educational advocacy efforts comprised of records request/review, IEP planning meetings, suspension hearings, school transfers, alternative education programs, etc
• Provide written and/or oral support in Supreme Court for the following:
  Intake, EC Motions in support of removal of cases to family court, pre-pleading and pre-sentencing memoranda for presentation to court and the prosecution, and bail applications
• Help clients, families and caregivers navigate the child welfare system (Administration for Children’s Services) and the New York City Department of Education
• Make home visits and attend meetings at schools, jails, and detention centers
• Testify in court
• Gather and analyze the data to evaluate the impact of social work services with our client population
• Conduct training for LAS staff, social work interns, treatment providers, and criminal justice personnel
• Participate in the development and ongoing practice of specialty court parts
• Act as an expert social work consultant to the stakeholders in the criminal justice system and community providers regarding court advocacy, law reform, and re-entry
• Other duties as assigned

• An MSW degree and New York State (NYS) certification in social work (LMSW or LCSW). Proof of NYS Social Work License must be provided before final decision of employment
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience
• Strong interest in and experience working with adolescent clients and family members with the following special needs: mental illness and chemical addiction, intellectual and other developmental disabilities, histories of family fracture and trauma, etc
• Familiarity with diagnostic residential centers, residential treatment centers, day treatment programs, and specialized schools that serve adolescents
• Ability to interface with Judges, District Attorneys, and…