Supervising Advocacy Specialist - Advocacy & Representation

Disability Rights Wisconsin is Wisconsin's Protection and Advocacy system. The agency is charged with protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and keeping them free from abuse and neglect. Employing a variety of means, our advocates and attorneys use individual casework and systems advocacy to achieve positive changes in the lives of people with disabilities and their families. We are seeking employees who value this work.

In turn, we treat our employees well, offering a supportive environment, talented colleagues, excellent benefits, and generous leave.

Disability Rights Wisconsin arose out of the disability civil rights movement, demanding that the abuse of people with disabilities end and that people with disabilities be included in life, school, workplaces, and communities. Our core values include:
Diversity, Dignity, Independence, Accessibility, Inclusion, Human Rights, and Liberation. We approach our work by recognizing the intersectional nature of oppression experienced by people with disabilities and work to address disability-related injustices at the intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and more.

We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment at DRW where every person feels a sense of belonging.

Our programs include:

• Protection & Advocacy for people with disabilities: addressing abuse/neglect, discrimination, access to services, education rights, institutional monitoring, and systemic reform.

• Disability Benefits Specialist: helping people access Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance.

• Family Care & IRIS Ombudsman: supporting people to remain in community-based settings.

• Victim Advocacy: advocacy and representation for crime victims
  with disabilities.

Position Information

Full Time Equivalent: 40 Hours/week

Reports to: Managing Attorney

Rate: $64,520 - $80,404 annually

Location: Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) has offices in Milwaukee and Madison. This position can be assigned to any of these office locations, depending on the applicant's residence. This position is not eligible for fully remote work. DRW has a hybrid work policy.

Final date to receive applications:
Applicants who apply by June 22nd will be given preferred consideration. Position will remain open until filled.

About This Position

The Supervising Advocacy Specialist oversees a team of Advocacy Specialists who provide individual and systemic advocacy for children and adults with disabilities. The Supervising Advocacy Specialist oversees case strategy development and workload management, as well as maintaining a limited advocacy portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and support a team of Advocacy Specialists- 40%

Assess and assign cases to team members

Facilitate individual and team meetings and advise on casework and development.

Attend and participate in staff and case-related meetings and present reports.

Oversee the utilization of data tools to maintain accurate records of case progress.

Provide overall supervision, including onboarding and coaching, performance reviews, recruitment, professional development, case monitoring, and workload management of Advocacy Specialists.

Work collaboratively with external entities and internal stakeholders.

Conduct individual and systemic advocacy - 20%

Provide direct services to clients; conduct need assessments; refer clients to other service providers; coordinate with DRW attorneys to support clients through court proceedings.

Work collaboratively with external entities and internal stakeholders.

Provide documentation for grievances and appeals.

Coordinate with DRW attorneys on representation at administrative hearings.

Support informal resolution and self-advocacy for clients.

Develop person-specific strategies and skills to empower client self-advocacy.

Administration - 20%

Monitor and track information in notifications mailboxes and distribute correspondence as needed;
Coordinate and implement team meetings, including preparing agendas, taking minutes, and updating investigation tracking documents.

Maintains accurate and complete client case files in compliance with DRW data reporting and confidentiality requirements and compiles and organizes statistical data.

Analyzing trends and outcomes to inform annual reporting, enhance organizational performance, and support continuous improvement.

Prepares reports on program activities.

Community Engagement - 20%

Cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with other local, state, and federal agencies, stakeholders, and organizations responsible for investigating, preventing, or otherwise responding to incidents.

Attend meetings with state officials. Represent DRW on task forces, coalitions, and committees concerned with relevant issues.

Cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with private and public agencies, advocacy organizations, and facilities serving the disability community.

Provide internal and external training and develop educational materials on relevant…