Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of San Mateo County recruits, trains and supports volunteers to work one-on-one with children and youth in the San Mateo County foster care and juvenile justice systems. CASA volunteers form trusted relationships with young people, acting as a mentor and advocate for youth in court and in the larger community. By being a consistent adult presence in a child’s life amidst changing homes, caretakers, social workers and other professionals, our volunteers provide hope and healing to children who are navigating traumatic circumstances.

Position Overview:

The Targeted Advocate is a part-time, temporary position that will lead a new pilot effort to expand the number of foster and juvenile youth served at CASA of San Mateo County. The person in this position will be assigned to youth that are difficult to place with a volunteer due to certain circumstances. The most common of these circumstances include language barriers (predominately Spanish), willingness to travel to places outside of San Mateo County, the age range of youth, and an increase in youth placed within juvenile justice.  The person in this position will be expected to provide the same services that CASA volunteers provide to as many youths assigned to them at any given time. Services include providing resources and mentorship to youth, representing the youth in court hearings, and regularly updating CASA staff about progress. The Targeted Advocate will travel to various locations around the state to meet with youth. The Targeted Advocate will also participate in assigned training courses to best serve youth. This position will be managed by the Sr. Program Manager.

The ideal candidate for this role is flexible with time, willing to travel, organized, has sound judgment and problem-solving skills, and is detail oriented and willing to work with youth of any age as well as having great interpersonal skills. It is important that the person in this role, and every role in the organization, is passionate about CASA’s mission.

Reports to: Sr. Program Manager

Start date: Paid training begins April 23, 2024. Applicants who have already completed CASA of San Mateo’s pre-service volunteer training can begin work sooner.

Status: Part-time, non-exempt; 20-60 hrs/month depending on availability with weekend/evening work, temporary position (14-16 months)

Location: Anywhere within Northern and Central California and Central Valley, travel will be required

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Complete and pass: orientation, interviews, pre-service volunteer training, additional trainings assigned by         supervisor.
• Take on advocacy duties for 2-6 youth (based on availability) at any given time. Advocacy duties include:
  •   Connect with youth: 
    • Establish a relationship with the child to understand the youth’s needs.
    • Connect youth with community resources.
    • Meeting with youth in-person and take them on outings based on their interests and needs.
  • Comply with program and administration:
    • Complete monthly reports and CASA connect information by the fifth of every month.
    • Write and turn in court reports with appropriate case recommendations for each child on assigned caseload and file the reports at least 10 days before each scheduled hearing to supervisor. 
    • Participate in occasional meetings outside of check-ins and trainings as required, some which will require travel to San Mateo County and our office in Redwood City.
  • Advocate for youth:
    • Attend court and any meetings regarding youth in person or virtually, as necessary.
    • Communicate and coordinate efforts with the youth’s CWS social worker, probation officer, and attorney.
    • Explain CASA’s role, duties, and responsibilities to all parties associated with the case.
  • Gather information: 
    • Review available records regarding the youth’s family history, behavior, medical, or mental health history, etc.
    • Identify and explore potential resources to facilitate family preservation, early family reunification, or alternative permanency planning.
    • Interview all parties involved with the youth regarding the youth’s circumstances and needs.
  • Ensure that the court-approved case plan for the youth is being implemented.
  • Travel to location of each youth at least once a month for in-person visits
  • Follow CASA guidelines with each youth assigned
  • Check-in with Sr Program Manager on a regular cadence to report activities and progress
  • Support the youth/case until the case has been closed by the court or to the end of the temporary position (June 30, 2025)
  • Travel to the reporting location at Redwood Shores for occasional trainings and meetings

Education/Work Experience:

• BA/BS degree in social service related field or equivalent experience.
• At least 1 year of proven experience working or volunteering in organizations who serve 0–21-year-olds in education, advocacy, tutoring, mentorship, childcare, etc.

Qualifications, Skills, and Requirements:

• Willingness to travel throughout CA to visit youth
• Knowledge of dependency and juvenile justice systems preferred but not required.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding the CASA child and his/her case.
• Verbal proficiency in Spanish preferred but not required
• Exceptional interpersonal skills
• Excellent organizational skills and detail oriented
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work independently and remotely
• Ability to successfully pass FBI, DOJ, DMV and CACI background checks.
• Interest in and commitment to CASA’s mission with ability to communicate CASA’s mission, programs and accomplishments to the greater community.
• Ability to relate positively and with self-confidence and equanimity to judges, lawyers, social workers, foster parents, agency personnel and children.
• Ability to deal with a variety of emotionally charged situations in an effective, diplomatic manner.
• Must have valid CA drivers license
• Ability to work flexible hours.
• Ability to travel outside of San Mateo County

Compensation:

• $35/hour with an estimate of 20-60 hours a month (average of 8-15 hours/week). This is a part-time, temporary position that is ineligible for benefits.

CASA of San Mateo County (“CASA”) is an equal opportunity employer. CASA does not discriminate based on ancestry, race, color, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion (including religious dress and grooming), sex, sexual orientation or any other basis protected by law. This policy applies to all areas of employment including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, transfers, and social and recreational programs.