Adolescent Advocacy Team Leader

CASA Nashiville

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Job Summary

The CASA Adolescent Advocacy Team Leader’s primary responsibility is to serve the needs of adolescents in the CASA program through direct casework with children in residential facilities, and to provide training to staff and volunteers related to the specialized needs of adolescents in foster care. The role also involves leading a team of up to 30 CASA Volunteer Advocates and supporting them in their work in a way that meets the needs of the Volunteer Advocates, the Davidson County Juvenile Court, CASA Nashville and the children we serve.

Job Responsibilities

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following; other duties may be assigned:

Supervisory Duties and Responsibilities

• Effectively lead and develop a team of up to 30 Volunteer Advocates in advocating for the best interests of the child using a coaching/mentoring approach and adhering to National CASA and CASA Nashville service delivery standards.
• Assist the Program Director and Assistant Program Director in assigning volunteers to cases through weekly staff meetings.
• Represent CASA in court hearings and related case meetings, supporting Volunteer Advocates.
• Serve as agency representative in maintaining relationships with agencies working with adolescents throughout Tennessee, bringing new information, resources and partnerships to the Program Team.
• Maintain regular, effective communication with residential facilities and community partners serving CASA’s adolescents.
• Maintain a caseload of staff-monitored cases for the agency and assign Volunteer Advocates to cases when appropriate.
• Maintain a minimum of monthly communication with adolescents within own caseload, either by phone or in person, to ensure their needs are being met.
• Travel quarterly to residential facilities within Tennessee to visit assigned adolescents within own caseload.
• Directly supervise, coach and support Volunteer Advocates to ensure the child's best interest is being met and all CASA Standards are met in delivery of services to children.
• Write and facilitate the writing of court reports with Volunteer Advocates and ensure these are submitted to the court in timely manner.
• Contribute to each assigned staff-monitored case as a member of the child and family team and participate in all meetings and court hearings related to the case.
• Support Volunteer Advocates in presenting recommendations to the court by accompanying them to all court hearings and related case meetings.
• Maintain contact and monitor adolescents as they age out of foster care, advocating for resources and ensuring appropriate services are in place for this transition.

• Assist with compiling information for reporting monthly data for all grants and funders, including regular information collection in our client services system, Optima.
• Assist in creating and delivering training, resources, and processes for an Adolescent Advocate Academy to provide specialized training to staff and volunteers around the unique needs of adolescents, delivered virtually through a Learning Management System and in person when appropriate.
• Facilitate and participate as assistant facilitator for CASA Volunteer Advocate pre-service training sessions. (Typically held outside normal business hours.)
• Participate in regular supervision with Volunteer Advocates and Assistant Program Director and/or Program Director to discuss any problems or needs involving volunteers or cases.
• Attend and contribute to program team meetings to determine and discuss any problems or plans involving volunteers or cases.
• Attend and contribute to regular all-staff meetings to keep leadership apprised of relevant program and training information.
• Participate in 12 hours of relevant professional development annually, as required by National CASA and TN CASA Standards.

 

Leadership

• Facilitate supportive, effective monthly Volunteer Advocate team meetings.
• Regularly communicate and ensure compliance with the mission, vision, strategic objectives and goals, and a strengths-based and systems-service philosophy.
• Contribute to the delivery of a coaching culture and learning organization principles.
• Cultivate and support an agile and nimble organizational culture by working across functions and roles as required to best deliver services to children.
• Assess, analyze, and identify solution strategies as program and organizational issues arise.
• Model and promote healthy interpersonal relationships with and among employees, nurturing psychological safety among the team and among Volunteer Advocates; manage conflict effectively and in line with organizational culture as it arises.
• Take ownership of, navigate and lead program and organizational change as required by the agency and stakeholders; deploy and execute program and agency projects as assigned.
• Initiate recommendations and possible strategies to improve program and overall agency operations; model and promote flexible and systemic thinking.
• Represent agency in the community. Participate in community activities as assigned; work with community partners.
• Model, promote, and ensure agency atmosphere and service delivery are culturally and linguistically competent and sensitive.
• Contribute to delivery of agency anti-racist strategies and model these in delivery of all aspects of the role.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily in accordance with CASA Nashville and National CASA delivery standards, and in a manner that supports the values of the agency.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

Education and/or Experience

Minimum of a Bachelor of Art Degree in Social Work or a related field and 5+ years of related experience and/or training.  Two years of team leadership, supervisory or coaching/mentoring experience preferred. Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of traditional education and degree requirements.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must be able to travel within the state.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Communicates verbally and in writing professionally, respectfully and in a clear, concise, accurate and thorough manner.
• Demonstrates a teachable attitude and accepts constructive feedback.
• Ability to follow protocols and procedures.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and manage multiple deadlines and activities.
• Ability to process and communicate complex information.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule when needed, including the ability to work remotely
• Knowledge and ability to utilize office equipment and all MS Office products and remote working platforms (Teams, Zoom, etc.)
• Based on program requirements, regular attendance is required.

Additional Information

Benefits

How to Apply

Please email cover letters and resumes to casa@casanashville.org. 

Details

• Date Posted: June 7, 2022
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Programs and Service Delivery
• Service Area: Children / Youth
• Start Date: 08/01/2022
• Salary Range: $39,000
• Working Hours: 40 hrs/wk; M-F, 8:00am- 4:30pm