Court Liaison

Summary

Court Liaison

The Court Liaison is responsible for representing the agency in Family Court when a case planner is unavailable, ensuring accurate communication and documentation in all legal proceedings. This role requires building strong working relationships with FCLS attorneys and court personnel, facilitating timely and effective communication regarding hearings (e.g., extensions of placement, permanency hearings, fact findings, and progress reports). The Court Liaison plays an essential role in supporting permanency planning and expediting the safe discharge of children from foster care.

This position offers a hybrid and in field work schedule and is based in Queens. From time to time, this position requires work outside of normally scheduled working hours.

Principal Responsibilities

• Attend Family Court hearings across all five boroughs of New York City in the absence of a case planner.
• Prepare, review, and submit necessary court documentation to ensure compliance and accuracy.
• Record and upload case-related court outcomes into the case record and agency database in a timely manner. Serves LTS point person and manage LTS.
• Communicate court outcomes to case planners, supervisors, and program leadership to ensure follow-up actions are completed.
• Participate in staff conferences, permanency planning meetings, and interdisciplinary team discussions.
• Consult regularly with supervisors regarding case activity, case status, and court outcomes.
• Prepare written reports, summaries, and correspondence related to assigned cases.
• Provide training or coaching to caseworkers on effective court preparation and testimony as needed.
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to agency, ACS, OCFS, and Family Court policies and procedures.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Criminal Justice, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• A valid NYS Driver's license.
• Strong knowledge of NYC child welfare systems, including ACS and Family Court procedures.
• Understanding of laws, regulations, and best practices governing the care, custody, and treatment of children in foster care.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and time management skills.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with attorneys, court personnel, staff, children, and families.
• Skilled in preparing clear, accurate, and comprehensive case documentation.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel); knowledge of CONNECTIONS and FASP required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in child welfare, family services, or legal/court-related settings strongly preferred.

Travel Requirements

This position offers a full-time, hybrid schedule and is based in Queens and requires travels all throughout New York City's five boroughs.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Statement

With more than 250 years of combined experience, Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York and St. John's Residence for Boys have a long-standing history of serving children, youth, adults and families of color. Our mission, vision and values are grounded in elevating the shared humanity of every staff member, community partner and those with whom we engage. We recognize that our DEIB work is continuously evolving as we strive for equity and inclusion for individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, ages, abilities, religions and lived experiences.

Accessibility

Some job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may be designed to protect the safety and health of the employee, their fellow employees and the individuals being served and may therefore exclude some individuals.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

St. John's Residence for Boys provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected group status.

Job Description

Court Liaison

The Court Liaison is responsible for representing the agency in Family Court when a case planner is unavailable, ensuring accurate communication and documentation in all legal proceedings. This role requires building strong working relationships with FCLS attorneys and court personnel, facilitating timely and effective communication regarding hearings (e.g., extensions of placement, permanency hearings, fact findings, and progress reports). The Court Liaison plays an essential role in supporting permanency planning and expediting the safe discharge of children from foster care.

This position offers a hybrid and in field work schedule and is based in Queens. From time to time, this position requires work outside of normally scheduled working hours.

Principal Responsibilities

• Attend Family Court hearings across all five boroughs of New York City in the absence of a case planner.
• Prepare, review, and submit necessary court documentation to ensure compliance and accuracy.
• Record and upload case-related court outcomes into the case record and agency database in a timely manner. Serves LTS point person and manage LTS.
• Communicate court outcomes to case planners, supervisors, and program leadership to ensure follow-up actions are completed.
• Participate in staff conferences, permanency planning meetings, and interdisciplinary team discussions.
• Consult regularly with supervisors regarding case activity, case status, and court outcomes.
• Prepare written reports, summaries, and correspondence related to assigned cases.
• Provide training or coaching to caseworkers on effective court preparation and testimony as needed.
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to agency, ACS, OCFS, and Family Court policies and procedures.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Criminal Justice, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• A valid NYS Driver's license.
• Strong knowledge of NYC child welfare systems, including ACS and Family Court procedures.
• Understanding of laws, regulations, and best practices governing the care, custody, and treatment of children in foster care.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and time management skills.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with attorneys, court personnel, staff, children, and families.
• Skilled in preparing clear, accurate, and comprehensive case documentation.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel); knowledge of CONNECTIONS and FASP required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in child welfare, family services, or legal/court-related settings strongly preferred.

Travel Requirements

This position offers a full-time, hybrid schedule and is based in Queens and requires travels all throughout New York City's five boroughs.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Statement

With more than 250 years of combined experience, Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York and St. John's Residence for Boys have a long-standing history of serving children, youth, adults and families of color. Our mission, vision and values are grounded in elevating the shared humanity of every staff member, community partner and those with whom we engage. We recognize that our DEIB work is continuously evolving as we strive for equity and inclusion for individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, ages, abilities, religions and lived experiences.

Accessibility

Some job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may be designed to protect the safety and health of the employee, their fellow employees and the individuals being served and may therefore exclude some individuals.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

St. John's Residence for Boys provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected group status.