Hours:   Full-time, hours 8AM-5PM

Salary:  $28,000-$35,000

Organization Overview

CASA of Los Angeles activates volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected foster children in the court and the community.  A CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocate, is a trained and supervised volunteer, appointed by a judge to advocate in the best interest of a foster child.  CASA of Los Angeles actively recruits, trains and screens these volunteers.

Overview of Program Assistant Position

CASA’s Monterey Park office is seeking a highly motivated and organized individual to provide general operational and administrative support services to CASA volunteers, Coordinators, and Program Supervisors.  This individual will share the passion for CASA’s mission, demonstrating a positive attitude at all times. The successful candidate will be resourceful, organized and self-motivated and will have excellent time management skills.

Duties and Responsibilities

- Typing and formatting of CASA reports and correspondence.

- Maintain records through hard files and data inputting.

- Responsible for answering the phone in a professional and courteous manner.

- Create reports in Word and Excel.

- Assist with coordination, preparation and facilitation of volunteer trainings.

- Attend staff meetings and trainings, conferences and seminars to enhance professional growth and development.

- Prepare, copy, deliver and retrieve documents and files to court rooms.

- Assist with activities that provide support and appreciation of volunteers.

- Participate in off-site outreach activities to minority and under-served communities in the greater L.A area.

- Travel required on an as-needed basis, including occasional evening and weekend work.

Candidate Qualifications

Required

-  Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

-  At least 2 years’ experience working in an administrative support position.

-  Exceptional oral and written communication skills to include face to face, telephone and email contact.

-  Highly proficient in all Microsoft Office applications with a minimum typing speed of 40 wpm.

-  Proficient in PowerPoint.

-  Excellent organizational skills and ability to multi-task.

-  Ability to work and make decisions independently and to be highly resourceful.

-  Ability to work in multi-cultural environment.

Preferred

-  Fluency in a second language other than English

-  Experience in the field of child welfare, juvenile law, non-profit or volunteer program management.

-  Event planning and implementation experience.

Please email cover letter and resume to careers@casala.org

 CASA of Los Angeles is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering diversity within its staff.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.theavtimes.com/2012/04/25/help-wanted-advocates-for-abused-and-neglected-children/

Los Angeles, CA, May 2nd, 2011 — CASA of Los Angeles is very proud to announce that one of its most dedicated volunteers, Linda Galati, has been named its “Volunteer of the Year.” Every year, The Volunteer of the Year is nominated and selected by the program staff of CASA from among several highly qualified candidates, and then presented at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, which took place Tuesday at The California Endowment Center in Downtown Los Angeles. Linda is the first “Volunteer of the Year” to hail from the Antelope Valley.

Linda Galati began her relationship with CASA/LA in 2007, however her work with children extends back twenty years, where she taught for the “Head Start” program. Her background in child development provided her added insight into the everyday requirements of being a CASA volunteer, and her passion has helped her excel in that role with the organization for the past 5 years. Her success has enabled her to expand her duties within CASA/LA to include the position of CASA Coordinator – a senior level, experienced CASA, who takes on the role of coaching, supporting, and mentoring new CASAs, thereby enabling CASA to serve even more children.

“Linda is a stellar example of what it means to be an effective advocate, who never shies away from a challenge and who comes through with a calm confidence,” said CASA/LA Executive Director Dilys Garcia. “Though all of our volunteers are worthy of accolades, this year Linda will be receiving the brightest spotlight.”

“I’ve had such an incredible experience working with CASA/LA, helping children that have dealt with so many hardships,” said Linda Galati. “It’s been enlightening and I’ve been touched by the resilience and strength that I have seen when working with these youths.”

Pictures from the event are available upon request. Contact Brian McWilliams of Spelling Communications – bmcwilliams@spellcom.com / 310-838-4010.

Nabel’s excellent legal experience makes him a valuable asset to the CASA/LA Board. He currently serves as an associate with Los Angeles’ Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP, where he specializes in the areas of real estate, business, entertainment and intellectual property. Nabel is also a member of Greenberg’s Pacific Rim Practice Group and is actively involved in pro-bono work for Public Counsel and the Alliance for Children’s Rights.

As CASA/LA looks to aggressively scale its volunteer base so they can serve more children, continued familiarity, cooperation and involvement with the California and Los Angeles County legal system will be a critical enabler of that growth. Nabel’s law expertise and previous children’s rights work will be invaluable to the organization in this regard.

“I wanted to join CASA’s board because CASA improves the lives of thousands of children who need help,” Nabel said. “Who wouldn’t want to be a part of an organization that does that?”

Nabel has also written for such publications as Law Law Land, the Los Angeles Daily Journal, and The Advocate Magazine. He is the author of “Disney and Warner Bros. Duel on the Yellow Brick Road,” Law Law Land, March 6, 2012; “Why Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s ‘Blue Ivy Carter’ trademark application actually makes sense,” Westlaw Journal – Entertainment Industry, March 2012; “Kanye West and his copyright infringement woes,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, January 18, 2012; and “When life hands you lemons, pray for a washing machine,” The Advocate Magazine, December 2011 among others.

Nabel received his B.A. in Global Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara, graduating with high honors in 2005. He received his J.D. in 2009 from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, where he lectures several times each year on “Deposition Strategies and Techniques.”

Paul’s deep experience in operations, technology, and program management makes him a valuable asset to the CASA/LA Board. He currently serves as a Managing Director with Oaktree Capital Management in Los Angeles where he is responsible for Infrastructure Services.  Paul joined Oaktree in 2008 after having spent over two and a half years as a Managing Director in the Bank Technology, Operations and Enterprise Change Management departments of Countrywide Financial Corporation. Prior to that, Paul was a Partner in the Advisory Services group at KPMG, where he led the west coast practice focusing on business solutions for financial institutions. Before that, he held management positions at Bank of America and Security Pacific National Bank. Paul received a B.S. degree in Biology from the University of California at Los Angeles, and an M.B.A. with a concentration in Corporate Finance and Investments from the University of Southern California.

Paul and his wife Tama raised three children in Los Angeles and are actively involved in the Chrohns and Colitis Foundation of America.  Paul’s past non-profit board memberships include Alternative Living for the Aging, a Los Angeles based non- profit serving the community by providing seniors with affordable housing and support services, and Temple Isaiah.

As CASA/LA looks to efficiently scale its volunteer base to serve more children and grow awareness in the Los Angeles business community, Mr. Deitch’s operating experience will be invaluable to CASA.

“I am honored to be able to participate in CASA Los Angeles and look forward to continuing to enhance the organization’s ability to grow and support its 400 volunteers who are in the field performing important work for a population of children who are woefully underserved” Paul said.  “CASA is entering an exciting chapter in its evolution and I believe the best is yet to come.”

Organization Overview

CASA of Los Angeles activates volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected foster children in the court and the community.  A CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocate, is a trained and supervised volunteer, appointed by a judge to advocate in the best interest of a foster child.  CASA of Los Angeles actively recruits, trains and screens these volunteers.

Overview of Program Position

CASA/LA’s Monterey Park office is seeking a highly experienced advocacy program director to provide leadership and oversee staff in the coaching and engagement of volunteers. This individual will be dedicated to our mission and will be responsible for the overall success of the program.  The advocacy program director will create and implement a long-term strategy to build capacity and growth of CASA/LA.  This individual will need to ensure the successful implementation and adoption of programs.   They will also partner with the executive director and the development team to forward the CASA program towards success as a viable, non-profit, volunteer-centric, organization to help children in foster care.  S/he will do this by bringing best practices in the field and through cutting edge training and program implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Leadership
• Recruit, interview and select well-qualified program staff.  Provide training, coaching, and technical assistance to staff in order to ensure excellence in program outcomes.  Set expectations, provide support and guidance, hold staff accountable, and oversee work-plans.  Evaluate team on an ongoing basis, including weekly one-on-one meetings with staff, annual reviews, identify and implement individual professional development plans.
• Provide succinct and timely updates on the status of each program including all related successes and challenges as they occur, in weekly meetings with executive director, monthly meeting with the board of directors, and other meetings as requested.
• Serve as a member of CASA’s senior management team.  Provide programmatic leadership and vision to CASA.  Represent CASA at local/state/national meetings, task forces, and interagency trainings.
• Communicate and collaborate with clients and other stakeholders to gain community support for the program and to solicit input to improve the program.

Program Management 


• Engage and coach volunteers to become effective child advocates.
• Develop and oversee CASA coordinator project that trains volunteers to coach and support other volunteers.
• Plan the delivery of the overall programs in accordance with the mission and the goals of CASA. Develop new initiatives that support the strategic direction of CASA as well as develop and implement long-term goals and objectives.
• Provide reporting on program outcomes for Board and grantors.
• Continue to develop a program evaluation framework to assess the strengths of the program and to identify areas for improvement, building evidence based, data driven program design.
• Manage and supervise a team of advocacy specialists in accomplishing all initiatives.  Foster healthy working relationships within the team and across CASA/LA.   Work with staff to set performance targets in accordance with grant requirements and organizational goals.
• Implement a systematized volunteer survey and feedback for data to drive program improvement, excellent customer service, and overall program design.
• Ensure that program activities operate within the policies and procedures of the organization and are compliant with all relevant legislation and professional standards in addition to court rules and regulations and national CASA protocols.
•  Other duties as assigned.
• Candidate Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a human service discipline, social work, psychology, legal, or related field.
• Strong management experience with staff of 10-15 employees.  Experience in change management a plus.
• Experience in the field of child welfare, juvenile law, non-profit and/or volunteer program management.
• Minimum of ten years of progressive experience (at least five in a leadership position) with a non-profit or foundation focused on children.
• Experience with advocacy work, campaigns, outreach, public education and communications.
• Knowledge of program operations, data management, quality assurance and continuous quality improvement systems.
• Ability to think strategically, and establish goals and priorities that will be included in a multi-year work-plan for the program.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and California agencies relating to foster care and juvenile court system.
• Inter-cultural fluency; demonstrable desire and capacity to reach underserved 
populations.
• Experience with grants management: private, federal, and state contracts.
• Experience with budgeting and accounting.

Preferred

• Fluency in Spanish
• Additional experience in prospect research and government grant writing
• Legal background

Please email cover letter and resume to careers@casala.org

CASA of Los Angeles is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering diversity within its staff.

Click here to download job description in PDF format

The “Outstanding Volunteer” award is given to a philanthropic volunteer who demonstrates exceptional voluntary spirit in providing service in caring for others over a sustained period of time.

“There is no one more dedicated to her work with CASA/LA and to the children that she helps, every day, than Renne Bilson,” said Dilys T. Garcia, Executive Director of CASA of Los Angeles. “She has been a guidepost for all of our volunteers, embodying everything that a CASA should be. We couldn’t be more happy for her or prouder that she is a part of our organization.”

“I’m incredibly honored to have been chosen to receive this award among fellow volunteers throughout all walks of philanthropy,” said Renne Bilson. “Working with CASA of Los Angeles has become a great passion in my life. When you have such a strong connection with a cause, it’s easy to dedicate yourself to it. I’d like to thank everyone involved with the AFP for singling me out among so many deserving people.”

ABOUT CASA/LA – Founded in 1978, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Los Angeles (CASA/LA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in the dependency court system. CASA/LA volunteers are judge-appointed to oversee and advocate for children to ensure they are not overlooked in foster homes or in the overburdened legal and social service system.  Throughout this process, CASA/LA volunteers are often the only unpaid voice speaking up for children and focused on their best interest.

For more information about CASA, Los Angles, please visit www.casala.org.

National Philanthropy Day® (NPD) is one day set aside each year for the purpose of recognizing the great contribution philanthropy makes to our society and to honor individuals, businesses and support organizations that are active in the philanthropic community.  NPD was founded by Los Angeles philanthropist and attorney Doug Freeman. The first NPD awards luncheon was held in cities across the country in 1986, after President Ronald Reagan proclaimed November 15 as National Philanthropy Day. Award-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch penned the music and lyrics for “Now, More Than Ever,” the anthem for the event. Since then, NPD is celebrated in all fifty states and Canada. NPD offers an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of charitable giving and the spirit that makes such generosity possible.

Monique Stevens was most recently Director of Family Advocacy Programs at the Children’s Center of the Antelope Valley, a non-profit agency whose mission is to treat and prevent child abuse, where she oversaw two programs in collaboration with the Department of Children and Family Services.  She is an experienced family law attorney whose earlier work includes the Family Law Facilitator’s Office in the San Diego Superior Court, where she assisted families with child custody and visitation issues, paternity and divorce cases, and domestic violence restraining orders.

Ms. Stevens has a BA in Psychology from UCSD and a JD from USD School of Law. She is also and is a member of Toastmasters.

“Throughout my career, my passion has been working with children in need to provide them with safe passage to adulthood,” said Monique Stevens. “CASA/LA has given me the opportunity to make an even bigger impact in the lives of Los Angeles’ endangered children and I am excited to be joining the CASA team.”

The mission of CASA of Los Angeles is to improve the lives of the children in the dependency court system through trained, dedicated, and effective volunteer advocates who are professionally supported by an experienced staff.
A CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocate, is a trained and supervised volunteer, appointed by a judge to advocate for the best interests of a child in foster care, both in the court and in the community.  Children in foster care have been removed from their homes by the Department of Children and Family Services because of abuse, neglect or abandonment and are under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court system.

The need for CASA volunteers in Los Angeles County and particularly the Antelope Valley is unparalleled.  On average, between 600 – 700 children per month from the Antelope Valley report allegations of abuse and are reported to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.  Each year about 1,000 Antelope Valley Children are referred to the Sheriff’s Department for abuse investigations, constituting nearly a third of the child abuse referrals in the entire Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The CASA volunteer is often the only person in the system who is not paid.  With the high volume of children in foster care, CASA/LA’s mission is to not only help them successfully navigate the court system but to help them achieve permanence.

ABOUT CASA/LA – Founded in 1978, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Los Angeles (CASA/LA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in the dependency court system. CASA/LA volunteers are judge-appointed to speak up for children caught in the overburdened dependency court system and to ensure they are not overlooked.  Throughout this process, CASA/LA volunteers are often the only unpaid voices speaking up for the best interests of these vulnerable at-risk children.

For more information about CASA/LA, please visit http://www.casala.org.

CASA of Los Angeles-Antelope Valley’s phone number is 661/723-2272

Media Contact: Dan Spelling/Brian Mcwilliams at Spelling Communications

310/838-4010   dspelling@spellcom.com / bmcwilliams@spellcom.com

Mr. Randall’s knowledge of business development and extensive sales and management skills brings great value to the CASA/LA Board. He spent 40 years with Lightolier, aiding the company through years of organizational and industrial change in both the national and international markets. Lightolier, recently purchased by Philips, is a century-old lighting and design company that has become a highly reputed producer of architectural lighting, and has been a major player in the store-lighting, hospitality and entertainment spaces. Lightolier currently focuses on the movement towards energy efficiency in commercial and residential markets.

With the recent changes to its operational philosophy and financing, due to state and federal budget cuts, CASA/LA will look to Mr. Randall’s experience to assist in the organization’s continued growth and stability moving forward.

“Up to this point my career has been spent illuminating just about everything this world has in it,” said Raymond Randall. “And now I have the opportunity to help shed some light onto the growing issue of the foster care system in Los Angeles, and assist CASA/LA in assuring that foster children have safe passage to adulthood.”

Randall graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a B.A. in Economics and earned an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Southern California. He also served in the United States Marine Corps for three years from 1966-1969.

ABOUT CASA/LA – Founded in 1978, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Los Angeles (CASA, LA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in the dependency court system. CASA/LA volunteers are judge-appointed to oversee and advocate for children to ensure they are not overlooked in foster homes or in the overburdened legal and social service system.  Throughout this process, CASA/LA volunteers are often the only unpaid voice speaking up for children and focused on their best interest.

For more information about CASA, Los Angeles, please visit www.casala.org.