Reentry Coordinator with The Pennsylvania Innocence Project

About the position The Pennsylvania Innocence Project is seeking a highly organized and self-driven Reentry Social Worker to join its team. The Social Worker will work with, and be supervised by, the Executive Director and the Legal Director. The Social Worker is primarily responsible for the reentry needs of people who are wrongly convicted across Pennsylvania who have been released from prison. This includes conducting needs assessments, providing individualized case management, further developing the reentry services program, facilitating a bi-weekly support group, supporting incarcerated clients, and supporting the legal team in mitigation work. Strong writing skills and the ability to work independently are a must. The Social Worker will also supervise one or two MSW interns per year. Some travel and evening and weekend work is required. The Social Worker will be based in the Philadelphia office but will support clients throughout Pennsylvania.

Responsibilities

• Conduct needs assessments for individuals as they prepare to reenter the community outside prison walls.
• Provide trauma-responsive case management services, collaborating with participants to develop and implement a reentry plan based on assessed needs and participant interests.
• Ensure that basic needs are met (housing, employment, benefits, transportation, healthcare, mental health support, etc.).
• Listen to clients’ concerns and provide emotional support and assistance as required.
• Coordinate client applications to the Project’s emergency fund.
• Support participant engagement in services, including referral to and follow-up with external providers in areas including, but not limited to: health and mental health, substance use treatment, parenting support, and educational programming.
• Facilitate bi-weekly support group.
• Supervise one to two MSW students per year, which may include interns in both the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh offices.
• Conduct guest lectures at the Project’s legal clinics to provide training on trauma-informed practice and on reentry services to law student and undergraduate interns.
• Continue to grow reentry programs as the needs of Pennsylvania’s freed and exonerated community continue to grow and change.
• Regularly update the Homecoming Handbook and Family Resource Guide.
• Engage with local and national reentry resources, including but not limited to, representing the Project in the Philadelphia Reentry Coalition and actively engaging with the Innocence Network’s reentry community.
• Coordinating support activities for both freed and incarcerated clients, including holiday packages and a fall food drive, and developing new support programs as needed.
• Work with the Project’s attorneys and legal staff members to conduct mitigation investigations and prepare materials for sentencing hearings and clemency and parole applications.
• Provide support to incarcerated clients with active cases through participating in legal calls and prison visits.
• Testify at bail and sentencing hearings about the Project’s reentry services program.
• Help coordinate travel and registration for annual Innocence Network Conference.
• Work with the Project’s Development and Communications team to facilitate client access to Project events and to opportunities to share their stories.

Requirements

• MSW preferred, with a minimum of 2 years of work experience.
• Candidate must be willing to travel throughout Pennsylvania to support clients and for training and other job-related activities.
• Strong case management skills, the ability to work as part of a team, and excellent communication skills with a passion for social and racial justice.
• Must have a reliable car and valid driver’s license.
• Knowledge of services and benefits available in Pennsylvania, as well as experience working with people who are incarcerated or who are returning home from prison or a similar experience.
• Sensitivity to the unique needs facing freed and exonerated people who have spent years wrongly incarcerated is required.
• Strong writing skills and the ability to work independently are a must.

Nice-to-haves

• MSW preferred

Benefits

• benefits

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