1. Working With Social Workers
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Child Advocacy
Jess Sucherman, J.D., Alyssa Patzoldt, J.D.
Tyra Moore, LICSW, LCSW-C
Kimberly Daulton, LICSW, LCSW-C
August 2013

2. Overview of the Training
Who We Are and What We Do
Social Work Practice Foundation
Improving Advocacy
Ethical, Legal, and Practical Issues with Incorporating Social Workers
Skills for Effective Partnering

3. Who We Are
Children's Law Center envisions a future in which every child in the District of Columbia has a solid foundation of family, health and education.
Our Values
Holistic Representation
Impact
Creativity
Teamwork
Tenacity
Respect

4. What We Do The GAL Project Healthy Together Families First
Best Interests Representation
Healthy Together
Families First
Pro Bono Program

5. The Social Work Project
Program development and structure
A spectrum of social worker involvement
Consultation
Integration

6. Models of Legal/Social Work Collaboration
Agency
Multidisciplinary
Interdisciplinary/Employee
Consultant
Integrated

7. Social Work Practice Foundation

8. NASW Code of Ethics Preamble
The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well­being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty
Social workers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of clients. “Clients” is used inclusively to refer to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

9. NASW Code of Ethics Preamble
Social workers are sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to end discrimination, oppression, poverty, and other forms of social injustice.
Social workers seek to enhance the capacity of people to address their own needs.
Social workers also seek to promote the responsiveness of organizations, communities, and other social institutions to individuals’ needs and social problems.

10. NASW Code of Ethics
The mission of the social work profession is rooted in a set of core values.
service
social justice
dignity and worth of the person
importance of human relationships
integrity
competence

11. Client Specific Ethical Principles
Self-determination
Confidentiality
Who is the client?
Cultural competence and social diversity
Termination

12. Type of Social Workers Micro Social Work Macro/Mezzo Social Work
Child welfare
Case Management
Mental Health
Hospitals/Clinics
School
Veteran Affairs
Military
Elder care
Prisons
Corporations
Politics
Community Organizing (Mezzo)
Research/Evaluation
Advocacy/Policy
Education
Supervision/ Consultation (Mezzo)
Program Development (Mezzo)
Administration (mezzo)

13. Social Work Education and Licensure
Bachelors of Social Work (BSW)
Masters of Social Work (MSW)
Doctorate of Social Work (DSW)
Licensure
Bachelors Level
Masters Level
Advanced Generalist Level
Clinical Level

14. Social Work Practice The value of relationships Use of self
Strengths based/solution focused frame work
Process, not just outcomes
Empower versus enable
Informed rational decision making

15. Challenges to Social Work Practice
Layers of bureaucracy
Jurisdiction/Agency specific stressors
Vicarious trauma and burn out
Personal capacity

16. Improving Advocacy with External Social Workers

17. Advocacy Through Collaboration
Why collaborate at all?
Mobilize resources
Expedite timelines
Consensus as a means of best interests
Better outcomes for clients
Thinking beyond collaboration
Increased quality in legal arguments
Robust expansion in advocacy

18. Improving Advocacy Making the most of relationship
Understanding and managing conflict
Embracing the global perspective
Increasing cross-training
Understanding the limits of social work practice.

19. Improving Advocacy Recognizing advocacy perspectives
Managing confidentiality
Respecting and appreciating social work skill set
Understanding credentialing

20. Incorporating Social Workers in a Legal Organization

21. Caveats
There are many ethical, legal, and practical issues with incorporating social workers into legal organizations
This is an overview and highlights how CLC has addressed these issues
This is dependent on particular organization needs and local rules and laws

22. Interdisciplinary Model
Social worker is an integrated member of the team.
Social worker is obligated to adhere to lawyer’s professional standards, including confidentiality.
Social Worker is not an independent provider and uses his/her skills to support the work of the law office.

23. Ethical and Legal Issues
Confidentiality/Informed Consent
ABA Model Rules 1.6 and 5.4
Mandated Reporting
Confidentiality walls
CLC’s jurisdictional solution
Conflicts
Legal issues
Social work issues
CLC’s approach to conflicts

24. Ethical and Legal Issues
Social worker as lawyer’s agent
ABA Model Rule 5.3
Represented party contact
Confidentiality
Legal standards drive advocacy
Social workers in court
Practice conflicts
Values implications

25. Practical and Logistical Issues
Role clarity
Lack of consensus
Loss of autonomy
Making use of limited social worker resources

26. Practical and Logistical Issues
Supervision
Cross training
Hiring social service staff
What do you need?
Salary
Interviewing
Interns

27. Effective Partnership

28. Skills for Effective Partnering
Collaboration can be challenging!
Social workers and lawyers need to develop self awareness in order to partner effectively.
There are a variety of skills that can enhance collaboration in the best interest of client outcomes.

29. Skills Role Clarity Positive Communication Trust
Shared decision-making
Empathy
Acceptance

30. Skills Cross training Shared Language
Process in place to protect client confidences
Understanding of people outside of organization
Difference in world view

31. Questions? Contact Information
D.C.’s Children’s Law Center 616 H Street, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001, (202)

32. Questions? Kimberly Daulton, Director of Social Work
ext. 516,
Tyra Moore, Senior Social Worker
ext. 557,
Jess Sucherman, Supervising Attorney
ext. 575,
Alyssa Patzoldt, Supervising Attorney
ext. 532,