Nlada Reentry Partnerships Fellow - Santa Cruz, CA

NLADA Reentry Partnerships Fellow - Santa Cruz, CA

Because the quality of justice in America should not depend on how much money a person has, National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) leads public defenders, community advocates, and civil attorneys to advance justice and expand opportunity for all by promoting excellent delivery of legal services for people who cannot afford counsel. NLADA's AmeriCorps VISTA program, Defending Communities in Service, builds sustainable community relationships, data systems, and practices that allow public defender offices to more holistically support communities in need with a strong focus on racial equity.

In this position, NLADA has partnered with the Santa Cruz County Office of the Public Defender (PDO) to support the development of Project R.I.S.E (Reentry, Integration, Support & Education). This project will build on PDO's commitment to provide holistic representation to people ensnared in the criminal legal system by intentionally supporting and advocating for individuals exiting custody after the conclusion of their legal case. Too often, members of our community leave a period of incarceration with no support, stable housing, connections to services, and the material resources they need to succeed. In this role, you'll join a team of advocates working to create a robust re-entry program, informed by the latest research on what works in re-integrating individuals exiting a period of incarceration.

You'll be joining a brand new holistic public defender office in Santa Cruz - the first of its kind in our county. Further help on this page can be found by clicking here.

Member Duties : This role will support the development of Project RISE (Reentry, Integration, Support & Education) to provide reentry support. The VISTA will map local & national landscape of resources available to support individuals leaving incarceration.

This VISTA is embedded in the holistic defense team & will learn from 6 client advocates & 2 social workers who provide direct support & advocacy to clients. Activities include a needs assessment to better understand challenges clients face as they leave custody, research on existing reentry resources, & meetings with partners to strengthen networks for reentry support. At the 6-month mark, the VISTA will produce a draft map of available resources for reentry & an outline of a Project RISE practice guide. After a year, the VISTA will have solidified key reentry partnerships, developed referral processes to connect clients with resources, & produced a final Project RISE practice guide that provides practical guidance for providing reentry support.

Program Benefits : Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend , Living Allowance , Training , Stipend , Childcare assistance if eligible , Health Coverage* , Housing , Education award upon successful completion of service , Relocation Allowance .

Terms :

Permits working at another job during off hours , Permits attendance at school during off hours .

Service Areas :

Neighborhood Revitalization , Housing , Homelessness , Community Outreach , Public Safety , Ex-Offender Reentry , Technology , Health , Hunger , Community and Economic Development .

Skills :

Public Speaking , Non-Profit Management , Communications , Fund raising/Grant Writing , General Skills , Conflict Resolution , Business/Entrepreneur , Law , Social Services , Computers/Technology , Writing/Editing , Community Organization , Team Work , Urban Planning , Leadership .