Child Welfare Attorney

Position Overview

Position
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Child Welfare Attorney Classification
:
Full-time, Non-exempt Reports to
:
Chief Legal Officer Company
:
Texans Together Location
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Houston, TX

The Child Welfare Attorney will represent the Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) team serving DFPS Region 6A/6B, which includes Harris County and 12 surrounding counties. This position represents the SSCC in court hearings and legal proceedings throughout Stage I and Stage II of Texas’ Community-Based Care transition. The Attorney will also be responsible for supervising the Court Liaison Paralegal. This role involves frequent travel across the 13-county Region 6 for court hearings and client meetings.

During Stage I, the SSCC is responsible for foster care placements and services for children in DFPS custody, including overseeing adoptions and providing for children’s needs, but DFPS retains case management and legal oversight. In this stage, the attorney’s duties will focus on supporting these functions and collaborating with DFPS:

• Court Representation & Coordination: Attend court hearings (e.g. emergency removals, status hearings, permanency reviews) involving children placed by the SSCC. Represent the SSCC’s interests and provide information to the court regarding placement status, services, and child well-being, in coordination with DFPS caseworkers and attorneys. Ensure the SSCC’s role in placement and services is properly presented to the court.
• Legal Advice & Compliance: Advise SSCC program staff on legal requirements during Stage I, including compliance with court orders, DFPS policies, and relevant laws/regulations. Work closely with DFPS counsel to align on case strategy, permanency plans, and any legal issues that arise, since DFPS retains primary case trajectory responsibility in Stage I.
• Adoption and Permanency Support: Provide legal support for adoption processes and permanency planning. Oversee legal documentation or court filings related to adoptions that the SSCC is facilitating (e.g. reviewing adoption agreements, coordinating with adoption attorneys or DFPS for relinquishment/TPR paperwork). Ensure that all adoptions and permanency outcomes handled by the SSCC meet legal standards and are completed smoothly under DFPS oversight.
• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate any legal risks to the organization during Stage I service provision. This includes addressing issues such as foster home contract disputes, confidentiality and records compliance (HIPAA/FERPA), reporting requirements, or potential liability concerns. Escalate and resolve legal problems in collaboration with DFPS and SSCC leadership.

In Stage II, the SSCC assumes primary case management responsibilities for children in care – dramatically expanding its role. The SSCC’s duties will now include developing and managing service plans, conducting visits, and handling court-related activities and decisions (e.g. reunification vs. termination) that DFPS previously managed. Accordingly, the attorney’s role will grow to take lead on legal matters:

• Lead Court Representation: Take primary responsibility for court proceedings involving children under SSCC case management. Serve as the SSCC’s attorney of record in hearings – presenting case updates, evidence, and recommendations to the court on behalf of the SSCC. This includes drafting and filing court documents (motions, orders, reports) as needed, and ensuring timely notices and submissions for all hearings (status reviews, permanency hearings, placement review hearings, termination trials, etc.).
  
  Coordinate closely with any DFPS attorneys or county attorneys or guardians ad litem to align legal strategy.
• Caseworker Support & Witness Preparation: Collaborate with SSCC case managers who will be serving as witnesses in legal proceedings (formerly DFPS caseworker duties). Prepare case workers for testimony, advising them on court protocol, evidentiary requirements, and how to effectively communicate case facts and permanency recommendations to judges. Accompany and support SSCC staff during their court appearances, and step in to provide legal clarification or…