Social Worker - Family Resiliency

Family Advocacy Project (FAP) is an innovative, first-of-its-kind initiative in Georgia, launched in spring 2026 as a collaborative project of Wellroot Family Services and the Barton Child Law & Policy Center at Emory University. This interdisciplinary, prevention-focused program brings together attorneys, social workers, and family advocates to provide early, holistic support to families at risk of entering the child welfare system. By integrating legal advocacy with trauma-informed social work, FAP works to stabilize families, address underlying challenges such as housing instability, mental health, and access to resources, and ultimately prevent unnecessary foster care placements. Designed as a scalable model for replication across the state, FAP represents a cutting-edge approach to family preservation that centers dignity, equity, and long-term family well-being.

The Social Worker is a key member of this interdisciplinary legal-social team, providing comprehensive, trauma-informed services to children and families. Working in close partnership with attorneys and community providers, this position provides direct social work support and advocacy to clients, conducts intake and client interviews, assesses clients’ needs and goals, ensures clients are engaged in appropriate and meaningful service plans, interacts with service providers, obtains progress reports from service providers, and advocates for clients at collateral meetings with schools, mental health providers, and in a variety of other settings. This role plays a vital part in shaping case strategy, strengthening family stability, and advancing a model of care that reimagines how legal and social services work together to keep families safely together.

The position also supports program evaluation, data collection, and continuous quality improvement efforts.

The Social Worker will be part of the attorney’s legal team and will report directly to the attorney on the case. Additionally, the position will be supported and guided by the Family Resiliency Manager, an employee of Wellroot Family Services.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct intake, screening, and biopsychosocial assessments.
• Develop and implement individualized service plans with families.
• Engage and support parents throughout their case to promote stability and participation.
• Connect families to community-based services including housing, behavioral health, substance use treatment, public benefits, and parenting support.
• Advocate for clients in court-related processes, case meetings, and across service systems.
• Collaborate closely with attorneys and interdisciplinary team members to inform case strategy.
• Communicate regularly with families, team members, and external partners to ensure coordinated care.
• Monitor progress and adjust plans to meet client needs.
• Maintain accurate documentation, case records, and required program data.
• Participate in team meetings, trainings, and program evaluation activities.

Work Expectations:

This is a community-based, full-time position in our Gainesville office with local travel required. The schedule is flexible and may include occasional evenings.

• Community-based with local travel required.
• Flexible schedule, including occasional evenings.
• This is a full-time position in our Gainesville office.

Requirements:

• Master of Social Work (MSW) or related degree preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field and three or more years of experience working with and supporting marginalized communities on issues such as housing, family law, mental health, domestic violence, public benefits, immigration, and child welfare involvement.
• Experience addressing trauma, mental health, substance use, and family systems.
• Experience in family preservation or legal-social work settings.

Skills

• Bilingual Spanish speaking required.
• Strong assessment, crisis intervention, and advocacy skills.
• Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary, team-based model.
• Ability to network and build partnerships with community-based organizations.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and equitable practice.
• Trained in cultural competency, motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed service delivery.

Salary : $50,000 - $55,000