Employment, Fellowships, Internships and Volunteer Opportunities

Employment Opportunities

CCA is an equal opportunity employer that actively seeks a diverse and vibrant work staff.  CCA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Below is a list of all open positions with CCA. 

Part-Time HR Manager

The Center for Children’s Advocacy’s Medical-Legal The Center for Children’s Advocacy has an opening for a part-time HR Manager to administer all aspects of Human Resources in a twelve to sixteen (12-16) hour per week part-time position.

Responsibilities

The HR Manager will be responsible for the following duties:

• Manage the staffing process, including recruiting, assisting in forming hiring committees  for interviewing candidates, including DEI related questions, check references and assist with the onboarding process for new employees
• Ensure job descriptions are up to date and compliant with all local, state and federal regulations
• Develop training materials to help ensure employees understand their job responsibilities
• Create a compensation strategy for all employees based on market research and pay surveys; keep the strategy up to date, and work with CCA management and finance director to establish salary scales and benefits in line with market analysis. 
• Investigate employee issues and conflicts and brings them to resolution
• Ensure the organization’s compliance with local, state and federal regulations
• Ensure all Employee Handbook remains up to date and ensure policies are applied consistently and maintain HR systems and processes
• Maintain company organization charts and employee directory

 Qualifications

We are seeking a candidate who has demonstrated commitment and experience in HR related fields.  Candidates should have

• A bachelor’s degree in human resources, labor relations, organizational development, business or related area with three or more years of experience in HR related work
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite
• Experience with a human resources information system (HRIS), such as Workday, Zoho People, Cloud HR, SmartRecruiters or others
• Knowledge of a broad range of human resource strategies and practices, including compensation, performance management, safety, hiring and employee relations; able to apply these strategies and practices in compliance with employment regulations
• Understanding of key DEI concepts and best practices
• Ability to create a culture of diversity, inclusivity, collaboration and teamwork
• Experience with analyzing data to guide strategic employment planning
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize and complete tasks as directed
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team
• Ability to identify, analyze, and resolve complex problems

Salary/Benefits

Salary and benefits are commensurate with experience and are within the general range of salaries for public interest organizations.  Salary range for this position is $37 to $48 per hour depending on expertise and prior experience. 

To Apply

Email cover letter and resume to employment@cca-ct.org.     

Applications will be accepted until position is filled. 

Part-Time Paralegal

The Center for Children’s Advocacy has an opening for a part-time (20 hours per week) paralegal position working from our Bridgeport, Connecticut office.

This position will be responsible for providing paralegal and case management support primarily to CCA’s Racial Justice & Educational Success Projects and CCA’s Harding High School Legal Clinic. This position will support attorneys representing youth who are justice- involved, child welfare-involved and special education students.

This position will also be responsible for handling intakes and outreach at CCA’s school-based legal clinic at Harding High School. The Clinic provides legal support to students to remove barriers to academic progress. Legal issues include immigration, legal advocacy for students experiencing homelessness and access to state systems.

CCA is committed to the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. CCA is also committed to advancing racial justice, cultural competence and anti-racism practices and policies internally as well as in the communities we serve.

Candidates with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Paralegal and case management responsibilities:
• Provide administrative support to CCA’s Racial Justice and Educational
• Success Project attorneys such as requesting client records, reviewing client records, drafting letters, obtaining releases, organizing and maintaining files, preparing for trainings and clinics;
• Provide information and referrals, as appropriate, and conduct follow up with clients after legal services provided;
• Maintain written and oral communication with clients
• Conduct legal research and legislative research on juvenile justice and special education
• issues, as needed
• Open and track cases on case management software system (Legal Files) and on Microsoft Teams;
• Meet with parents and youth to help them access relevant state benefits and assistance;
• Provide support and data collection and distribution for Racial and Ethnic Disparities (RED) group meetings
• Work on special projects as needed, among other related tasks
• Harding High School Legal Clinic responsibilities:
• Staff a legal clinic at Harding High School approximately two times/week;
• Create outreach materials to share with students and school staff;
• Conduct outreach activities to student groups and school staff;
• Conduct intakes from high school students and work collaboratively with CCA attorneys to address legal issues and make appropriate referrals; and,
• Input all cases, consults and trainings into Legal Files.

Qualifications
We are seeking a candidate who has demonstrated commitment to providing quality advocacy
and support to children in addition to traditional administrative tasks. Candidates should have:

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills;
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to multitask and prioritize;
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team;
• Proficiency in Office 2016 (Word, PowerPoint & Excel);
• Willing to learn case management system;
• Familiarity with Microsoft Teams and Zoom highly preferred;
• Bachelor’s degree preferred;
• Two or more years of related experience;
• Experience with direct client contact, especially youth and young adults, a plus
• Knowledge of special education, child welfare and juvenile justice is a plus;
• Knowledge of child advocacy issues as well as juvenile justice experience preferred;
• Transportation and work related travel required;
• Fluency in Spanish strongly preferred.
• Commitment to racial justice, educational equity and DEI principles in organizational settings.

Salary/Benefits
Salary range is from $21,500-24,000, based on experience, and is in line with other public interest organizations. Hybrid/remote work flexibility available.

To Apply
Email cover letter and resume to employment@cca-ct.org. Applications will be accepted until position is filled

The Center’s Medical Legal Partnership is a collaborative project that provides on-site legal assistance, education, training, and policy advocacy to central Connecticut pediatric centers. We offer internships to one or two energetic and dedicated law students for the fall and spring semesters and each summer.

Applicants must have excellent writing and legal reasoning skills, and should be familiar with basic aspects of poverty and public interest law.

Interns must have access to a car, and will be expected to participate in client interviews, negotiations, litigation and legal research activities. In addition, students will participate in and assist attorneys on matters at the MLPP sites at Saint Francis Hospital, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Charter Oak Community Health Center, Community Health Services, and The Hospital of Central Connecticut.

More information about the Medical Legal Partnership Project is available here.

Application Deadlines
For fall must be received by June 1.
For spring must be received by November 1.
For summer must be received by February 15.

Please send cover letter and resume to broswig@cca-ct.org 

Volunteer Interpreter – Spanish/English

Support attorneys who provide legal services to Spanish-speaking clients. This unpaid position may be filled by a college or graduate student and requires a commitment of at least one day per week.  The Center for Children’s Advocacy will assist volunteers with work-study applications, service learning or clinical credit that is available from their schools. 

Volunteer will provide interpretation during client intake calls, meetings, and telephone follow-up. May assist with document translation and other administrative tasks, will learn basic interviewing skills and become familiar with immigration law, education and juvenile law. 

Qualifications

• Fluent in Spanish
• College or graduate student
• Good interpersonal and organizational skills, self-starter and highly motivated
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently

Your application should include a resume, cover letter and two references. 
To apply, please email Eileen Brennan.