Early Childhood Court Case Manager
Official Job Title: Court Program Specialist II (Early Childhood Court Case Manager) - Unified Children's Court Division (State Funded)
Description:
This is responsible case management work in the circuit’s Early Childhood Court (EEC), a Problem-Solving Court to assist families with children ages zero to five in the dependency system. This position assists with the case flow and coordination of ECC cases in accordance with Florida’s ECC Best Practice Standards. The Unified Children’s Court (UCC) Division handles related family law matters pending in multiple parts of the court system. The nature of these cases is often high in conflict and involve families and children at risk.
The focus of case management functions is maintaining and tracking compliance with Florida Statutes, Rules of Procedure, and local rule requirements governing Juvenile Dependency and Delinquency, Family, and Domestic Violence Injunction cases. Work involves assisting in tracking and monitoring the judge’s caseload and progressing cases through the appropriate court processes to timely disposition and expeditiously drafting court orders and providing judicial support to manage the caseload effectively.
This position is also responsible for intake and screening of ECC referrals for eligibility, and coordinates transfer of identified cases before the ECC Judge. The ECC Case Manager serves as a liaison between the judiciary, attorneys, litigants, court partners, and service providers. This position performs case setting and scheduling, calendaring, reviews and sets motions, prepares notices of hearing and drafts court orders for the judge’s signature. This position attends court hearings in support of the ECC caseload and prepares Orders of Referral to Mediation and the General Magistrate, as needed.
This position works under the supervision of the ECC Program Coordinator and under the general direction of the UCC Division Director, with work being reviewed through periodic meetings, reports, and conferences.
This position is eligible for a hybrid remote work/onsite schedule after a 90-day period, as outlined by existing Circuit policies and procedures.
Working Conditions:
Moderate noise; business office setting.
Physical Demands:
Work involves a significant amount of standing, walking, sitting, talking, listening, balancing, stooping, and reaching with hands and arms; must be able to transfer up to 10 lbs.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with course work in psychology, sociology, criminal justice, public administration, or a closely related field.
- Three (3) years of related professional experience. Experience in the court of assignment is preferred.
- Master’s degree in a related field may substitute for up to one year of required experience.
- Juris Doctor degree may substitute for two years of required experience.
- Paralegal Certificate preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
- Knowledge of laws, court rules, procedures and policies, legal documents, and legal factors pertaining to the court of assignment.
- Knowledge of modern principles and practices of public and judicial administration.
- Knowledge of research techniques and the sources and availability of current information in the area of assignment.
- Knowledge of the organization, functions, responsibilities and procedures in the area of assignment.
- Knowledge of calendaring procedures in the court of assignment and of modern techniques of case management.
- Knowledge of modern office practices and procedures.
- Ability to establish and maintain administrative, fiscal, and general records and to prepare reports and answer questions from records.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills essential to responding to inquiries from the public and legal community.
- Ability to work effectively on an interagency basis with professionals from multiple disciplines.
- Ability to learn continual statutory and legislative changes.
- Ability to collect relevant court information and possess the skill to use the information to assist with case flow.
- Ability to work effectively with people in stressful situations and deal tactfully with the public.
- Ability to express ideas and communicate effectively in writing, orally and through presentations.
- Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
- Ability to accurately maintain a variety of complex records, be organized, and attentive to detail.
- Ability to operate a personal computer and laptop, as well as standard office equipment.
- Ability to use word processing, spreadsheet, excel, data base software applications, and remote videoconferencing via Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
- Ability to exercise critical thinking skills and independent judgment.
- Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality concerning sensitive issues before the court and as mandated by governing law.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the judiciary, court administration personnel, attorneys, and other private and public agency staff.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision, recognize and establish work priorities, and accomplish tasks and assignments on time.
Responsibilities:
- Provides required judicial support and works collaboratively with designated Unified Children’s Court (UCC) Division ECC Judge to ensure operational effectiveness, efficiency, and fidelity of the circuit’s ECC model.
- Processes referrals and screens dependency cases for eligibility for ECC, including research of case histories and related cases involving the family to ensure court orders do not conflict.
- Assists with setting cases before designated ECC Judge, performs calendaring of cases set for hearing, prepares notices of hearing and drafts court orders for judge’s signature to progress cases as necessary.
- Reviews and sets motions for hearing as directed, and conducts research as required.
- Facilitates remote proceedings for ECC hearings where applicable and work collaboratively with Clerk’s Office to ensure all summons and Notices of Hearing correspond accordingly.
- Performs caseload management of ECC caseload to facilitate compliance, expeditious, and timely case progression to disposition in accordance with statutory guidelines and timeframes, Florida Statutes, Rules of Procedure, and local rule requirements.
- Performs administrative tasks, such as composing and preparing notes and orders, documents, forms and correspondence, and creates (if needed) and maintains record systems for efficient case management.
- Reviews ECC caseload audits of filed, pending, and closed cases, performs caseload management, and compiles statistical data related to performance measures.
- Provides court hearing coverage as needed in support of ECC caseload.
- Facilitates referrals to appropriate community providers related to ECC caseload.
- Participates in family team meetings related to ECC caseload, as needed.
- Prepares Domestic Violence (DV) Injunction paperwork for all related DV cases set before designated ECC Judge and provides court hearing coverage.
- Prepares Orders of Referral to Mediation and coordinates and schedules mediation dates.
- Prepares Orders of Referral to General Magistrate, where applicable.
- Prepares and tracks cases requiring orders for transport of inmates to appear at hearing, coordinates use of child testimony rooms and video as needed, and other related duties.
- Serves as ECC liaison between the judiciary, Clerk’s Office, and court partners.
- Responds to inquiries from litigants, the public, attorneys, court partners, and all others relating to ECC caseload, cases set for hearing, outstanding motions to be set, emergency matters, trials, and other matters requiring judicial attention for caseload progression.
- Performs data collection and entry in the Florida Dependency Court Information System (FDCIS), as well as all required local and statewide data compilation, analysis, and reporting.
- Maintains ECC data and case status, as directed.
- Updates ECC procedures and forms, as needed.
- Attends regular provider, stakeholder, ECC Multidisciplinary Workgroup meetings, and all other operational meetings, as directed.
- Participates in ECC education, training, conferences, and events as directed.
- Performs all other related work as required and as directed.