JOB
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
RFQ26007
SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONAL FOR THE SIMPLE POSSESSION ADVOCACY AND REPRESENTATION PROGRAM (SPAR)
[BENEFITS INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT APPLY TO CONTRACTORS]
Expected Contract Period: This posting may be used to fill multiple contract positions anticipated to start ranging from March 2026 to December 2026.
This contract's current budget extends through June 30, 2027.
Application Due Date: Applications will be accepted until the contracts are fulfilled.
Location: This posting may be used to fill multiple contract positions statewide.
About the Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD)
We are an independent judicial branch agency mandated to implement constitutional and statutory guarantees of counsel and to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of indigent defense services funded by the state.
Mission: Upholding the rights of all people who are facing the loss of liberty or family by providing statewide leadership, administration, and support to the multidisciplinary public defense profession.
Vision: Public defense clients, everywhere in the state, receive truly equitable and client-centered representation from fully supported professionals.
Values: Justice ¦ Service ¦ Equity ¦ Excellence
Background on the SPAR Program: The 2023 Washington State Legislature appropriated funding to the Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) to help counties and cities provide public defense services for individuals charged under the offenses created in Second Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill (2E2SSB) 5536. Our Simple Possession Advocacy and Representation (SPAR) Program administers and disburses these funds. The legislature limited these funds to counties with a population of 500,000 or less, or to cities with a population of 200,000 or less.
Under RCW 2.70.200, OPD may provide reimbursement of eligible expenses to qualifying jurisdictions or, at the election of the jurisdiction, contract directly with indigent defense providers for consultation and representation services for indigent adults facing drug possession charges. OPD will also develop and administer a social services component, providing defenders statewide with access to social service professionals to assist public defense clients with navigating chemical health assessment and treatment requirements, and addressing other related challenges such as housing, transportation, and accessing government benefits.
Position Summary: The contract social service professional works at the direction of public defense attorneys to provide advocacy, mitigation, referral services, crisis intervention, and complex case management to assigned clients. The social service professional develops individualized case management plans in collaboration with clients to meet various needs such as housing, mental health and substance use treatment, state and federal benefits, and court navigation. The social service professional must understand and adhere to requirements of confidentiality and attorney-client privilege.
Compensation: The contract caseload for a full-time social service professional is 160 hours per month with an annual compensation of $86,400. Compensation may be pro-rated for part-time contracts based on hours worked.
