A nonprofit meant to help youth is now the center of a lawsuit after a social worker was charged for having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old client. The lead attorney on this case told only Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 about what she calls the red flags the organization overlooked. “This social worker sought out a 14-year-old, asked for her to be transferred to her caseload, spent an exorbitant amount of her time both at the program and outside the program, communicated with her throughout the workday on her work phone, and pictures of her hanging in her office and eventually had her name tattooed on her body,” said attorney Amy Mathieu. It began back in 2018, when the girl was seeking services through the Youth Advocates Program, or YAP, for truancy issues. She was assigned to one caseworker. “Then another caseworker took a special interest in her, a younger social worker there,” said Mathieu. That caseworker was 27-year-old Britta Emberg, who began expressing romantic interest in the girl.”She coerced her into a romantic relationship, saying that she would end her services at youth advocates program if they didn’t date,” said Mathieu. The lawsuit does name Britta Emberg, but it mostly seeks damages against YAP for the instances that went noticed and that were not investigated further. “These organizations are missing very clear red sense right red flags going up in this behavior,” said Mathieu.Emberg is currently on probation after pleading guilty last summer to two charges. Pittsburgh police investigated this case.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.

PITTSBURGH —

A nonprofit meant to help youth is now the center of a lawsuit after a social worker was charged for having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old client. The lead attorney on this case told only Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 about what she calls the red flags the organization overlooked.

“This social worker sought out a 14-year-old, asked for her to be transferred to her caseload, spent an exorbitant amount of her time both at the program and outside the program, communicated with her throughout the workday on her work phone, and pictures of her hanging in her office and eventually had her name tattooed on her body,” said attorney Amy Mathieu.

It began back in 2018, when the girl was seeking services through the Youth Advocates Program, or YAP, for truancy issues. She was assigned to one caseworker.

“Then another caseworker took a special interest in her, a younger social worker there,” said Mathieu.

That caseworker was 27-year-old Britta Emberg, who began expressing romantic interest in the girl.

“She coerced her into a romantic relationship, saying that she would end her services at youth advocates program if they didn’t date,” said Mathieu.

The lawsuit does name Britta Emberg, but it mostly seeks damages against YAP for the instances that went noticed and that were not investigated further.

“These organizations are missing very clear red sense right red flags going up in this behavior,” said Mathieu.

Emberg is currently on probation after pleading guilty last summer to two charges. Pittsburgh police investigated this case.

Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.