Children’s Rights seeks a full-time Senior Child Welfare Policy Consultant to work on two projects: 1) an assessment of a major urban foster care system, and 2) a case study of a successful state effort to reduce the placement of children in foster care in institutions.

There is a strong likelihood that this consulting engagement will be expanded to include additional responsibilities in other projects and will be converted into a full-time position (Senior Child Welfare Policy Analyst) by January 1, 2009.

Through its legal advocacy, Children’s Rights is currently working on the reform of child welfare systems in ten states and localities across the nation. In these jurisdictions, Children’s Rights has secured or is working to secure a court order requiring the child welfare system to improve its services and outcomes for children and families.

Children’s Rights’ Policy Department staff work closely with the legal staff and play a critical role in helping to advance the pace of reform in these jurisdictions, by tracking a jurisdiction’s progress against the established benchmarks, and by providing technical assistance to the state and local stakeholders responsible for improving the system.

In addition to these targeted reform campaigns in specific jurisdictions, Children’s Rights also examines national and selected local policy issues, studies them and issues reports to inform the field and support advocacy for necessary policies, practices and resources.

The work of Children’s Rights provides a unique opportunity for a child welfare professional to examine and affect child welfare policy and practice at the local, state and national levels.

Responsibilities:
The Senior Child Welfare Policy Consultant’s work will include the following:

• Work closely with the Director of Policy and other staff to oversee the implementation of an assessment of a major urban child welfare system that will include both quantitative and qualitative components (a case record review, interviews and focus groups). Oversee data collection and analysis and write report summarizing findings and making recommendations for reform.


• Work closely with the Director of Policy and other staff to design and produce a case study of a successful state effort to reduce the number of children in foster care who are placed in institutions. The Consultant will be involved in reviewing and summarizing relevant data and interviewing major stakeholders in order to describe how the state was able to substantially reduce its use of institutions for children in foster care. The consultant will participate in all aspects of information-gathering and will play a major role in drafting the case study, which will be disseminated nationally.

As noted above, there is a strong likelihood that this consulting engagement will be expanded to include other responsibilities and turned into a full-time employee position (Senior Child Welfare Policy Analyst) by January 1, 2009. The Senior Child Welfare Policy Analyst reports to the Director of Policy and will be required to:

• Use knowledge of child welfare best practice and policy to assess the performance of state and local child welfare systems involved in class action system reform litigation with Children’s Rights;
• Provide child welfare policy and practice technical assistance to help states and localities involved in class action system reform litigation with Children’s Rights to improve services and results for children and families;
• Work closely on the above internally with Children’s Rights legal staff and externally with senior and other child welfare agency staff and community stakeholders in states and localities;
• In collaboration with the Director of Policy, take lead responsibility for developing and executing national and selected local policy research projects, which may include quantitative and qualitative analyses of key child welfare issues and practices;
• Prepare reports, articles, and other written materials on child welfare policy issues;
• Prepare presentations and presents on child welfare issues at local and national conferences;
• Assist the Policy Director with administrative issues within the Department;
• Provide guidance and supervision to policy staff and interns in the absence of the Policy Director;
• Handle special projects.

Qualifications:

• A master’s degree in social work, public policy or related field or a law degree;
• At least seven years of child welfare practice, policy and/or research experience;
• Extremely strong oral and written communication skills;
• Strong organizational skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with professionals at various levels;
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of a team; and
• Proficiency in word processing (Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel and other relevant programs). Knowledge of SPSS a plus.

Interested candidates should send a resume and thoughtful cover letter to Anita Estling at aestling@childrensrights.org.

(This position is in the Management Service. Candidates are not required to be certified to an Eligible List. Management Service appointments serve at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.)

Location:
FAMILY INVESTMENT BUREAU
1910 N. BROADWAY
BALTIMORE MD 21213

Salary: $64,349 – $103,328 ANNUM (Grade 23)
(Salary as of July 1, 2008)

Opening Date: June 9th, 2008

Closing Date: June 20th, 2008

Position Duties:
The main purpose of this position is to function as Assistant Director for the Family Investment Bureau. The incumbent will have the overall responsibility for promoting, directing, and executing this multi-faceted program through direct and indirect supervision of approximately 900 staff. The bureau is comprised of seven (7) specialized units and eight (8) full service centers servicing approximately 182,000 customers receiving Medical Assistance, Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Stamps or Temporary Disability Assistance. The incumbent will be responsible for monitoring emerging client needs and evolving policy and regulation changes impacted by welfare reform and/or social and economic conditions. Additionally, the incumbent will provide senior executive leadership for developing and directing complex mandated and/or new program initiatives which also involves the administration of funds for the Emergency Assistance and Welfare Avoidance grants. This position reports directly to the Chief Operating O fficer (COO).

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:
Possession of a master’s degree in Social Work from a college or university approved by the Council on Social Work Education, or a master’s degree in a related field such as Child Development, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, Juvenile Justice, Human Growth and Development, Human Services, and Mental Health or a master’s degree in Public Administration.

Experience:
Seven (7) years of experience in administrative, professional or technical work involving at least two years of supervising employees. Four (4) years of the required experience must have been in managing or assisting in managing a major/complex program in the area of income maintenance.

Benefits:
As a Management Service appointment, the selected candidate will be an employee of the State of Maryland and eligible for a generous benefit package that includes premium health, vision, and dental coverage, State of Maryland retirement benefits and deferred compensation investment options.

Selection Process:
Interested candidates who meet the minimum qualifications should submit a completed Maryland State Application (MS-100) to Glenda Sydnor, Office of Human Resources, 1910 N. Broadway, 3rd Floor, and Baltimore, Maryland 21213 no later than June 20, 2008. Applications should be marked “PROGRAM MANAGER SENIOR I – FIB 08-09”.

 

National Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health: Since 1984, the National Technical Assistance (TA) Center for Children's Mental Health, at the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development, has been dedicated to helping states, tribes, territories, and communities transform their service systems to improve the social, emotional, and behavioral well-being of children, adolescents and their families. The TA Center has played a national leadership role in the development and implementation of technical assistance and training strategies to promote and sustain community-based systems of care and service system reforms. The TA Center is funded and supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Administration for Children and Families, private foundations, and individual contracts.

Director of Child Welfare Policy:
The Director of Child Welfare Policy holds a faculty position at the Georgetown University Medical Center and will work in Washington, DC. The director is responsible for leading the TA Center’s child welfare/mental health initiative and ensuring a critical child welfare voice and expertise in the overall work of the TA Center. The child welfare initiative is designed to increase the capacity of states, tribes and communities to offer effective mental health services for children and families served by the child welfare system.

Position Duties:
Providing technical assistance to states, communities, tribes, families and national organizations on system reform strategies that involve child welfare and mental health; conducting relevant research/evaluation, and disseminating findings; participating on national task forces to provide a cross-system voice in policy discussions; facilitating collaboration between mental health and child welfare organizations; partnering with other organizations and national resource centers on specific initiatives to maximize resources and share innovative practices; producing seminal system reform documents and providing training on them; and participating in the national Training and Technical Assistance Network established by the federal Administration for Children and Families. In addition, the director participates in other TA Center activities such as state policy academies, biennial training institutes, national TA conference calls, intensive coaching/TA for individual states, and cluster meetings.

Qualifications
MSW, DSW, PhD or related terminal degree. At least 5 years experience in child welfare system and in building cross-agency systems. Ability to lead and initiate, to work successfully with disparate groups; to build partnerships; and to think systemically, analytically and strategically. Commitment to system of care values. Knowledge and understanding of: child welfare programs, laws, policies, and mandates; childhood mental health disorders; promising and evidence-based practices for children and youth in the child welfare system; trauma related mental health issues common to children in the child welfare system. Demonstrated ability to write well, make presentations, facilitate large groups, and conduct workshops and training sessions.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, CV and salary requirements to qucdc@georgetown.edu. Georgetown University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

For further information, contact:
Jim Wotring, Director
National Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health
202/687-5052, jrw59@georgetown.edu

 

Casey Family Program (CFP) is a nationally operating foundation. Our mission is to provide and improve and ultimately to prevent the need for foster care. Currently, we are seeking a Director of Systems Analysis manages the delivery of relevant, effective, appropriate technical assistance to child welfare jurisdictions throughout the country, both proactively and in response to requests. The Director has responsibility for outcomes from Casey's delivery of assistance in designated areas including but not limited to education, mental health, employment and national child welfare information systems.

Minimum qualifications include a Masters Degree in Public Administration, Public Health, Education, Social Work, or other closely related field required and 8 - 10 years of relevant experience required. History of progressively increasing responsibility in supervision/management; experience in establishment and maintenance of operational and administrative standards required

Knowledge of child welfare administration, practice, research and issues required. Experience in management, supervision and coordination of a team is essential to success in this position. Budget and business planning experience required. Demonstrated experience in: systems that work with child welfare towards permanency, safety and self sufficiency; continuous quality improvement; knowledge and experience in program evaluation; demonstrated ability to lead systems improvement work in a deadline-driven environment is required.

Technical Skills:
Experience with MS Office is essential. Demonstrated ability to learn other pertinent software programs as required.

Casey Family Programs is an EOE working towards a culturally diverse and competent work place. To view the complete job description, visit www.casey.org. To apply, send a cover letter and resume with job title and job location noted in the subject line to jobs@casey.org or fax to 866-321-9666.

 

Casey Family Programs Fostering families. Fostering change.

Casey Family Program (CFP) is a nationally operating foundation. Our mission is to provide and improve—and ultimately to prevent the need for—foster care. Currently, we are seeking a Director Child Protection Services who is responsible for delivering relevant, effective, and appropriate technical assistance to child welfare jurisdictions throughout the country, both proactively and in response to requests. The Director has responsibility for outcomes from Casey’s delivery of assistance in designated areas including but not limited to differential response, team decision making, safety and risk, and investigation and assessment.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work


• Pubic Administration or other closely related field with 8-10 years of relevant experience required


• History of progressively increasing responsibility in supervision/management


• Experience in establishment and maintenance of operational and administrative standards required


• Knowledge of child welfare administration, practice and issues required


• Experience in management supervision and coordination of a team is essential to success in this position


• Candidate must have budget business planning experience


• Demonstrated experience in child welfare and continuous quality improvement


• Knowledge and experience in social program evaluation


• Demonstrated ability to lead systems improvement work in a deadline-driven environment is required


• Demonstrated skills in publication and report writing for a variety of audiences including practitioners, consumers and policy makers is essential


• A balance of assertiveness and diplomacy is important, as well as the ability to collaborate effectively with a team of professionals, internal and external to Casey


• Experience in MS Office (Word, Excel and Outlook) is essential

Casey Family Programs is an EOE working towards a culturally diverse and competent work place. To view the complete job description, visit www.casey.org. To apply, send a cover letter and resume with job title and job location noted in the subject line to jobs@casey.org or fax to 866-321-9666.