Children and Families Program Director 1

　　Hybrid

　　Recruitment # 240117-1943MP-001

　　Location Hartford, CT

　　Date Opened 1/22/2024 12:00:00 AM

　　Salary $104,151 - $142,014/year (*New State Employees start at the minimum of the salary range)

　　Job Type Open to the Public

　　Close Date 1/30/2024 11:59:00 PM

　　Go Back Apply View Benefits (http://portal.ct.gov/DAS/smART/General-Employee-Benefits)

　　Introduction

　　The State of Connecticut (https://portal.ct.gov/) , Department of Children and Families ( DCF (https://portal.ct.gov/dcf) ), is seeking to fill a Children and Families Program Director (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/specs/classspecdisplay.asp?ClassNumber=1943MP&R1=&R3=) in its Division of Foster Care, located in Central Office

　　The Program Director oversees the staff in the Area Offices, who are responsible for the Foster Care Division in Region's 1, 2 and 3. The position is responsible for implementing the agency's foster care recruitment and retention plan required by The Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children's Bureau to provide high-quality licensed caregivers. It is tied to federal Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) of 2018 which reimburses states based on the reduction of congregate care placement, utilization of a The Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse approved kinship navigator program, increase utilization of kin for placements and the shortened length of stay in care. It is also responsible for federally mandated Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) which is part of Title IV-E formula grant that reimburses states based on the number families licensed, children reunified, guardianship transferred and adoptions.

　　What we can offer (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/SUP/2023DecEVPSlideDeckpdf.pdf) you:

　　The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 (https://portal.ct.gov/DAS/Press-Room/Press-Releases/2023/Forbes-State-of-CT-Ranked) - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule.

　　NEW: A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform and article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D. , along with comprehensive benefit offerings (https://portal.ct.gov/DAS/smART/General-Employee-Benefits)

　　The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here (https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service) for more information.

　　Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings.

　　Generous paid time off, including 13 paid holidays per calendar year.

　　Professional growth and development opportunities.

　　A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

　　In this role you will be responsible for monitoring progress, addressing challenges, and developing infrastructure to support the implementation of strategic goals, practice and policy. Examples of responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

　　E nsuring uniformity in the implementation of statewide foster care, guardianship and adoption initiatives.

　　P roviding guidance and direction to employees, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

　　D eveloping and analyzing foster care performance reports.

　　M onitoring and controlling fiscal spending.

　　O verseeing recruitment, retention and licensing activities for foster and relative families.

　　E nsuring the foster care division functions are in compliance with applicable regulatory and licensure standards.

　　Negotiating relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

　　Navigating change initiatives and successful implementation of key organization transitions.

　　Gathering data on deliverables and outcomes.

　　Creating reports and presentations based on data and analysis.

　　Position Details:

　　Central Office, 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT, with office hours in area offices.

　　Full-time, 40 hours per week.

　　Monday-Friday.

　　The Foster Care units are responsible for implementing statewide initiatives and procedures related to foster care and adoption at the local level.

　　DCF is comprised of fourteen (14) area offices, 2 facilities, the Wilderness School, and Central Office. All 14 Offices have a Foster Care Unit (FC) that shall report up to the Program Director of Foster Care.

　　If a child cannot remain at home, placing children with relatives or people that they know is our first priority. DCF has taken great strides over the last several years to improve how we serve vulnerable children and families in Connecticut. However, we have not done so alone. No one has been more instrumental in that progress than our foster and kinship caregivers. We aim to continue providing effective quality services to our foster and kinship caregivers as they meet the needs and support the timely permanency of children in care.

　　The ideal candidate for this position will be organized, motivated, and possess strong communication skills. Additionally, will have:

　　A passion for excellence.

　　Ability and experience analyzing complex situations and processes - integrating data to form a cohesive picture and meaningful actions.

　　Demonstrated competency to interact with people at all levels of the organization. .

　　Selection Plan

　　Please visit our ' Applicant Tips on How to Apply (https://www.jobapscloud.com/ct/sup/applicanttips2023november.pdf) ' page or view our tutorial (https://youtu.be/Y8sOb10qYXQ?si=w4GRBV2u8wvhTKLL) .

　　The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

　　Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.

　　In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

　　This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.

　　Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated to apply for this position.

　　Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Liz Pinette at [email protected] .

　　This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.

　　The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

　　All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to [email protected] .

　　For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from branch to branch but it does not impact your state service credit.

　　PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

　　In the Department of Children and Families this class is accountable for directing administrative support and/or program services.

　　EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

　　Directs staff and operations of the assigned area of responsibility;

　　Coordinates, plans and manages program activities;

　　Formulates program goals and objectives;

　　Develops or assists in development of related policy;

　　Interprets and administers pertinent laws;

　　Evaluates staff;

　　Develops and monitors budgets for specific program or administrative areas;

　　Maintains contact with individuals and organizations within and outside of agency which impact on area or program activities;

　　Assists in directing and coordinating allocation of staff and resources to maintain service delivery system or program;

　　Manages systems and/or programs to ensure compliance with federal, state and department mandates;

　　Identifies training and development needs of staff;

　　Speaks before professional and lay groups;

　　Represents Commissioner in community and public relations activities within area as assigned;

　　Prepares and/or analyzes management reports including reports detailing area activities, program operations and client statistics;

　　Evaluates programs and professional social work services provided to children and families;

　　Identifies needs of children and families for purposes of determining available community resources;

　　Reviews work of assigned areas for general efficiency and effectiveness with target client populations;

　　Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;

　　Performs related duties as required.

　　KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

　　Considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;

　　Knowledge of

　　and ability to apply management principles and practices;

　　standards of practice and administration of programs dealing with children and youth;

　　impact of cultural issues on service delivery and staff relationships;

　　Considerable

　　interpersonal skills;

　　oral and written communication skills.

　　MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

　　Nine (9) years of professional experience in the field of child welfare programs, children's protective services, foster services, adoption or social and human services.

　　MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

　　Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a managerial or supervisory capacity with responsibility for planning, development, implementation or supervision of administrative or program services in child welfare, children's protective services, children's mental health or juvenile justice.

　　NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Children and Families Program Supervisor.

　　MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

　　College education may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

　　A Master's degree or other advanced degree in the behavioral sciences, public administration, education, social work or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

　　NOTE: Closely related fields are child welfare, applied sociology, social and/or human services, clinical psychology, child development, criminal justice, counseling, human development and family relations, human service, marriage and family therapy.

　　PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

　　Professional experience in foster care and adoption services.

　　Experience with FFPSA and AFSA Federal Acts.

　　Experience developing presentations to include analysis, findings, and impact.

　　Experience generating and analyzing various performance metrics using Excel and other reporting tools.

　　Experience with computer literacy and demonstrated ability to integrate technology in the workplace.

　　Managerial experience in a matrix organization.

　　Experience providing representation on behalf of an agency (employer) with internal (across divisions) and external stakeholders (providers, other state agencies, etc.).

　　SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

　　Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

　　Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

　　Conclusion

　　AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

　　The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

　　ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

　　As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

　　Click on a link below to apply for this position:

　　Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. Apply Online