State of Connecticut Executive Branch

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

Receives administrative direction from a Children and Families Administrator or other administrative official of higher grade.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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.

• 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.