STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Children and Families Program Director

Hybrid

Recruitment #220824-1943MP-001

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Introduction



Do you want to lead staff in achieving positive outcomes and make a difference for children and families? 
If so, we encourage you to apply!

At the State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF), we have a mission of partnering with communities and empowering families to raise resilient children who thrive. We are proud of our diverse and dedicated workforce who strive every day to meet the needs of those we encounter. Our family-centered, strength-based approach to our work seeks to improve the well-being of the children and families we serve. We are comprised of fourteen (14) area offices, 2 residential facilities, the Wilderness School, and Central Office.  

We are currently recruiting for a Children and Families Program Director within our Transitional Supports and Success Division, which is a team committed to helping adolescents navigate life's challenges and develop into thriving adults. 

This position will be based out of Central Office located at 505 Hudson Street Hartford, CT. This hybrid opportunity is full-time, 40 hours per week, with a Monday through Friday schedule on first shift, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Statewide travel is expected.

This role is responsible for overseeing practice transformation efforts in programs that serve adolescents who need intensive, short term treatment. Other key duties include:
  • Overseeing a broad range of specialized adolescent supports
  • Management of private provider contracts
  • Overseeing treatment plan review teams
  • Supporting federal compliance efforts
  • Collaborating with the fiscal/contracts team to support regional staff needs
  • Policy development
  • Reviews of practice for consistency with federal and state legislation
  • Data management
  • Consultation on service effectiveness
  • Capturing youth voice to inform policy/practice
  • Employing best practices for transitional age youth
Ideal candidates will:
  • Have a broad understanding of federal legislation related to reimbursement for out of home care
  • Be organized, resourceful, and solution focused
  • Possess strong presentation skills (e.g., preparing visual materials and verbal presentations)
  • Demonstrate relationships with a broad section of multidisciplinary stakeholders
  • Have familiarity with prevention/diversion/intervention services for transitional age youth
  • Have a history of developing and sustaining relationships with service providers
  • Have a history in direct service delivery for transitional age youth
  • Be familiar with Connecticut provider network and systems of care
  • Be familiar with non-traditional interventions serving youth
We offer competitive benefits including health and dental insurance, a retirement plan, group life insurance, and other supplemental benefits. Paid time off is also offered, including 13 paid holidays per calendar year, in addition to vacation, sick and personal leave accruals. We encourage a healthy work/life balance to all employees.

We hope you take this opportunity to further your career!

Selection Plan

These positions will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Applications to this recruitment will be used to meet collective bargaining requirements. Once any collective bargaining requirements have been met, all other applicants may be considered.

To apply: 
Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience most closely meets the preferred qualifications, so please ensure that your application is complete and details your experience as outlined in this job posting. Please note: You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application into the JobAps system.
  • The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
  • The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
  • 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 position may be subject to Federal requirements for COVID 19 Vaccination Immunization.
Important Next Step Information for After You Apply:
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.

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.

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, 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.

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 DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

Connect With Us:
If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Jasmyn Raymond at Jasmyn.Raymond@ct.gov and reference the recruitment number.

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PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Children and Families area office or a major program with statewide impact 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 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

Preference will be given to candidates with the following experience:
  • Working in quality assurance, quality improvement, and performance management
  • Supervising delivery of contracted and credentialed services
  • Providing direct services to youth and or families
  • Managing provider partnerships/relationships
  • Using Microsoft excel and DCF data systems (e.g. PIE), and in preparing data presentations
  • Managing budgets and grant expenditures
  • Developing and providing training for either providers or Department staff
  • Up-to-date with standards for federal reimbursement in out of home treatment settings (PNMI, QRTP reimbursement)
  • Using non-traditional interventions that serve disengaged youth
  • With challenges and barriers for youth served in out of home settings including treatment sites as well as correctional settings

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. 




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