STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Child Advocate

Recruitment #241114-2407EX-001

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Introduction


Are you passionate about protecting the rights of children and interested in the opportunity to serve the children of Connecticut in this vital role?

The State of Connecticut seeks a dedicated and committed individual to serve as Child Advocate. In this appointed position, you will lead the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA), within the Office of Governmental Accountability.

The Role:
The Child Advocate is the public face of the office, leading the agency’s development of public policy recommendations, legislative and policy advocacy, and public communication with families, policymakers, government officials, media, and community organizations. The Child Advocate will be responsible for administering and directing the OCA to secure and ensure the legal, civil, and special rights of children residing in Connecticut. 

  • Full-time, 40 hours/week
  • Monday-Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm 
  • OCA is located at 165 Capitol Ave, Hartford
  • Hybrid work schedule
Note: This position will be appointed by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of Sections 3-1 and 5-198 (10) and (18) of the Connecticut General Statutes.

What We Can Offer You:

OCA Mission: 
The OCA is an independent state agency.  Its mission is to ensure that publicly funded entities that serve children are accountable to the citizens and families of Connecticut, and effectively care for the most vulnerable children.  OCA’s statutory responsibilities include investigating complaints regarding services provided to children, evaluating the delivery of services provided to children, advocating on behalf of children in Connecticut, reviewing the circumstances of unexpected or unexplained death of any child, taking all possible action necessary to secure the legal and civil rights of children, reviewing the needs of children in foster care, periodically reviewing facilities in which juveniles are placed, publishing biennially a comprehensive report regarding conditions of confinement for incarcerated youth, and publishing an annual report regarding the activities of the OCA. 

Selection Plan

To Apply:
  • Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
  • Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
  • 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.
  • For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.  
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
  • Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!
Important Information After You Apply:
  • 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 questionnaire'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.
  • Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview. 
  • 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.
  • 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, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
  • Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
  • Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
Connect With Us:
Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Sharon McIntosh, at Sharon.McIntosh@ct.gov.

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PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

Administers and directs the Office of the Child Advocate to secure and ensure the legal, civil and special rights of children residing in the state of Connecticut.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

  • Evaluate the delivery of services to children by state agencies and those entities that provide services to children through funds provided by the state
  • Review periodically the procedures established by any state agency providing services to children to carry out the provisions of sections 46a-13k to 46a-13p, inclusive, with a view toward the rights of the children and recommend revisions to such procedures
  • Review complaints of persons concerning the actions of any state or municipal agency providing services to children and of any entity that provides services to children through funds provided by the state, make appropriate referrals and investigate those where the Child Advocate determines that a child or family may be in need of assistance from the Child Advocate or that a systemic issue in the state's provision of services to children is raised by the complaint
  • Pursuant to an investigation, provide assistance to a child or family who the Child Advocate determines is in need of such assistance including, but not limited to, advocating with an agency, provider or others on behalf of the best interests of the child
  • Periodically review the facilities and procedures of any and all institutions or residences, public or private, where a juvenile has been placed by any agency or department
  • Recommend changes in state policies concerning children including changes in the system of providing juvenile justice, child care, foster care and treatment
  • Take all possible action including, but not limited to, conducting programs of public education, undertaking legislative advocacy and making proposals for systemic reform and formal legal action, in order to secure and ensure the legal, civil and special rights of children who reside in this state
  • Provide training and technical assistance to attorneys representing children and guardians ad litem appointed by the Superior Court
  • Periodically review the number of special needs children in any foster care or permanent care facility and recommend changes in the policies and procedures for the placement of such children
  • Serve or designate a person to serve as a member of the child fatality review panel established in subsection (b) of this section
  • Take appropriate steps to advise the public of the services of the Office of the Child Advocate, the purpose of the office and procedures to contact the office
  • Prepare an in-depth report on conditions of confinement, including, but not limited to, compliance with section 46a-152, regarding children twenty-one years of age or younger who are held in secure detention or correctional confinement in any facility operated by a state agency. Such report shall be submitted, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children not later than March 1, 2017, and every two years thereafter
  • Present to the advisory committee, established pursuant to section 46a-13r at least three times each year, a report on the goals of and projects undertaken by the Office of the Child Advocate, within available appropriations, that are consistent with the responsibilities of the Child Advocate

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience leading and managing an organization or multi-disciplinary team, preferably in a child welfare, public policy, or human services environment    
  • Experience with developing and advocating for policies impacting children’s welfare, mental health, juvenile justice, or educational systems, including through legislative or executive-level advocacy
  • Experience overseeing, coordinating, or investigating the efforts of multiple state or local agencies in delivering integrated services to children or families
  • Experience proposing the design, implementation, or evaluation of strategic initiatives or systemic reforms focused on improving outcomes for children in child welfare, mental health, juvenile justice, or educational systems
  • Experience communicating with stakeholders, including families, policymakers, government officials, media, and community organizations, to promote children’s welfare and advocate for systemic changes when needed
  • Masters level or higher degree in law, public policy, health or human services, education, or a related field is preferred

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.



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