Supervisor of Foster Grandparents (#MDLB01)
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$40,446.00 Yearly Min / $50,558.00 Yearly Mid / $60,670.00 Yearly Max

Foster Grandparent Program Manager (#MDLB02)
$45,798.00 Yearly Min / $57,248.00 Yearly Mid / $68,698.00 Yearly Max

This class series uses two levels in the Health and Human Services occupational group, Volunteer Services occupational series. Work involves supervising and managing a statewide volunteer services program for low income, disadvantaged elderly volunteers, who provide intensive one-on-one services to children with special or exceptional needs in a variety of locations.

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Recruits, screens, interviews and selects Foster Grandparents; schedules pre-employment and annual physical exams; assigns volunteers to appropriate stations.
   
• Provides and schedules orientation and in-service training for enrollees.
    
• Assures each volunteer serves only in the established and approved role in order to prevent assignment to tasks which are inappropriate to the goals and objectives of the program.
   
• Conducts onsite evaluation of foster grandparents to ensure program policies, procedures, goals and objectives are being met.
   
• Provides information and counsel to volunteers to respond to their needs and concerns; makes referrals to available community services and follows-up to ensure that their problems have received required attention.
   
• Maintains records of attendance, transportation, meals, physical examinations, personnel records and other records as required; prepares reports for written and oral presentation.
   
• Reorganizes county or area program for the summer months.  Finds other suitable settings for volunteers and provides social services and administrative actions which minimize the problems of seasonal transition.

Supervisor of Foster Grandparents

This is the first level in the series.

• Reports to a technical supervisor.
• Performs the full range of Essential Functions.
• Supervises elderly volunteers taking part in the Foster Grandparent Program.
• Contacts include serving as a liaison between volunteers and the staff at each program site to promote understanding and acceptance of the prescribed foster grandparent role.

Foster Grandparent Program Manager

This is the second level in the series.

• Reports to a technical or administrative supervisor.
• Supervises a staff of Supervisors of Foster Grandparents. Supervision is exercised over at least two or more merit full time positions per the merit rules. The elements of supervision include planning, assigning, reviewing, evaluating, coaching, training, recommending hire/fire and discipline.
• Manages a statewide volunteer services program for low income, disadvantaged elderly volunteers. 
• Develops and negotiates placement settings for foster grandparents and reviews sites for continued acceptability.
• Develops grant requests and proposals for Federal funds; develops plan and procedures for provision of direct benefits for meals, physical exams and transportation, composes IFB's specifications for transport of volunteers; seeks to develop new fund sources or increase existing appropriations in order to serve areas of unmet needs.
• Develops policies, procedures and methods to ensure compliance with Federal regulations and adherence to Department/State policies and procedures; provides staff assistance to Advisory Council, consults on significant plans, policies, actions, changes, problems and recognition of volunteers.
• Assesses operational procedures, programs and activities through discussions with volunteers and staff, visits to volunteer stations and collection of data in order to determine program effectiveness.
• Maintains contact with all media resources; writes news articles and releases; makes occasional radio and TV appearances.
• Contacts include developing and maintaining relationships with community service organizations involved in services for children, aged and others.

The intent of the listed knowledge, skills and abilities is to give a general indication of the core requirements for all positions in the class series; therefore, the KSA's listed are not exhaustive or necessarily inclusive of the requirements of every position in the class.

• Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and practices involved in the administration of volunteers and volunteer resources.
• Knowledge of the functions and resources of the community human services network.
• Knowledge of current socio-economic conditions and their effect on the low-income elderly.
• Knowledge of interviewing, counseling, placement and program review techniques.
• Knowledge of the theories and practices of early and adolescent child development.
• Ability to learn and apply program laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ability to introduce, define, and implement program objectives to client individuals, host stations and the community.
• Ability to elicit and evaluate information.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, volunteers, peers, and the professional staffs at program sites.

In addition to the above knowledge, skills and abilities, the Foster Grandparent Program Manager requires

• Knowledge of the concepts, principles and practices involved in the administration of the Foster Grandparent
• Program and associated resources.
• Knowledge of the functions, purpose, goals and approaches of a wide range of community agencies, and of the community human services network.
• Knowledge of and an in-depth understanding of the adaptation of the Foster Grandparent role in intellectual developmental disabilities, mental health, juvenile corrections, special education, child protective services, child development, families in crisis and special services to adolescents.
• Knowledge of the means of establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with government officials, Federal regulatory bodies, representatives from other service agencies, vendors, community organizations, media, associates, the Advisory Council and the public.
• Knowledge of Division, Department, State and Federal procedures, policies and guidelines for the development of budget and grant applications, expenditure of funds and accountability for expenditures, general accounting practices, and State of Delaware bid and contract awarding procedures.
• Knowledge of supervisory principles and practices.
• Ability to plan effectively for the short and long term, developing workable procedures for the accomplishment of goals and objectives, translating requirements into cost effective practices.
• Ability to maintain a balanced viewpoint between the needs of the elderly participants and those of the children serviced, with a view to making fair and accurate judgments maximizing the dual purpose of the Program.
• Ability to apply the principles and practices of administration as they relate to the development of program objectives, policies and program evaluation criteria.

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Supervisor of Foster Grandparents
Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

1. Six months experience in volunteer recruitment.
2. Six months experience in planning, developing, implementing and evaluating programs.
3. Six months experience in interpreting laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures.
4. Six months experience in narrative report writing.
5. Knowledge of budget management and control which includes managing a budget for the purpose of keeping expenditures within the limitations of available appropriations and available revenue and maintaining, monitoring, projecting and controlling a budget within set policies and procedures.
6. Knowledge of supervising volunteer groups.