State of Connecticut Executive Branch

• Directs staff and daily operations of agency;
• Evaluates staff performance;
• Provides staff training and assistance;
• Oversees investigations and inquiries;
• Acts as primary liaison with other agencies, officials and third parties regarding agency policies and procedures;
• Develops agency policies and procedures;
• Mediates conflicts;
• Oversees intake process and determines timeliness and jurisdiction of concerns;
• Conducts investigations, analyzes results and prepares reports and recommendations;
• Assists the Child Advocate in review and analysis of policies and regulations impacting children in state care;
• Prepares agency response to proposed rules and regulations;
• Prepares reports as directed by the Child Advocate;
• Review Department of Children and Families records and other documentation when there is a child fatality;
• Prepares chronologies when requested;
• Acts for the Child Advocate in their absence;
• Conducts evaluation of delivery systems;
• Provides recommendations for system reform, policy initiatives and advocacy;
• Represents agency at public functions and meetings;
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• May conduct inspection of facilities and programs;
• May appear in court, at hearings or other formal proceedings on behalf of agency;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Considerable knowledge of
• relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
• child welfare system;
• resources and services delivery systems available to and impacting children;
• Knowledge of
• and ability to apply management principles and practices;
• standards of practice and administration of programs dealing with children and youth;
• child development;
• mental health and behavioral challenges facing children and youth;
• impact of cultural issues on service delivery;
• Considerable 
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• investigative skills;  

Nine (9) years of experience in a professional capacity advocating on behalf of children or families or public policy, promoting the well-being of children or families.

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity.

• College training in social work or a closely related field 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 in social work, public policy or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

Note:  Closely related fields are child development, child welfare, psychology, counseling, criminal justice, human development and family relations, social and/or human services, marriage and family therapy, nursing, education and public administration.

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Associate Child Advocate in Salary Group MP 65 approved effective April 22, 2022. (Revised to update terminology) Final No. 23-310