Department of Administrative Services

In the Departments of Aging and Disability Services, Developmental Services, Mental Health and Addictions Services, Social Services, and the Office of Early Childhood, this class is accountable for managing program/policy planning, development, implementation and monitoring for a major agency program area.

In the Departments of Developmental Services, Social Services and the Office of Early Childhood, this class is intended for the management of programs that cover a range of public services provided by or funded by federal, state or local government entities.

1. In the Department of Aging and Disability Services (ADS) this class manages the statewide unit on Aging program. This centralized program is responsible for planning, developing, and administering a comprehensive and integrated service delivery system for older persons in Connecticut.
2. Social Services and Developmental Services programs are designed to assist the disabled, disadvantaged, the elderly and individuals with intellectual disability.  Programs include, but are not limited to, temporary financial assistance, healthcare assistance (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare, Husky), housing and energy assistance, nutritional assistance (e.g., SNAP), child or adult care assistance, social security income (SSI) and child support.
3. Early Childhood programs are designed to assist families with young children achieve better outcomes for the children, the parents and the family as a whole.  Programs include but are not limited to, funding for childcare (e.g., Care4Kids, preschool funding), home visit programs to provide support to families who are experiencing additional stressors including childhood disabilities and delays (e.g., Birth to Three programs, Nurturing Families Network) and programs and services that make targeted investments in early childhood and family outcomes (e.g., licensing child care programs for safety, screening programs for developmental delays, investments in early childhood workforce and program quality).
4. In the Department of Mental Health and Addictions Services (DMHAS) this class is intended for the management of the statewide Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program (DHOH).  The centralized program includes the responsibility for managing all DMHAS state-operated facilities DHOH.

Receives administrative direction from a Division Director or other administrative official of higher grade.

Manages the staff of the unit as assigned.

Manages staff and/or operations of unit/program; implements social services programs/policies; coordinates, plans and manages unit/program activities; formulates program goals and objectives through the review of agency data; develops or assists in development of related policy; interprets and administers pertinent laws; coordinates research, data analysis and program planning efforts; monitors, analyzes and evaluates programs/policies to determine cost-effectiveness and quality of service; identifies and coordinates training needs; advises leadership of legislative, legal or other program/policy impacts and recommends an appropriate position; monitors all internally and externally initiated program/policy changes; researches, prepares and presents testimony to legislative committees, study committees and courts regarding social services issues; evaluates staff; prepares or assists in budget preparation; maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside of agency who might impact on program activities; acts as agency contact with state, federal and community agencies on social services to ensure service delivery; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of social services programs, early childhood programs, deaf and hard of hearing programs, programs for older adults and/or programs for individuals with intellectual disability or behavioral health issues; considerable knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques; considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; knowledge of community organizations and social services agencies; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to interpret complex written material including legal narrative and to assess the impact thereof on programmatic goals.

Nine (9) years of professional experience in the delivery of social services programs and/or policies.

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a managerial or consultative capacity with programmatic and administrative responsibility for a regional or statewide social services program.

Note: For State employees, the Special Experience is interpreted at the level of Program Manager, Operations Manager, Public Assistance Consultant, Planning Specialist and Associate Accountant.

1. College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

2. A Master's degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Accounting, Early Childhood Education or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Social Services Program Administration Manager in Salary Group MP 67 approved effective October 18, 2019. (Revised to expand class use to Department of Aging and Disability Services and modify content) Item 22-026