STATE OF CONNECTICUT EXECUTIVE BRANCH JOBS

Children and Families Program Director

Hybrid

Recruitment #230901-1943MP-001

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Introduction



Do you have experience directing administrative support and program services? Are you passionate about developing and ensuring high quality services to families and children involved in the Child Welfare system? If so, we invite you to join our team!

At State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) , we are currently recruiting qualified individuals to join our team as a Children and Families Program Director. This is an exciting career opportunity for an innovative, forward-thinking and experienced procurement professional with a clinical background!

What We Have To Offer!
  • The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
  • NEW: A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform and article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with comprehensive benefit offerings
  • Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings
  • Generous paid time off, including 13 paid holidays per calendar year
  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • A healthy work/life balance to all employees
In this role the Children and Families Program Director (C&F PD), will provide contract management and oversight of statewide prevention and intervention services for families and children involved with DCF. The oversight involves coordination with the DCF area offices, the Systems and Fiscal Division, to ensure services are provided consistent with contract regulations, receive appropriate training, and meeting the urgent needs of families and children in crisis. The C&F Program Director will join a team of Directors in the Clinical and Community Consultation Support Division (CCCSD). The CCCSD provides statewide clinical consultation and support to all 14 DCF area offices and oversees contracts related to services supporting families and children, including FFT-Foster Care, Fatherhood Services, Behavioral Health Partnership (Carelon) and Human Trafficking. Our team cares deeply about our work and strengthening partnerships. In this role, along with the duties listed above, we will entrust you to:
  • Promote service collaboration within the child welfare system
  • Supervise small unit of Program Supervisors within the Contract Unit
  • Provide contract and program management
  • Develop contract scope of work
  • Writing, issuing, and reviewing proposals as part of the RFP process related to assigned contracts/services
  • Identify clinical intervention gaps in services for families and children
  • Develop service, budget and contract recommendations and revisions based on data analysis, performance measures, and quality assurance process
  • Lead Participate and statewide collaboratives with other non-profit and state agencies
  • Write, issue, and review proposals as part of the RFP process related to assigned contracts/services
  • Lead and participate in statewide collaboratives with other non-profit and state agencies
  • Other duties as assigned
Our Ideal Candidate
We are looking for a candidate with knowledge of child protection, clinical experience, experience with family program oversight (such as: early childhood interventions, family reunification services, intensive family preservation services, family visitation centers, and parenting services), a strong background in procurement contract management of child welfare services, strong verbal and writing skills, solid data and analytical skills, exceptional facilitation and collaboration skills, action-oriented and highly organized. If you like a high energy environment, love taking on challenges, are a creative problem-solver, passionate about helping to develop and deliver high quality services to families and children - join our team. Extensive knowledge of evidence-based practices and treatment models a plus.

Position Highlights:
  • Full-time, 40 hours per week, first shift
  • Schedule: Monday through Friday
  • Location: DCF Central Office, Hartford CT
  • Our team follows a hybrid schedule. This position will be eligible for a hybrid schedule following successful completion of the probationary period
About Us:
Our Mission Statement is Caring, Healing and Teaching -Partnering with children, families and communities to build hope and create opportunities. We believe that: Children and adolescents with serious emotional disorders can lead productive and satisfying lives Children, youth and their families have the right and responsibility to participate in their treatment. No child will be refused treatment based on their ability to pay for services. Our services work best when integrated with community care.

We hope you take this opportunity to continue your career with us and make a difference!

Selection Plan

Application Process:

This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. 

In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the minimum qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date, unless otherwise specified.

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

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.

Please ensure that your application is complete. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the state of Connecticut.

Selection Process:

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs) which will be sent to you via email after the closing date. The email notification will include an expiration date by which you must submit (Finish) your responses. Please regularly check your email for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders, as emails could end up there in error.

During the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation supporting their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc. at the discretion of the agency.

Contact Information:

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. 

Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Ethan Ives at Ethan.Ives@ct.gov.

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 or supervisory 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

  • Experience with contract maintenance related to child welfare clinical programs/services
  • Experience with budget development and monitoring  
  • Experience in policy development
  • Experience in writing and issuing RFPs and the full RFP process
  • Experience in facilitating large meetings and contract negotiations

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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