Child Advocate

This position is EXEMPT from the State of Delaware Merit System.

Recruitment #020625-J65730-21800

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Summary Statement

The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is an agency within the Judicial Branch, charged with safeguarding the welfare of Delaware’s children. It accomplishes this mission through advocacy, education, collaboration and evaluation with a vision of safe and resilient children with supportive families. The Child Advocate, as the leader of OCA, furthers OCA's goals to:

  • Provide a voice for children to achieve permanency and justice, and to improve laws and policies that affect children and their families.
  • Foster a communicative multi-disciplinary team that builds trust and respect amongst members with a shared goal of improving outcomes for children and families
  • Ensure accountability by examining child welfare data, laws and policies.
  • Develop quality training to increase professional expertise and public awareness. Facilitate access to resources and opportunities for youth.
The Child Advocate is responsible for OCA's 46 employees and contractors and over 400 volunteers which operate out of OCA's three county offices. The Child Advocate oversees OCA’s Legal Services Division which represents approximately 550 children that are experiencing foster care through appointment of Child Attorneys and Court Appointed Special Advocates with support from Program Coordinators. The Child Advocate oversees OCA’s Office of the Investigation Coordinator (IC) which monitors over 1,300 serious child abuse cases and leads the multidisciplinary team case reviews. The Child Advocate oversees OCA’s Policy and Training Division which provides intensive reviews of serious child abuse cases, manages youth advancement programs, coordinates child welfare trainings, generates child welfare data and staffs the Child Protection Accountability Commission (CPAC). The Child Advocate oversees and supervises the administrative support which is provided to all OCA divisions through leadership, managers and support staff. Finally, the Child Advocate leads the OCA Leadership Team and provides indirect support to OCA's Management Team.

Preferred Qualification

Applicants who do not possess the preferred qualification will still be eligible to compete for this position if job requirements are met.

  1. Knowledge of the Delaware child welfare system and Family Court proceedings.
  2. Prior or current representation of a child, parent or agency in child welfare proceedings.
  3. Management and leadership of a program area, unit or agency.
  4. Knowledge of State budget, fiscal and human resource processes and procedures.
  5. Experience in Federal grant management and oversight, which includes monitoring and evaluating grant expenditures to ensure compliance and funding requirements.
  6. Experience working with legislation and the General Assembly.

Essential Functions

The Child Advocate is responsible for leading the Office of the Child Advocate, its three divisions, the program areas and units within them together with the staff and contractors who comprise the units, and all the vision and operational needs of OCA, and has the following duties:

POLICY AND SYSTEM RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Take all possible actions, including programs of public education and legislative advocacy, to secure and ensure the legal, civil, and special rights of the children.
  • Develop, review, research and advocate regarding any and all laws or legislation that impact children, the child welfare system, OCA or CPAC. Attend committee hearings, testify, provide expertise, and demonstrate a consistent presence by OCA in legislative hall and in all forums involving laws or legislation impacting children, the child welfare system, OCA or CPAC.
  • Review policies, procedures, investigative and emergency responses within the child welfare system, including but not limited to the Children’s Department, the Attorney General’s Office, the court system, the medical community and law enforcement. Evaluate the effectiveness of the child welfare system, make recommendations for change, and ensure implementation. Create and provide recommendations for change regarding the procedures for investigating, overseeing, and achieving permanency for children of this State.
  • Create and maintain public awareness and a public presence for the Office of the Child Advocate and the Child Protection Accountability Commission (CPAC). Oversee inquiries to the Office of the Child Advocate, and ensure appropriate assessments for legal representation, as well as referrals and resources to community based programs.
  • Develop and oversee quality child welfare training programs for the various components of the child welfare system, including but not limited to the Children’s Department, the Attorney General’s Office, the court system, the medical community, law enforcement, educators and day care providers. Evaluate the effectiveness of the training programs. Work with the various community resources, organizations and other interested groups to improve communication and education in the area of child welfare.
  • Serve as Executive Director of the Child Protection Accountability Commission as well as participate in the work of CPAC. Communicate with the CPAC Executive Committee and CPAC Commissioners as needed.
  • Ensure and provide staff support to CPAC, its committees and its panels, including the investigation and review of deaths and near deaths of abused and neglected children, and the administration of scholarship funds. Oversee preparation of annual reports for CPAC and OCA.
  • Oversee management and compliance with CPAC’s designation as the federal Children’s Justice Act Task Force, and the federal Citizen Review Panel.
  • Represent OCA and CPAC on commissions, committees and task forces regarding children’s rights and the child welfare system.
OCA OPERATIONS
  • Develop, maintain, implement and update OCA’s mission, vision, goals and strategic plan.
  • Lead the OCA Leadership Team and oversee the OCA Management Team.
  • Oversee the development, analysis and maintenance of data for OCA, CPAC and the child welfare system.  Ensure the operation and effectiveness of OCA’s data management system, and its impact on child welfare and system partners.  Foster continued collaboration and communication between user agencies.  Utilize data to inform OCA, CPAC and child welfare system improvements.
  • Oversee OCA’s Division of Legal Services to ensure quality and skilled representation of children who are experiencing foster care through the appointment of  Child Attorneys and Court Appointed Special Advocates with support from Program Coordinators.  Oversee the management of OCA’s volunteer pool of CASAs and attorneys to ensure quality and skilled representation.  Ensure quality policy and procedures for delivery of legal services and timely appointment of legal representation of children.
  • Oversee Delaware’s Court Appointed Special Advocate Program, within the Division of Legal Services, to ensure its mission to serve as a voice for Delaware’s abused and neglected children through skilled volunteers, community collaboration and quality representation instilling a need for safe and permanent relationships that will build healthy and resilient children.  Ensure the CASA Program provides carefully selected, thoroughly trained, and responsibly supervised skilled volunteers to advocate for children, and that it fosters a  multidisciplinary legal team that consists of a Child Attorney, a Program Coordinator and a CASA Volunteer, working together to ensure quality legal representation for every child client. Maintain the CASA Delaware Program’s designation as a highly effective organization by the National CASA Association.
  • Oversee OCA’s Office of the Investigation Coordinator to ensure the review, analysis and monitoring of all reported cases of child sexual abuse, juvenile trafficking, serious physical injury, and death of a child from inception to final criminal and civil disposition to ensure multidisciplinary team (MDT) collaboration and child welfare system accountability.
  • Oversee OCA’s Policy and Training Division and its four units to ensure it provides intensive reviews of serious child abuse cases, manages youth advancement programs to include post-secondary scholarships and driver’s license and insurance programs, coordinates child welfare trainings, generates child welfare data and staffs CPAC.
  • Directly supervise, review, evaluate, coordinate, hold accountable and prioritize the job duties of the Office Manager, the Chief Policy Advisor, the CASA State Director, the Investigation Coordinator and the Chief of Legal Services. Indirectly supervise and oversee all OCA staff, contractors and volunteers. Ensure OCA compliance with all State and Judicial Branch rules and procedures regarding personnel and human resources. Develop and maintain organizational charts and human resource documents necessary for operating a State agency and workforce.
  • Manage, review, advocate and evaluate all fiscal and budgetary aspects of OCA’s state budget, including any and all deposits, expenditures, purchase orders, spending plans, budget requests, budget advocacy, budget performance documents, grant management, donations and fundraising.  Ensure compliance with all State and Judicial Branch rules and procedures regarding budget and fiscal operations.
  • Research, apply and obtain grant funds from federal, state and private agencies, and oversee the application process regarding same. Oversee the management of all grants received by OCA or CPAC.
  • Research, strategize, lead, develop and maintain IV-E funding stream and the administration and expenditure of funds in compliance with federal and state law, and in partnership with Family Court and DSCYF.
  • Oversee the receipt and distribution of all donations to OCA and fundraising efforts on behalf of OCA.
  • Administer and oversee all attendance, funding and presentations at national conferences, meetings, convenings, task forces or collaboratives.
  • Develop, maintain and oversee all contractual agreements for services, contractors and experts to accomplish the work of OCA and CPAC.
  • Administer and oversee all operational functions of a State agency, including all building, equipment and supply needs, to ensure a well positioned and maintained agency.

Job Requirements

Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

  1. Licensed to practice law in the State of Delaware.
  2. Strong commitment to the essential needs and welfare of children.  
  3. Experience in developing and implementing policies and procedures. 
  4. Strong organizational, project management, and meeting planning skills.
  5. Experience in staff supervision and accountability which includes planning, assigning, reviewing, and evaluating the work of others.
  6. Experience developing and presenting trainings to small and large groups.
  7. Knowledge of fiscal and human resource management.
  8. Experience in collecting data, analyzing trends, and implementing action through multidisciplinary collaboration and advocacy.
  9. Ability to communicate through excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  10. Ability to form and manage strong professional and external relationships, develop and manage a team, and work with peers.
  11. Ability to travel throughout the State of Delaware representing the Office of the Child Advocate and the Child Protection Accountability Commission.

Additional Posting Information

This position is statewide and the location can also be 400 Court Street, Dover or 6 W. Market Street, Georgetown.

Conditions of Hire

  • A satisfactory criminal background check and child protection registry check is required as a condition of hire.
  • A satisfactory background check with the Delaware Office of Disciplinary Counsel is required as a condition of hire.
  • Possession of a valid Delaware Class D driver’s license or its equivalent is required as a condition of hire. 

Benefits

  • Full time employees are eligible for FREE parking!!!
  • To learn more about the comprehensive benefit package please visit our website at https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/

Selection Process

The application and supplemental questionnaire are evaluated based upon a rating of your education, training and experience as they relate to the job requirements of the position. It is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application and the supplemental questionnaire to include dates of employment, job title and job duties. For education and training, list name of educational provider, training course titles and summary of course content. Narrative information supplied in response to the questions must be supported by the information supplied on the application including your employment, education and training history as it relates to the job requirements.

Once you have submitted your application on-line, all future correspondence related to your application will be sent via email.  Please keep your contact information current.  You may also view all correspondence sent to you by the State of Delaware in the “My Applications” tab at StateJobs.Delaware.gov.

Accommodations

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process.  To request an auxiliary aid or service please call (302) 739-5458. TDD users should call the Delaware Relay Service Number 1-800-232-5460 for assistance.

The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.