Children and Families Program Director 1(Hybrid)

Introduction

Are you a current State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF) employee ready to take the next step in your career, while continuing to make a difference in the lives of others? If so, please read on to learn more about this exciting opportunity! 

At the DCF, we are seeking qualified individuals to fill a Children and Families Program Director 1 role in our Office of Community Relations, located in Central Office. This role reports to the Chief Administrator of External Affairs.

What We Can Offer You:

• Visit our newState Employee Benefits Overview page!
• 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
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees

Position Highlights:

• Full Time, 40 hours per week, 1st shift: 
• Monday - Friday, 8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m
• Location: Central Office, 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT, with anticipated statewide travel
• This is a transfer or promotional opportunity

Your role as aChildren and Families Program Director 1

The Office of Community Relations works with youth, families, licensed caregivers, community partners, concerned citizens and others to answer questions, respond to inquiries, or resolve complaints made about the Department of Children and Families policies, practices and employees. The role is to complete a thorough review of information presented to resolve it in a strength-based solution manner.

In this role, along with other duties as needed, we will have you:

• Prioritize information received by the Commissioner's Office.
• Respond directly to individuals raising questions, inquires or making complaints.
• Direct staff and operations of the assigned area of responsibility.
• Coordinate, plan and manage program activities.
• Develop or assist in the development of related policy and casework practices.
• Interpret and administer pertinent laws.
• Evaluate staff.
• Collaborate with Divisions across the Department and external partners.
• Represent the Commissioner in community and public relations activities within area assigned.
• Prepare and/or analyze management reports.
• Identify the needs of children and families for purposes of determining available community resources.
• Represent the Department at meetings, community events and other forums.

About Us:

DCF is comprised of fourteen (14) area offices, 2 facilities, the Wilderness School, and Central Office.  All 14 Offices have a Foster Care Unit (FC) that shall report to a Program Director of Foster Care.  FC units are responsible for implementing statewide initiatives and procedures related to foster care and adoption at the local level.

If a child cannot remain at home, placing children with relatives or people that they know is our first priority.  DCF has taken great strides over the last several years to improve how we serve vulnerable children and families in Connecticut. However, we have not done so alone. No one has been more instrumental in that progress than our foster and relative caregivers.  We aim to continue providing effective quality services to our foster and relative caregivers as they meet the needs and support the timely permanency of children in care.  

We hope you take this chance to continue your career with us!

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application.

For Assistance in Applying:
Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

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.

For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.

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 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 working with children and youth who have come to the attention of the Child Welfare, Child Protective Services, Behavioral Health and/or the Juvenile Justice systems
• Experience in applying relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations in practice
• Experience in engagement techniques including conflict resolution and crisis de-escalation
• Possesses an advanced understanding of the Divisions of the Department and how they support the Mission of the Agency

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.