Assistant Child Advocate

State of Connecticut • Hartford, CT

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Child Advocate will staff the State’s Child Fatality Review Panel and focus on reviewing and investigating unexplained and unexpected deaths reported to the Office of the Child Advocate. The position focuses on injury prevention, research and analysis, and public reporting. The Office of the Child Advocate is an independent state agency that works to ensure publicly funded entities serving children are accountable to Connecticut citizens and families and effectively care for vulnerable children. Its responsibilities include investigating complaints, evaluating and advocating for services for children, reviewing unexpected or unexplained child deaths and foster-care needs, protecting children’s legal and civil rights, reviewing juvenile facilities, and publishing reports on youth confinement and OCA activities.

Requirements

• Eight years of professional experience in child welfare, children’s protective services, foster services, adoption, mental health, and/or education; qualifying college training may substitute for up to four years, and a master’s degree in social work, public policy, or a closely related field may substitute for one additional year.
• Two years of the required general experience must have been in a consultative or supervisory capacity.
• Considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes, and regulations; child welfare systems; mental health and behavioral health systems; and the education system.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and practices, and research methods and principles.
• Considerable interpersonal, oral communication, and written communication skills.
• Ability to use computer software.
• May be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
• May be required to travel.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supervising staff.
• Experience in research and analysis on child well-being and/or injury prevention.
• Experience analyzing complex quantitative and/or qualitative data and drafting documents with findings and recommendations.
• Experience developing and implementing a project or plan for systems serving children with child welfare, mental health, behavioral health, developmental disability, and/or complex medical needs.
• Experience presenting complex issues to the public.

Responsibilities

• Staff the State’s Child Fatality Review Panel.
• Review and investigate unexplained and unexpected deaths reported to the Office of the Child Advocate.
• Focus work on injury prevention, research and analysis, and public reporting.
• Manage and evaluate statewide programs to ensure the legal, civil and special rights of children in Connecticut.
• Monitor and evaluate state agencies and entities providing state-funded services to children.
• Develop and implement prevention and advocacy strategies.
• Review complaints, make appropriate referrals, and investigate children, families, or systemic issues involving the State’s provision of services to children.
• Provide assistance to children or families in the best interests of the child or children.
• Review facilities and procedures of institutions or residences where juveniles have been placed, including secure detention or correctional confinement for individuals under age 22.
• Conduct investigations and periodic reviews, and develop plans based on best practices, laws, regulations, and accreditation standards.
• Maintain records, reports, and correspondence; share findings and recommendations with agencies and others as appropriate.
• Develop or assist with legislative testimony and regulatory, policy, or practice initiatives.
• Collect and analyze programmatic data to track trends and outcomes.
• Educate and inform the public about laws and services affecting children and families.
• Act as a liaison with local and national institutions and organizations.
• Perform related duties as required.

Benefits

• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• Healthy work/life balance.
• State employee benefits; details are available on the State Employee Benefits Overview page.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed