Child Safety Program Specialist

State of Maryland • Baltimore City, MD

20h

About The Position

The Child Safety Program Specialist supports the Social Service Administration’s mission by managing statewide programs, policies, and operational workflows related to child safety, intake screening, and after-hours initiatives. The position provides expert technical assistance, policy guidance, and system oversight to Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS) and interagency partners to support compliance with state and federal child welfare laws.

The role serves as the Central Office subject matter expert for complex Child Protective Services screening scenarios, including determinations involving Investigative Response, Alternative Response, Risk of Harm, and requests from other agencies. It supports consistent screening practices, statewide implementation of the Screening Panel Review process, and after-hours operations. The specialist also reviews child welfare system support tickets and uses CJAMS data to prepare reports and respond to case-specific inquiries.

The position provides consultation, coaching, technical assistance, and training to LDSS and private agency personnel on procedures, CPS compliance, casework practices, and the computerized child welfare case management system. It also collaborates on corrective action plans intended to improve child welfare service delivery.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Five years of experience administering a human services program or conducting studies and analyses of programs, procedures, practices, and organizations.
• Additional professional or technical experience in the administration of a human services program or in conducting studies and analyses may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
• Graduate-level education at an accredited college or university in a human services-related field may substitute at a rate of 30 credit hours per year for up to two years of the required experience.

Nice To Haves

• One year of professional experience coordinating Child Protective Services, prevention and safety initiatives, or other child welfare and data systems.
• One year of experience drafting, revising, or testifying on policy or regulatory language, such as COMAR or similar state or federal regulations and policy, or serving as a formal liaison to a statewide board or commission.
• One year of professional experience serving as a CJAMS liaison between a local department and the Social Services Administration.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Central Office subject matter expert for complex CPS screening scenarios and assess appropriate determinations for Investigative Response, Alternative Response, Risk of Harm, and requests from other agencies.
• Review LDSS screening decisions, in collaboration with the SSA quality assurance team, to support consistent application of state policy, CAPTA standards, and COMAR.
• Direct and evaluate statewide implementation of the Screening Panel Review process for high-frequency report cases.
• Provide ongoing policy guidance, training, and technical support to local screening supervisors.
• Manage operational workflows for child welfare report screening and coordinate statewide policies and programming for after-hours operations.
• Coordinate and conduct an annual screening summit.
• Review support tickets for the computerized child welfare case management system, assess whether requested data fixes comply with statute, regulation, and policy, and recommend appropriate resolutions.
• Use CJAMS to compile and retrieve aggregate information for reports on program progress and problems.
• Use CJAMS to retrieve case-specific information to respond to internal and external inquiries, questions, and concerns.
• Incorporate Child Welfare Data System instruction into child welfare policy and procedure.
• Consult with LDSS personnel regarding standard operating procedures and after-hours programming.
• Partner with the SSA Quality Assurance Team to provide LDSS technical assistance on CPS compliance.
• Guide LDSS staff on accurate and efficient use of the Department’s computerized child welfare case management system.
• Advise LDSS and private agency personnel on casework practices affecting children and families.
• Collaborate with LDSS staff on corrective action plans to improve child welfare service delivery.

Benefits

• Health insurance, dental, and vision plans offered at a low cost.
• Six personal leave days annually for new State employees, prorated based on start date.
• Ten days of accumulated annual leave per year.
• Fifteen days of accumulated sick leave per year.
• Up to sixty days of paid parental leave upon the birth or adoption of a child.
• At least twelve holidays per year.
• Credits toward a retirement pension.
• Positions may be eligible for telework.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level