Child Welfare State and Territory Services Liaison - REMOTE

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The State and Territory Liaison (Liaison) is a position that works directly with staff in state or territory public child welfare agencies to assess needs and strengths, develop plans to implement systemic and practice changes, and to manage the delivery of technical assistance services aimed at improving outcomes for children and families. The Liaison role is within the Capacity Building Center for States contract (the Center) that is held by ICF. The Center is a contract of the federal Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), US Department of Health and Human Services.

ACF operates ten regions within the US. The State and Territory Liaison will serve as the Region 8 primary contact to provide expertise, coordination, and oversight for all Center technical assistance provided to jurisdictional Child Welfare agencies throughout Region 8 and others as assigned. The Liaison will work closely with the jurisdictional Child Welfare agency staff in the region and the federal Children’s Bureau staff.

The successful candidate will have broad knowledge of the public child welfare service continuum and of child welfare policy and practice issues and the ability to apply that knowledge to equitable systemic change efforts through technical assistance.

This position will be based out of a home/remote ICF office with up to 40% travel.

Key Responsibilities:

Partnership expectations

• Establish and lead a “shoulder-to-shoulder” working relationship with assigned jurisdictional leadership and staff that is the foundation for capacity building activities and with federal partners, including the Children’s Bureau Regional Office Specialists and CFSR Leads.

• Provide leadership in assigned states in innovation and problem solving. Collaborate as part of a Center team to ensure that the expertise, skills, and relationships of Center subject matter experts, consultants, and other staff are leveraged to the overall provision of capacity building in their assigned states.

• Work in close collaboration with other Children’s Bureau funded Technical Assistance organizations.

• Participate in Center team meetings to help identify regional and national trends and develop strategies to support these issues.

• Identify lessons learned to contribute to body of knowledge for Center service delivery and partnership

• Maintain responsive communication and strong relationships with multiple federal, jurisdictional, and internal partners aimed at supporting successful services within jurisdictional agencies

Project Oversight

• Serve as the primary point of contact for capacity building activities in assigned jurisdictions.

• Maintain expert knowledge about each assigned state’s strengths, needs, systemic issues and pressures, and other critical information.

• Conduct data-driven organizational needs assessments inclusive of understanding of issues of racial disproportionality and disparities in systems

• Manage Center project work plans, deliverables, and teams of subject matter experts in assigned states

• Developing thorough project work plans, budgets, and develop project teams who will provide capacity building technical assistance to states

• Document areas of progress and need for Center services

• Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities, including identifying and building from lessons learned in project oversight

• Actively problem solve any barriers encountered within delivery of technical assistance

• Provide any insight about the jurisdiction for any contract providers or staff who are providing services

• Monitor service quality and jurisdiction satisfaction for all services provided

• Participate in weekly meetings with other State/Territory Leads and the Center’s Management Team to review service delivery to each agency receiving services, participate in collaborative problem solving, share lessons learned, and support matrixed resource planning.

• Contribute to regular project reporting, budget management, and evaluation efforts

Service Delivery

• Provide service delivery in accordance with the Center Tailored Services Practice Model and using a change and implementation approach with jurisdictions aimed at building sustainable change in practice to improve outcomes.

• Become and remain familiar with all challenges related to child welfare practices in the state/jurisdiction such as settlement agreements, unique organizational structure such as county administered, implementation projects underway, and anything with the potential to impact outcomes in child welfare

• Manage multidisciplinary teams of staff and consultants, including people with lived experience of the child welfare system, to ensure high quality and collaborative service delivery

• Engage and oversee others in the use of service delivery strategies, including but not limited to facilitation, training, consultation, data analysis, and planning

• Lead the needs assessment process in each assigned state including policy and document review (APSR, CFSP, etc.), extant data collection and analysis, and interviews with key stakeholders.

• Utilize and partner with the research and data team on behalf of the jurisdiction

• Develop and monitor project plans and oversee service delivery of support for states specific to their CFSR, FFPSA, CFSP or other federal initiative efforts aimed at improving child welfare outcomes

• Develop and monitor project plans and oversee service delivery specific to prevention, race equity and the infusion of lived experience in child welfare

• Complete reporting requirements, such as service contacts and monthly reports in a timely manner

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in social work, social sciences, or related field

• 8-10 years professional work experience with at least 7+ years of experience providing training/technical assistance in a human services field, preferably in child welfare.

• Experience with Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) processes and data-driven decision making.

• Demonstrated project management experience, including client relationship management, team management or supervision, and budget management, preferably in a contract consulting environment. 

• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external partners

• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to improving outcomes for children and families, to the inclusion of lived experience in that process, and to advancing racial equity and reducing disparities in child welfare based on race, ethnicity, immigration status, sovereignty, gender, sexual orientation/gender identity, and socioeconomics

• Working knowledge of the Child Welfare systems, their Child and Family Services Plans (CFSP), CCWIS, and/or federal laws that apply to Child Welfare such as the Family First Prevention and Services Act (FFPSA), ASFA and ICWA

Preferred Skills:

• Master's degree in social work, public administration, or related field. 

• Experience implementing a broad scale project in a public service system

• Knowledge of change management and implementation processes

• Demonstrated application of the principles of equity at multiple levels (e.g., racial, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, health, ability) to improve to improving child welfare outcomes.

• Lived and/or professional experience working across various differences (i.e., race, ethnicity, gender, income, education, power) and/or lived experience of the Child Welfare system

Professional Skills:

• Continual ability to hear, reflect, and act on feedback, including feedback related to equity with the aim to learn.

• Solid team builder and team player with proven ability to manage competing priorities, perspectives and partnership needs. 

• Exceptional project management skills, with a focus on Technical Assistance project management, including the management of project teams

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities. 

• Ability to work independently and maintain high-quality results on multiple deliverables in a fast-paced environment. 

• Experience with training, curriculum development, and facilitation

• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills. 

• Demonstrated outstanding level of professionalism, including ability to exercise good judgment, discretion, tact, and diplomacy. 

• Proficient with MS office applications (i.e., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Teams).

Working at ICF

ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future. We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are committed to creating a culture where we embrace our differences in ideas and identities. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. Learn more about what we dohttps://www.icf.com/ and our commitment to inclusionhttps://www.icf.com/company/about/diversity-inclusion.

We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building an inclusive workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to hiring regardless of any protected characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability status, or military/veteran status. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read our EEO & AA policy.

Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation please email icfcareercenter@icf.com and we will be happy to assist. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations. Read more about non-discrimination:  Know Your Rights and  Pay Transparency Statement.

Pay Range - There are multiple factors that are considered in determining final pay for a position, including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location, education and certifications as well as contract provisions regarding labor categories that are specific to the position. The pay range for this position is:

$75,157.00 - $127,767.00

Nationwide Remote Office (US99)