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Community Development & Prevention Post Closure Outreach Consultant

Develop community connections to create a sustainable commitment to system improvement, strategic planning, and community improvements as they relate to citizen needs, specifically the need for child and adult protective services. Such partners will include, but are not limited to, school districts, the judicial system, law enforcement, medical and behavioral health providers, and other community partners with the goal of decreasing the need for protective service system involvement and enhancing community partnerships.
 
This position works explicitly with current Intake and Permanency Staff when families previously served are re-referred to the Department and serviced through a Prevention lens. This position identified opportunities to enhance Department practice and facilitate re-engagement with families previously served and/or community partners involved in an effort to provide consultation, resources, and connections. This position also manages a workload of Prevention referrals, improves their collaboration with community partners, and contributes towards improved agency practice and outcomes with the children and families, including reducing recurrence/recidivism.  
DUTIES
  • Participates in the development and implementation of comprehensive planning and community development programs and services to respond to families in need with the intent to prevent abuse and neglect. 
  • Participates in developing, managing, and evaluating complexly integrated community-based and system-based initiatives, programs, and strategies to increase the community-level response to the needs of families with the goal of decreasing the need for protective services. 
  • Participates in the design, implementation, management, and evaluation a community-based prevention system, including a comprehensive response and programs that capitalize on community development strategies and established partnerships.
  • Participates in developing, implementing and monitoring short and long-term plans, goals and objectives focused on achieving the Division’s mission, goals and priorities; direct the development of and monitors performance of community partners. 
  • Represents the Department of Human Services and the Division of Child and Adult Protection Services at relevant meetings; informs and advises these groups, as well as the Community Development and Prevention Administrator and Deputy Director, on local and regional community development and infrastructure planning issues. 
  • Presents Department and Division information to community constituents and citizen-facing committees, commissions and other forums including presentations on special projects and community and program planning issues to increase understanding of the child and adult protection system and opportunities to respond to and assist families in a community-based manner that serves to prevent abuse and neglect.
  • Participates in developing, integrating and evaluating a community-based response team for families referred multiple times to protective services and/or economic assistance to assure that basic needs and protective issues are properly identified and resolved to impact the multi-generational use of such government systems in a sustained manner.
  • Analyzes data resources with respect recurrence and recidivism in the child and adult protective system and participates in the design and implementation of effective strategies to positively impact such. 
  • Clinical consultation and guidance to assure child safety and wellbeing drives decision making, but also ensures community connection and partnership enhancement are prioritized and drive decision making. 
  • Contacts community resources, such as schools, law enforcement and medical personnel to obtain additional information, coordinate services, or secure their assistance.
  • Participates in staffing's with school, mental health facilities, child protection review teams, and other professionals involved with the family members
  • Serves as information and referral source to other employees and to the public.
  • Provides a variety of ancillary assignments as needed, including preparing and maintaining client records and completing required forms and reports. 
  • Facilitate meetings with families and community partners to develop support or response plans.
  • Demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of social casework principles, concepts, and ethics by using a strength-based and solution-focused practice. 
  • Independently analyze complex situations, formulate plans, and make quick decisions as needed. 
  • Practice strategies that result in effective engagement of community partners and families. Mediate difficult interactions between parties. 
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 
 
  • Ability to build relationships and help others learn
 
  • Ability to model best practice skills and philosophy in the field
 
  • Ability to provide feedback and facilitate reflection, including helping staff increase self-awareness in regard to strengths and areas for improvement
 
  • Ability to manage complex and sometimes conflicting situations. 
 
  • Ability to provide feedback in a respectful and sometimes challenging and probing manner while maintaining and objective, non-judgmental stance 
 
  • Strong ability to multitask.
 
  • Knowledge of strength-based, solution-focused practice including appreciative inquiry, cultural humility
 
  • Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
 
  • Ability to maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with internal and external partners. 
 
  • Ability to work independently and as a team member. 
 
  • Ability to deliver effective customer service and communication skills in a professional manner with a diverse client base, some of whom may be or become angry, difficult, and/or distressed. 
 
  • Ability to work under stressful conditions in a professional manner in a high-volume environment. 
 
  • Excellent organizational skills. 
 
  • Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from court, groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public via fax, telephone, and email. 
 
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and state and county computer systems. Ability to learn various applications. 

REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 
A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a major in a human behavior science field* and three (3) years of child welfare experience.

OR

• A master's degree from an accredited institution with a major in a human behavior science field* and two (2) years of child welfare experience.

*In order to meet the minimum educational requirements of a human behavioral science degree, the applicant must have a degree with major course work (equivalent to 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours) in either development of human behavior, child development, family intervention techniques, diagnostic measures, or therapeutic techniques such as social work, psychology, sociology, guidance and counseling, and child development.

Categorically Eligible Degrees: 
For the purposes of meeting minimum educational requirements, the following degrees obtained from an accredited university will be considered “categorically eligible,” meaning no review of transcripts is required – Bachelor of Arts and/or Master of Arts degree in the following areas of study: psychology, sociology, social work, counseling, child development.
Areas of study that will be considered to meet the minimum educational requirements as outlined in Volume VII: 
1. Psychology 
2. Sociology 
3. Social Work 
4. Counseling 
5. Child Development 
6. Criminal Justice courses relevant to child welfare: This includes courses covering topics in juvenile justice, family law, family conflict, general court procedures, interviewing techniques, dispute resolution, and mediation. 
7. Foreign language courses 
8. Anthropology courses relevant to cultural development and history, linguistic development, and communications. Physical anthropology courses do not count toward minimum requirements.
 9. History courses relevant to family and cultural development. 
 
PREFERRED QUALIFICATION: Three (3) years of child welfare social casework experience. 
 
SPECIAL QUALIFICATION: Must have already successfully completed the Colorado Pre-Service Training Academy program or if hired must successfully complete and pass all required State of Colorado training in order to be considered for future employment.