JOB OPENING: California Alliance of Child and Family Services Hiring a Permanency Specialist

The California Alliance of Child and Family Services is the unifying force in the charge to lead change and provide support for the state’s children, youth, and families. For those dedicated to improving the lives of these at-risk populations, the California Alliance stands apart as the champion and leading voice for organizations that advocate for children and families, and for advancing policy and services on their behalf. More than 150 chief executives of organizations that serve California’s most vulnerable populations trust the California Alliance to provide legislative and regulatory advocacy to the governor and the Legislature, as well as a host of state departments, including: Health and Human Services, Finance, Mental Health, Social Services, Education, and Community Care Licensing.

The Catalyst Center leverages connections between research, policy, and practice to inform and lead capacity building efforts amongst service providers across the state of California who work in the fields of child and family services. The Catalyst has over twenty years of experience innovating provider supports, with a team of expert trainers and technical assistance providers in issues areas including: child welfare, behavioral health, education, prevention, juvenile justice, residential care, and foster and adoption care.

The California Alliance of Child and Family Services and the Catalyst Center serve a statewide network of professionals and collaborates with advocates, community-based service programs, national and state organizations, legal, health, and mental health professionals, researchers, and advocates from social justice organizations working to support the health and wellbeing of children and families. The California Alliance of Child and Family Services and Catalyst Center offer a rich working environment that includes connecting with inspiring activists and frontline providers, an opportunity to understand the experiences of children, youth, and families, and how all these forces contribute to sociopolitical change and systems transformation. Both the CA Alliance and its Catalyst Center are committed to ensuring that our work is centered in equity and social justice, working to ensure that the voices of those most impacted are part of any decision-making processes.

The Center and the Alliance are dedicated to maintaining an environment that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion. We denounce white supremacy, homophobia, sexism, and all forms of prejudice and intolerance. The only thing that will not be tolerated in our organization is intolerance itself.

Responsibilities: The Permanency Specialist, under the supervision of the Director of Strategic Initiatives, will play an integral role in the Catalyst Center’s ongoing consultation, training, and technical assistance for Short Term Residential Treatment Program (STRTP) providers and Foster Family Agencies (FFAs) in creating paths to permanency (including family finding and engagement of natural supports).

Duties:

✓ As requested by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), develop and facilitate training and technical assistance to providers on permanency techniques and strategies for youth and caregivers

✓ Help providers and placement workers develop and implement strategies to support youth in connecting with their biological family and/or natural supports

✓ Assist providers and placement workers in engaging youth and family members (when applicable) and developing permanency plans

✓ Provide training and technical assistance to support caregivers in implementing and fulfilling a youth’s permanency plan

✓ Support the Catalyst Center’s Youth First Project’s training and technical assistance activities around permanency techniques and strategies for youth and caregivers

✓ Conduct work ethically and abide by all state and federal laws on adoption and the foster care system

✓ Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

· Experience:

✓ Have prior and/or current lived expertise as a youth or caregiver within the foster care and/or probation care systems

✓ Bachelor’s Degree or Associate’s Degree preferred

✓ Experience with family finding and engagement

✓ Knowledge of California’s system of care (FFAs, STRTPs, behavioral health services, etc.)

✓ Ability to simultaneously manage multiple projects with varying deadlines

✓ Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Please submit a cover letter with your resume. Thank you!

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00 – $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule: 8 hour shift

COVID-19 considerations: Currently remote and will return with an hybrid work structure in 2022.

Work Location: One location

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