LGBTQIA+ Specialist (Covering Southern Region) Job at Dept of Children and Families
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) seeks dedicated child welfare professionals to fill various LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and more) Specialist roles. The selected candidate will be a consultant to Regional/Area DCF staff to build capacity and expertise in the field and create linkages to the provider community that can serve and support LGBTQIA+ youth and families.
LGBTQIA+ Specialist will help to lead DCF’s efforts to effectively address the needs of children, youth, and families who are involved with DCF service delivery and identify as LGBTQIA+ and will work directly with social workers and other staff to aid in assessing and responding to service needs.
The incumbent will work under the supervision of the LGBTQIA+ Director and collaborate with DCF Managers, Area Clinical Managers, Regional Clinical Directors, and other specialty units to facilitate competent and sensitive service delivery to children, youth, families, and resource families.
- Please Note: The position officially reports to Central Office, but will be based in the Southern Regional Office in Brockton; and will cover the Southern Region.
Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive)
:
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Provides case consultation to Area Offices on case direction and works to increase the capacity and expertise of field staff in serving children, youth, and families who identify as LGBTQIA+.
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Participates in creating and delivering training for relevant staff and other stakeholders on LGBTQIA+ issues. This includes internal DCF staff and community partners.
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Collaborate with the Statewide LGBTQIA+ Unit to assist in shaping policy and providing best practice guidance to the field.
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Attends statewide trainings, Regional\Area clinical team meetings, and inter-agency meetings on cases related to LGBTQIA+ services, as needed.
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Work with community-based LGBTQIA+ service providers, including advocacy services, to establish working relationships between providers and local DCF Area Offices. This includes improving communication with the provider, developing protocols to improve access to services for DCF clients, and streamlining service provision.
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Assists in efforts to recruit resource families to serve children and youth who identify as LGBTQIA+ and collaborate with kin and foster parents
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Partners with DCF Legal to address barriers to permanency and work to create solutions for children and youth who identify as LGBTQIA+.
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Participate in agency improvement efforts
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Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
:
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Applicants must have at least three years full-time or equivalent part-time experience in providing LGBTQIA+ services and/or advocacy.
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A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in human services, social work, or a related field.
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Experience with community development and cross-systems collaboration.
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Ability to manage multiple job tasks and set priorities.
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Strong interpersonal skills and excellent communication abilities, both written and in person.
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Capacity to interact effectively with individuals at all levels within an organization.
Preferred Qualifications
:
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Extensive knowledge of LGBTQIA+ services within the community and ability to assist DCF staff and contracted providers to identify and navigate appropriate services.
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Understanding of DCF policies and procedures related to LGBTQIA+ services.
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Mastery of best practices and appropriate language regarding LGBTQIA+ individuals and services.
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Broad knowledge of the clinical issues related to gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender expression and consider the impact of family members attitudes on their ability to support children.
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Utilize LGBTQIA+ expertise in clinical formulation, decision-making, and permanency planning.
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Capacity to think critically, and nurture critical thinking skills among staff.
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Robust and demonstrated understanding of child welfare practice principles and the impact of adverse childhood experiences.
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Knowledge and understanding of trauma-informed approaches in child welfare, including the Strengthening Family’s Framework, parental capacities, and impact of secondary traumatic stress.
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Ability to work independently, manage projects and implement priorities; Willingness to travel state-wide.
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Capacity to support and further positive outcomes for children and youth in care.
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Recognition and understanding of the impact of implicit bias and racial disparity in practice and decision-making.
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Understanding the importance of kin, fictive kin, siblings, and lifelong family connections, and maintaining and/or renewing safe and supportive relationships.
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Proven ability to create tracking systems and use data effectively.
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Superior experience in creating curricula and training on LGBTQIA+ issues.
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Skilled in problem-solving, consensus building, conflict resolution, and team building.
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Proficient usage of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, and Outlook and other PC based software.
To Apply
:
Please upload
both Resume and Cover Letter for this position when applying.
About the Department of Children and Families
:
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is committed to upholding the fundamental mission of protecting children from abuse and neglect to ensure they are able to grow and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. DCF’s vision is that all children have the right to grow up in a nurturing home, free from abuse and neglect, with access to food, shelter, clothing, health care and education.
DCF works toward establishing the safety, permanency, and well-being of the Commonwealth's children by stabilizing and preserving families; providing quality temporary alternative care when necessary, safely reunifying families; and when necessary and appropriate, creating new families through kinship, guardianship, or adoption. Preferred applicants will possess a demonstrated commitment to the core practice values: 1) child-driven, 2) family-centered, 3) community-focused, 4) strength-based, 5) committed to diversity/cultural competency, and 6) committed to continuous learning.
For more information about our agency and programs visit: www.mass.gov/dcf
Pre-Hire Process:
A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori and click on "Information for Job Applicants."
As part of the hiring process, the Office of Human Resources will be verifying any college-level degrees conferred to the selected candidate. Additionally, any licensure required for the position will be verified. Information provided as part of the hiring process is subject to the Massachusetts Public Record Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website. Education, licensure, and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.
If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form
For questions, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option 2.
Qualifications
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) four years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional, administrative or managerial experience in business administration, business management or public administration the major duties of which involved program management, program administration, program coordination, program planning and/or program analysis, and (B) of which at least one year must have been in a supervisory capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.
Substitutions:
I. A Bachelor's degree with a major in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required (A) experience.*
II. A Graduate degree with a major in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for a maximum of three years of the required (A) experience.*
III. A Bachelor's or higher degree with a major other than in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.*
- Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.
NOTE: No substitutions will be permitted for the required (B) experience.
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!
Executive Order #595: As a condition of employment, successful applicants will be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination or an approved exemption as of their start date. Details relating to demonstrating compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment. Applicants who receive an offer of employment who can provide documentation that the vaccine is medically contraindicated or who object to vaccination due to a sincerely held religious belief may make a request for exemption.
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.
Official Title
: Program Coordinator III
Primary Location
: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-600 Washington Street
Job
: Administrative Services
Agency
: Department of Children & Families
Schedule
: Full-time
Shift
: Day
Job Posting
: Apr 5, 2023, 5:49:16 PM
Number of Openings
: 1
Salary
: 68,016.52 - 98,517.12 Yearly
If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator
: Robert Arnau (Robert.D.Arnau@mass.gov) - 8572748824
Bargaining Unit
: 06-NAGE - Professional Admin.
Confidential
: No
Hybrid Work Eligible
: Yes
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