Social childcare services director

Stronger Families for a Stronger Georgia.  The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) is a dynamic state agency responsible for delivering a wide range of services to Georgia's most vulnerable populations. Our mission is to strengthen Georgia by providing individuals and families access to services that promote self-sufficiency, independence, and protect Georgia's vulnerable children and adults.

What we offer. Enjoy a generous benefits package that includes a flexible work schedule, unique training opportunities, employee retirement plan, 401(k) plan and 457 plan, 13 paid holidays, vacation & sick leave, medical, dental, vision, long/short-term care, life insurance, and employee discount programs; in addition to telework opportunities depending upon the position.

Start your career in public service . The Early Childhood and Childcare Services Director ensures statewide compliance with all early childhood and childcare related DFCS policies and state and federal requirements that impact the agency’s foster care population. The position supports the agency by overseeing statewide monitoring, practice guidance, continuous early childhood quality improvement, high-level partnerships, support, and advocacy. If this position goes unfilled, it is expected to negatively impact service continuity and placement stability, often impacting agency compliance with state and federal mandates.

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Pay Grade: N

Leads, evaluates, and assists with the development and administration of policies and programs of social service and community agencies, correctional institutions, rehabilitative services, and related programs that are designed to protect and promote the social welfare of individuals and communities. Directs subordinate managers and staff.

Role and Responsibilities: 
 
I. Program Design and Implementation

• Ensures statewide compliance with DFCS Early Childhood policies and procedures.
• Assists DFCS leadership in identifying and developing early childhood division work plans, and in managing timelines and component project steps to achieve project deadlines and objectives.
• Analyzes and assesses the effectiveness of existing collaborations to ensure the identified outcome measures are achieved while driving continuous improvement efforts.
• Ensures the state meets all federal benchmarks and reporting requirements related to early childhood.
• Ensures staff are performing in compliance with DFCS policies, procedures, and appropriate documentation standards.
• Management of applicable sections of the strategic plan, PIP, and APSR
• Maintains comprehensive knowledge of current trends and developments in the early childhood field.
• Approve or Deny Early Learning and Childcare Wavier requests based on established criteria.
• High level educational tracking and reporting for all 5,000+ children in care (0-5).
• Provides oversight to the monitoring of early education plans (IEP/IFSP) for children in foster care (0-5).
• Oversee childcare referral quality assurance monitoring for foster care and CPS referrals.
• Oversee CAPS partnership that provides childcare services to eligible children ages 0-18.

 
II. Collaboration

• Works in close collaboration with DECAL leadership to ensure seamless interdepartmental service delivery to all families and providers.
• Works collaboratively with Georgia childcare resource and referral agencies and organizations throughout the state to enhance early care and education for children in foster care.
• Participates in cross-divisional projects and committees, focus groups, and community presentations as assigned.
• Facilitates communication within the division and with other divisions of the agency on a specific case level as well as on a procedure/policy level.
• Provide DFCS oversight and management of Cross Agency Child Data System (CACDS).
• Ensures ongoing statewide training for:
  • DFCS direct service staff (case managers, supervisor, field program specialists)
  • Foster Parents Associations
  • Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH)
  • Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL)
  • Head Start and Early Head Start Grantees
  • External partners as appropriate
• Serves as a high-level Point of Contact (POC) for Head Start/Early Head Start, Pre-K, and CAPS programs statewide.
• Serves on boards, work groups, and committees statewide.
• Serves as the statewide child welfare liaison for early childhood.

 
III. Data Management and Evaluation

• Query statewide data systems, analyze and interpret results, and organize the information into meaningful reports to be submitted to the Federal Regulations and Data Unit, federal reporting agencies and internal leadership.
• Evaluates collected data based on established performance measures, indicators, and benchmarks.
• Communicates accurate information and maintains ongoing communication to internal leadership and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate with multiple sections and lead persons on data management and requests for data/information.
• Responds to questions, data requests or needs based on specific knowledge of DFCS early childhood practices.
• Publish summaries/reports/trends, as needed, and requested.
• Plan, develop, and implement early childhood programmatic data collection processes within DFCS.

 
VI. Early Intervention Services 

• Monitors the education service delivery for children in foster care 0-5 with an IEP/IFSP.
• Provides guidance to state level and regional Division staff regarding provisions and requirements for special populations.
• Provides quality monitoring of the internal applicable education action plans, roster updates, PIP Requirements and resource development.
• Participates in case staffings with the Office of the Child Advocate with case managers, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Babies Can’t Wait (BCW), Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and other stake holders regarding early education and development.
• Oversee the review and quality assurance of all plans provided by the LEA or BCW.
• Facilitate the transfer of records including copies of IEPs and Section 504 Plans for children who change childcare providers and placements.

 
V. Supervision

• Strategically plans and manages district workload to accomplish DFCS mission and goals.
• Ensures appropriate staffing within the Early Childhood Collaboration Unit with qualified professionals who are effectively motivated and routinely evaluated against performance goals.
• Guides and oversees staff responsible for providing monitoring, support, and advocacy of children with DFCS involvement that includes:
  • Referral quality assurance monitoring
  • Policy implementation
  • Data collection
  • Training
  • Early childhood education plans monitoring
• Interviews, hires, directs, trains, evaluates the performance of, and after appropriate consultation, when necessary, disciplines employees.

• Master's degree in a related area from an accredited college or university AND Two (2) years of management of subordinate managers/supervisors in a human service delivery program.

OR

• Bachelor's degree in a related area from an accredited college or university AND Five (5) years of experience, including three (3) years of management of subordinate managers/supervisors in a human service delivery program.

OR

• Related certification AND Two (2) years of management of subordinate managers/supervisors in a human service delivery program.

OR

• Three (3) years of experience at the lower level Mgr 2, Social Svcs (SSM011) or position equivalent.

Preferred Skills/Qualifications: Preference will be given to candidates who, in addition to meeting the minimum qualifications, demonstrate some or all of the following skills/experience:

 

• Excellent planning and organizational management skills.
• Ability to work in a very fast-paced, stressful environment while effectively and accurately managing multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively at multiple levels of the organization and with multiple project teams as well as external stakeholders.
• Expertise in making strategic decisions based on data as well as best practices.
• Expertise in early childhood and childcare programming.

For more detailed information about the Georgia Department Human Services

Employment Information

 
Current State employees are subject to State Personnel Board (SPB) Rules regarding salary. DHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer
 
If you require accommodations under the American Disability Act (ADA), email request by the closing date of this announcement to: .
 
The candidate selected for this position may be subject to pre-employment drug screening, education verification, reference, motor vehicle records, and criminal background checks.
 
DHS accepts educational credential recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the US Department of Education (DOE) will be considered. DHS will contact educational institutions to verify degree, diploma, licensure, etc.
 
As an employee of DHS, in the event of an identified emergency you may be required, as a term and condition of employment, to assist in meeting the emergency responsibilities of the department.
 
Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information on application status by phone or e-mail. All qualified applicants will be considered but may not necessarily receive an interview. Selected applicants will be contacted by the hiring official for next steps in the selection process. Applicants who are not selected will not receive notification.

 
This position is subject to close at any time once a satisfactory applicant pool has been identified.