Office of Children & Families - Dependency Court Analyst

Description

Assists in the leadership of dependency court improvement seeking ways to ensure that every child grows up in a safe, nurturing, and permanent family. The position will oversee specific county, regional and statewide dependency court improvement activities and will act as a liaison to assigned Family Engagement Initiative counties, Leadership Roundtables, and local Children’s Roundtables and will assist with various Dependency Court Improvement Program (CIP) activities. Funded by a multi-year federal grant.

Primary Duties

Typical Duties

• Facilitates partnerships between judges, hearing officers, attorneys, court managers, child welfare directors, and other partner agency staff.
• Provides technical support to local Children’s Roundtables, working closely with judges, child welfare directors, and local teams to facilitate practices that promote safe permanency and positive well-being for children.
• Provides expert guidance to judges, hearing officers, attorneys, and child welfare professionals regarding CIP priority practices including Family Finding, Crisis/Rapid Response Family Meetings, and Family Group Decision Making.
• Supports the implementation of statewide Child Welfare CIP initiatives, including an annual conference and other training and educational projects.
• Manages activities, meetings, and initiatives of assigned Leadership Roundtables, including facilitating the meeting, developing the agenda, and providing technical assistance.
• Develops, facilitates, and participates in collaborations between the courts and child welfare agencies to identify gaps and barriers affecting child safety, well-being, permanency, and the promotion of strong families; strengthens communication and integration between the systems.
• Works collectively with IT and Research Departments to ensure court data is provided in a timely and user-friendly manner. Takes lead in developing data packets for Family Engagement Initiative Counties and other CIP activities.
• Provides expertise regarding compliance with the Adoption & Safe Families Act, Title IV-E, the Child & Family Services Review, Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure, State Permanency Laws and other statutory and regulatory mandates.
• Examines local data outcomes; develops and implements strategies and monitors their outcomes.
• Provides public speaking and training pertaining to CIP activities and State Roundtable priorities.
• Provides written reports on assigned State Roundtable, Leadership Roundtables and department activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, or Public Administration; AND
• Two years of project management experience in a child welfare agency or the child dependency legal system.
• An equivalent combination of education, experience, or training may be considered.

Additional Requirements/Preferences

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Sociology, Public Administration, Public Policy, or related field preferred.
• Experience in dependency court operations, social work, public policy reform, or related field preferred.
• Experience in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint preferred.
• Overnight travel and a valid driver's license required.
• Writing sample submission required.
• Satisfactory criminal background check required.

Additional Information

Unified Judicial System Hiring Policy

The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania recruits, employs, and promotes the most qualified applicants without regard to their political affiliation, race, color, age, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, or other non-merit facts or considerations. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to applicants with disabilities as may be necessary to ensure that all applicants are given a fair and equal opportunity to compete for all employment positions. Applicants who need accommodation for an interview should request so in advance. UJS hiring and employment policies and procedures are intended to conform to all applicable state and federal laws governing fair and non-discriminatory hiring and employment practices and are subject to change as necessary to remain in compliance with such laws.

Applicants requiring accommodation, for any part of the application and/or interview process, should contact Human Resources at (717) 231-3309 or human.resources@pacourts.us.