DHHS Program Specialist
State of Nebraska

Description

The Division of Health and Human Services Children and Family Division is seeking a DHHS Program Specialist for the Division of Children and Family Services. This position is responsible for the research, review, analyze and interpret federal regulations and policies, state laws, and their administrative requirements to formulate appropriate policies, procedures, and interpretations for investigating and assessing child and adult abuse and neglect; achieving safety, permanency and well-being for children and related topics; prepare and monitor grants and contracts, including working with external teams. The Program Specialist will perform programmatic duties for Alternative Response, including oversight and facilitation of the Review Evaluation and Determination process on Alternative Response cases, and ensure statutory and regulation compliance across Nebraska on programs assigned, provide technical assistance and training as requested to field staff and community stakeholders about programs assigned; this may require travel, including overnight travel.

Are you a compassionate, results-driven professional with the skills necessary to provide leadership within an organization that helps children and families care for themselves resulting in healthier families and safer, more prosperous communities? If so, we need you! Join our TEAM today and apply!!

"You have the passion; we have the opportunities - let's make a difference for Nebraskans!"

DHHS State of Nebraska values our employees as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job qualifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital status, or genetics.

For more information about the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the Division of Children and Family Services, please visit our website, http://dhhs.ne.gov.

Please Note: Effective July 1, 2023, the pay rate will increase to $23.313 per hour.

Examples of Work
The Program Specialist will:

• Assist team in providing guidance regarding programs assigned.

• Explain, clarify, and interpret operational practices, policies, procedures, federal and state regulations for child abuse and neglect, alternative response and engaging with families to CFS field staff, members of the general public, children and families, and other DHHS divisions.

• Identify and participate in needed quality assurance processes, program improvement plan, and processes for performance accountability.

• Draft, develop, and implement policy, procedure and program regulations related to child abuse and neglect and ensure that staff have uniform guidelines by evaluating and coordinating program policies and regulations in collaboration with staff from training and quality improvement.
Qualifications / Requirements
REQUIREMENTS: Bachelors degree, or equivalent coursework/training, in public administration, social/behavioral sciences, healthcare, human services or other program related field. Professional experience working in a human/social service or health care agency with responsibility for planning or evaluation services, programs or operational policies and practices may substitute in lieu of the educational requirement.

PREFERRED: Three to five years' experience working with DHHS programs in child welfare, including Alternative Response, and experience with N-FOCUS and its capabilities.

OTHER: Valid driver's license or the ability to provide independent authorized transportation.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
This position must have the ability to: manage multiple priorities, plan, organize and direct a major program; work collaboratively in a team setting; analyze, develop and organize materials; establish and maintain positive relationships with agency staff, service providers/contractors, community organizations and clients; communicate electronically, on paper or in person to promote, explain, discuss, advise and interact with interested groups on various program issues and problems; prepare and review technical documents such as summaries of state and federal regulations, action plans, reports, contracts and grants; understand, interpret and apply instructions, laws, rules, policies and procedures pertinent to the program; exercise independent critical thinking skills; maintain liaison with community representatives and other governmental agencies. have to be self-directed, with the ability to organize work and address needs across the state. Work is performed under general direction, requiring initiative and latitude use of independent judgment.

The individual will be knowledgeable on: the principles and practices of child welfare, including alternative response, public administration; procedure and policy development; methods and techniques of program planning; federal and state laws, rules, regulations and procedures pertaining to health and human services programs; public funds and budgeting methods; the principles and techniques of adult learning; quality assurance mechanisms; principles and techniques of planning, monitoring and evaluating human services programs and service delivery systems.

Skill in: critical thinking, interpreting and/or clarifying policy to interested groups; conducting formal presentations to provide education and share information.