Child And Family Program Specialist

SummaryThis position is located in the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF)-Childrens Bureau, located in Atlanta, Georgia, Boston, Massachusetts, Chicago, Illinois, Dallas, Texas, Denver, Colorado, Kansas City, Missouri, New York, New York, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, San Francisco, California, Seattle, Washington, and Washington, District of Columbia.


Duties The incumbent serves as a technical resource/consultant in the application of Federal regulations and procedures through the Child and Family Service review process, providing technical assistance and advice in conducting Child and Family Service reviews; participating in joint planning with States; applying analytical and problem solving techniques in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of State Child and Family Service programs; participating in engaging the State in continuous assessment and quality improvement efforts; and recommending and monitoring program improvement actions and strategies. This position represents the full performance level. Duties Include: Assists in the planning and coordination of State-specific review procedures, time frames, steps, and functions with State and local agency officials, other Federal staff, and contractors.Analyzes interim findings to assess compliance with Federal laws and determine the efficacy of administrative and technical methods.Collects and evaluates information from sources like statewide assessments and qualitative data from case reviews and interviews.Applies national standards to State performance in Child and Family Service programs, develops comparative analyses, and makes recommendations.Works with team leaders to analyze and interpret statewide data and qualitative information related to child welfare policy and practice.Reviews cases of children and families for on-site Child and Family Service reviews and conducts interviews with various stakeholders.Prepares documents such as preliminary assessments, final reports, and letters of notification, identifying areas requiring corrective action.Participates in entrance and exit conferences to present information on State Child and Family Service reviews and discuss findings and program improvement planning. Requirements Conditions of EmploymentU.S. Citizenship requiredSelective Service: Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered or exempt from Selective Service - http://www.sss.govIf not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees. Appointment will be subject to the applicants successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.One-year probationary period may be required.If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System.All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.Bargaining Unit Position: Yes, this position is covered under the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).Drug Screening Required: NoResearch position: No QualificationsApplicants must demonstrate that they meet the Basic AND Specialized Experience requirements as noted below. Basic Requirement: You must meet one of the items listed below (A, B, or C):
A. Possess a degree in behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position. (Must provide transcripts)
B. Possess a combination of education and experience -- that provided you with the knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. (Must provide transcript)
C. Possess four years of appropriate experience that demonstrates acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.

Specialized Experience:GS-12: You must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors) performing (3) of the (4) duties listed below:

1. Overseeing the administration of State or Tribal child protective services, foster care and/or adoption programs with oversight/administration of programming in all political subdivisions of the jurisdiction or over a region(s) if oversight in that jurisdiction is provided on a regional basis.
2. Identifying needs and deficiencies of a State or Tribal child protective services, foster care and/or adoption program on a jurisdiction-wide or regional level, as appropriate with responsibility for developing and implementing response to bring about improvement.
3.Coordinating and leading assessments of a State or Tribal child protective service, foster care and/or adoption program on a jurisdiction-wide or regional level, as appropriate.
4. Preparingdocuments such as preliminary assessments, final reports, and/or letters of notification to accurately identify areas requiring corrective action.

Documenting Experience:

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Qualifications are based on breadth/level of experience. In addition to describing duties performed, applicants must provide the exact dates of each period of employment (from MM/YY to MM/YY) and the number of hours worked per week if part time. As qualification determinations cannot be made when resumes do not include the required information, failure to provide this information may result in disqualification. Applicants are encouraged to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder to develop their federal resume.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

In accordance with Office of Personnel Management policy, federal employees are assumed to have gained experience by performing duties and responsibilities appropriate for their official series and grade level as described in their position description. Experience that would not normally be part of the employees position is creditable, however, when documented by satisfactory evidence, such as a signed memorandum from the employees supervisor or an SF-50 or SF-52 documenting an official detail or other official assignment. The documentation must indicate whether the duties were performed full time or, if part time, the "percentage of times" the other duties were performed. It is expected that this documentation is included in the employees official personnel record. In order to receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your official position, you must provide a copy of the appropriate documentation of such experience as indicated above.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through national Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to gain employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. If such experience is on a part-time basis, you must provide the average number of hours worked per week as well as the beginning and ending dates of the experience so it can be fully credited.

OPM Qualification General Policies Website



All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.How You Will Be EvaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

Once the application process is complete, a review of the resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. Category rating procedures will be used to rate and rank candidates. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Qualified candidates will be ranked into one of three categories: Best Qualified - Applicants who have experience that is almost identical to those required by the position.Well Qualified - Applicants who have experience that is very similar to those required by the position.Qualified - Applicants who meet minimum qualification requirements, but do not identify any additional qualifying experience or skill.
Candidates in the highest category will be referred to the hiring agency.

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-9 level or higher).

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):
Oral CommunicationPlanning and EvaluatingTechnical Competence - Program ReviewWriting

To preview the assessment questionnaire, click the following link:
Required Documents Submission of a resume alone IS NOT a complete application. You must provide a complete online Application Package which includes: Your Resume must clearly articulate how your skills and experiences align to the criteria defined in the qualifications section of this announcement and it must support your responses to the assessment questionnaire. For each position you must describe your duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities. Your resume must also include the day, month, and year that you began and ended as well as hours worked per week (if less than 40) for each position held. Full-time employment will be assumed unless otherwise stated on your resume. Part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience. Not providing this information may result in the lowering of your assessment score or an ineligible rating. For resume writing guidance, please visit the or view their .A complete Assessment Questionnaire ()Other Supporting Documents: (Only Submit if applicable to you.)College transcript (if qualifying all or in part based on your education)Veterans Preference documentation:Discharged Veterans: If you are claiming 5 point preference, you must submit a copy of your DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from the armed forces that supports dates of service and discharge status; if claiming 10 point preference, an application for 10-Point Veterans Preference (SF-15) and an official document dated 1991 or later, from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces, and/or any other associated documentation based on your preference.Active Duty Members: Under the VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, if claiming 5 point preference, submit written documentation from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application package.ICTAP/CTAP Documentation:A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate, notice of disability annuity termination, or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action, documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; andAny documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: Position title;Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee);Agency; andBeginning and ending dates of appointment. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from .
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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