University of Tennessee Chattanooga

Job Description

The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) is a federal law that aims to prevent children from entering foster care by providing services to families who are at risk of entering the child welfare system. The law allows federal funding for mental health, substance abuse, and in-home parent skill-based programs for children, youth, and their parents or kin caregivers. The FFPSA supports the use of evidence-based practices to promote the well-being of children, youth, and families and to prevent unnecessary foster care placements. The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services has already begun implementation of FFPSA and would like social workers with child welfare experience and FFPSA expertise embedded in the regions to provide the training and technical assistance needed to ensure smooth implementation and improved outcomes for child welfare-involved children and families. Reporting to the FFPSA Statewide Prevention Director, the FFPSA Regional Prevention Specialist will provide consultation and training to regional DCS employees in all twelve service regions on the Family First Prevention Service Act, including prevention services that are outlined in the Department's Five-Year Prevention Services Plan and around Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) compliance. The FFPSA Regional Prevention Specialist will be assigned to one of twelve regional offices and is expected to be available to staff on site during normal business hours. This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon the continued funding of the grant.

Responsibilities

Training & Consulting

• Ensure that regional and county DCS offices, courts, private agencies, and other key external stakeholders understand the Family First Prevention Service Act and, as appropriate, are engaged in the implementation of an effective regional prevention program
• Provide technical assistance in the Family First Prevention Services Act to regional DCS professionals and key stakeholders in improving their program and directing the CQI process, on and off-site consultation, coaching, review of records, review of data related to performance measures and other metrics and building professional relationships to improve outcomes for children and families while remaining in compliance with federal regulations and DCS policies and procedures.
• Develop region-specific referral processes to regional networks of community agencies that provide evidence-based programs for child welfare-involved families and children.
• Deliver at least one in-person and one virtual training per month on FFPSA-related topics, including FFPSA prevention services programs available in those regions and how to access and document those services and FFPSA Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) documentation and compliance. Travel within the region will be needed to deliver training.
• Provide support and guidance to regional DCS Direct Service Professionals and Team Leaders on the Family Advocacy and Support Tool (FAST).

Case Review, Data Analysis, & Reporting

• Review a sample of FAST and Child and Adolescent Strengths and Needs (CANS) assessments provided by the Division of Federal Programs each month to determine the quality of those assessments.
• Utilize data collected from monthly reviews to analyze and report on the quality of the assessment, the family and child/youth needs for specific counties in each region, and training/coaching needs of DCS direct service professionals.
• Monitor and/or facilitate the development of county specific referral processes to regional networks of community agencies providing essential, evidence-based services for families and children to ensure appropriate matching and track outcomes for children and families.
• Provide quarterly progress reports on activities conducted, results, and recommendations

Managing client relationships and needs

• Develop positive and trusting relationships with sponsors/program staff.
• Respond to client communication in a timely and professional manner via telephone and email.
• Present case review findings and recommendations to clients and other program stakeholders.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in social work or a related field
• Experience: 3 years experience in child welfare in the state of Tennessee, experience developing and/or implementing evidence-based programing, experience in planning and facilitating group learning events for professionals
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
• In-depth knowledge of Tennessee child welfare program statutes, rules, policies, and best practices to provide guidance, consultation, and technical assistance to regional and county child welfare professionals.
• Knowledge of the Family First Prevention Services Act.
• Strong consultation, training, and coaching skills.
• Demonstrated management and leadership skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong planning and facilitating skills.
  • Knowledge and change management and implementation theory
  • Knowledge of one or more evidence-based program for child maltreatment prevention and/or family preservation

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Doctoral degree in social work or a related field
• Experience: Experience in change management and implementation theory in providing intensive technical assistance to create continuous quality improvement processes within county child welfare programs
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Work Location

• Location: This position will cover the regional offices in Knox or Johnson City. Travel around this region is required along with reporting to the reginal offices.

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: Market Range 09
• Anticipated hiring range: $60,000 – 70,000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

Applications will be reviewed as received and interviews can begin as soon as 7 days from posting.

Interested individuals should provide the following:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References

About The College/Department/Division

The Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) is an applied research center of the University of Tennessee College of Social Work (CSW). We are a dynamic and close-knit interdisciplinary team of individuals with a shared vision of thriving communities with equitable outcomes for all. We do that by building partnerships that leverage research, technology, and human connection to improve lives in Tennessee and beyond.

Over the past fifty years, SWORPS has worked with local nonprofits such as the United Way of Greater Knoxville, University of Tennessee departments and faculty researchers, state agencies such as the Tennessee Department of Human Services, and federal agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Our annual portfolio consists of 25-40 sponsored projects spanning a wealth of different content areas, but one common thread -each project contributes one more building block for thriving communities with equitable outcomes for all.

Learn more about SWORPS and some of our programs and resources by visiting our webpage: https://www.sworps.tennessee.edu/

About Us

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!