ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) is a national leader in mental health services for the adoption, foster, and kinship care community. We envision a world where every child and family connected to adoption, foster, and kinship care thrives, embracing our individual and collective diversity. We improve the well-being and permanence of children and their families by delivering adoption-competent mental health services, training a national network of professionals, and informing the field through research and advocacy. We work nationally to build the capacity of States, Tribes and territories to create competent systems and service arrays and improve access to those services.

For over 25 years, C.A.S.E. has combined best practices and innovation to provide specialized individual and family therapy, psychiatric services and support groups, education, and training. We have become a local, national, and international resource for adoptive, kinship, and foster families and the professionals who support them. C.A.S.E. set out in 2021 on a new strategic direction to grow our clinical and training programs into our Academy for Elevating Clinical Practice in Permanency. It is an exciting time as we grow our evidenced-based adoption-competent clinical model and our accredited, award-winning training programs nationwide.

C.A.S.E has an annual budget of $14M and a staff of 70+ employees.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services is a federally funded cooperative agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau to work with national system leaders as well as parents and young adults with lived experience to deliver new and enhanced support, technical assistance (TA), and training to states, tribes, territories, professional and peer support professional to meet the mental health needs of children and families who have experienced child welfare.

The National Center Mental Health Implementation Specialist (MH-CIS) reports to the Director of Technical Assistance of the National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services at C.A.S.E. The MH-CIS works closely with the National Center Leadership team, National Center partner organizations, the National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI) Team (also at C.A.S.E.), and child welfare and mental health leadership in assigned states, tribes, and territories to help sites develop sustainable collaborative structures between child welfare and mental health systems and expand access to adoption competent mental health providers. The full-time MH-CIS will support priming, promotion, implementation, and integration/sustainability of assigned technical assistance (TA) goals and plans. The MH-CIS also provides a range of training, webinars, consultations, and group facilitation to support the overall goals of the Center. The MH-CIS role is home-based and works remotely.

NOTE: The position requires national travel to assigned agencies and conference locations, with travel expenses reimbursed in accordance with the project grant. National travel will be an expectation of this role. Typically, travel is expected to be once a month for 2-3 days. There may be times when additional travel is requested.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides outreach, engagement, and implementation activities to support TA in assigned states, tribes, and territories (STTs), including:

o functioning as a behavioral health subject matter expert on a multi-disciplinary team delivering intensive technical assistance to develop the capacity of sites to advance adoption competency

o leveraging the strengths and challenges of the behavioral health system and translating to levers and barriers in the TA work

o conducting mental health landscape analysis to align National Center work with the STT priorities (including evaluating strategic plans and supporting system priorities)

o developing an understanding of the site’s mental health system and creating team understanding of the unique structure with each site

o conducting mental health landscape analysis to align National Center work with the STT priorities (including evaluating strategic plans and supporting system priorities)

o understanding how mental health services are delivered to target population and identifying inroads for advancing adoption competency

o evaluating opportunities for TA strategies via payor sources, higher education and CCBCHs

o identifying what training the behavioral health system workforce is receiving and how it is provided and paid for so appropriate outreach can be done

o messaging the value proposition of adoption competency and multi-system updates and aligning with other training to demonstrate reinforcement

o initiating, compiling, and tracking strategic contacts for outreach and entering this data into CASEbase (CRM)

o establishing and maintaining relationships primarily with mental health systems, organizations and providers and secondarily with child welfare leaders

o supporting cross-system collaboration/integration

o motivating buy-in to and understanding by system leaders and TA participants to advance adoption competency in systems and by training the behavioral health workforce in NTI training

o Identifying challenges and solutions to accessing behavioral health providers

o providing outreach and education; tracking outcomes of outreach activities

o contributing to development of assessment reports, intensive TA workplans, and sustainability plans

o executing assigned strategies within TA plan

o providing leadership and coordination for the National Center staff and consultants working with the MH-CIS to deliver TA to each site, including ensuring the team has the needed expertise, skills, and support to partner with the site and deliver effective TA

o troubleshooting challenges with TA delivery, implementation, and integration

o working with sites to establish training and adoption competency requirements or policies, as needed, to support adoption competency implementation for child welfare and mental health service providers

o ensuring consistent on-the-ground TA support for sites supplemented with virtual support

o this position may assume the responsibility of being a site lead on a TA site and would carry the responsibility of orchestrating a TA team to develop a TA plan and effectively deliver

Prioritizes incorporating lived expertise—from families and youth—in TA development and delivery
Provides input, as needed, to inform the National Center’s TA model, TA delivery strategies, and approaches for evaluating TA effectiveness.
Develops engagement, presentation, and dissemination of materials and informational products for outreach and promotion.
Responds accurately and timely to inquiries from potential TA sites and clearly communicates information about the process for being considered as a TA site, the required levels of commitment and effort from a TA site, and how the National Center approaches partnering with TA sites.
Provides timely tracking of all project activities for periodic reporting, quality assurance, and evaluation.
Participate actively in National Center Team and related meetings (in person and virtual).
Staff exhibits and presents about the National Center or other C.A.S.E.-related activities at assigned state, regional, and national meetings, conferences, and tradeshows.
Documents all work in accordance with National Center standards.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Within 90 days of hire, completes NTI for Mental Health. Gains working knowledge of Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) and other C.A.S.E. training offerings, including developing working knowledge of products, audiences, learning objectives, product benefits, and product relationships.

Completes other professional training as assigned by the Director of Technical Assistance

Travel: must meet with and provide TA in person to sites/states assigned to the MH-IS, as needed.

Participates in monthly C.A.S.E. staff meetings (in person or virtual) and other C.A.S.E.-related activities as assigned. Participates in National Center on-site team 1-day meetings as required 4-5 times a year

Performs other related duties as may be required

SUPERVISION EXCERCISED: None

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:The Director of Technical Assistance supervises the position and will provide thought leadership and direction on project implementation. The individual will participate in at least monthly team meetings and individual supervision sessions (in person or virtual). The position is home-based. The position must be able to work effectively independently, setting meetings and work schedules that best meet the needs of the assigned TA sites.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the minimum knowledge, skill, and ability required unless otherwise stated.

COMMENTS:Other relevant education and/or experience may be substituted for the stated minimum education and experience requirements.

The position is full-time with a competitive salary and benefits. Candidates do not need to reside in the Washington, DC area. The position requires national travel, with travel expenses reimbursed by the project grant.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Ideal candidates will possess a master’s degree in social work or other related field with subject expertise in mental health. Candidates with a degree in social work and organizational development/change management are highly desirable. Completion of NTI and or TAC trainings preferred.

Required:

Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in mental health and demonstrated success in working across child serving systems providing change management and/or capacity building/technical assistance is required. Experience in leading programs/initiatives and development of strategic plans with measurable goals is required. Prefer experience with collective impact initiatives, social research implementation, or system change efforts at the community/state level and in collaboration with child welfare or mental health leaders. Experience in the public sector is required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

A thorough understanding of the need for adoption/ mental health competency and understanding of child welfare systems and mental health systems in general is required
Experience in the delivery of mental health services to youth and families
Solid understanding and use of Implementations Science principles, practices, and language
Working knowledge of terminology in both child welfare and mental health as well as a strong working knowledge of the systems in which these services are offered child welfare, mental health concepts,
Knowledge of effective TA strategies, delivery, and pacing, especially when working with complex systems
Skill in designing tailored TA workplans to meet individual site needs, ensuring alignment with a TA model
Advanced technical skills to update multiple databases used for the project on a timely basis
Skill in obtaining, reviewing, analyzing, using, and sharing data to support project success
Ability to strategically identify and define barriers, seek creative and effective solutions, and inform the team of issues requiring joint planning, decision-making, and/or problem resolution; and
Ability to manage and prioritize multiple and changing demands with diplomacy, flexibility, and decorum. Proven success with producing high quality, timely work in multi-project work environments
Skill in adapting to changing requirements or priorities based on funding requirements
Excellent interpersonal skills, including establishing and maintaining effective work relationships with a wide audience of internal and external parties at all levels of employees and management, existing and potential customers, contractors, vendors, and agencies
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including writing reports and oral presentations
Proficiency in leading purposeful, outcome driven meetings
Proficiency in conducting webinars
Excellent planning and organizational skills while making decisions about multiple priorities, including time management, attention to detail, and follow-through for the project team
Ability to work independently, setting meetings and work schedules that the best assigned site needs
Ability to work in, and constructively contribute to, a harmonious and productive cross-functional teamwork environment
Ability to strategically identify and define problem areas, seek creative and effective solutions, and involve and/or apprise Director as may be appropriate
Ability to maintain confidentiality of information
Ability to track activities using project management software
Ability to facilitate and manage in-person and via Zoom/Skype/GoToMeeting meetings
Ability to travel as described in duties
Demonstrated proficiency with Windows-based PC environment and Microsoft Office tools such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and project management software is required. Familiarity with a learning management system is highly desirable
Proven success in delivering presentations virtually through Zoom and/or other platforms

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Ability to pass required state and local background checks.

Required: valid and current mental health state licensure at the advanced level

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Ability to pass required state and local background checks.

Salary & Benefits:

Salary: 90-95k

Benefits: Competitive benefits including medical, sick leave and vacation, 403(B) retirement, and flexible hours. Hybrid (virtual/in-person) work schedule. 12 Paid Holidays, including your birthday! Vacation and Sick leave.

Please submit a resume and letter of interest to careers@adoptionsupport.org

C.A.S.E. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, military or veteran status, or any other category protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Emboldened by the core belief that all children deserve a safe, loving, permanent home and dedicated to providing inclusive, family-focused services, C.A.S.E. draws on expertise, research, and lived experience to innovate and pay it forward by educating and empowering others. Together, we commit to work both internally and externally with Compassion, Integrity, Excellence, and Innovation.

Center for Adoption Support and Education jobs

The National Center Mental Health Implementation Specialist