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Child Advocate

Recruitment # 250519-2407EX-002

Location Hartford, CT

Date Opened 5/22/2025 12:00:00 AM

Salary $116,268 - $211,246/year

Job Type Open to the Public

Close Date 6/18/2025 11:59:00 PM

Go Back Apply View Benefits (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=Benefits)

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+ Introduction

Are you passionate about protecting the welfare and rights of our state's most vulnerable population, our children?

Does the opportunity to advocate for and serve this demographic excite you?

If so, we invite you to apply and to serve the children of Connecticut in this vital role.

The State of Connecticut (https://portal.ct.gov/) seeks a dedicated and committed individual to serve as the State's Child Advocate. (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/specs/classspecdisplay.asp?ClassNumber=2407EX&R1=&R3=) In this appointed position, you will be responsible for leading the Office of the Child Advocate (https://portal.ct.gov/oca/common-elements/common-elements/about-us) (OCA), within the Office of Governmental Accountability.

The Office of the Child Advocate is a critical government oversight entity, which must operate with a high degree of independence and integrity while continually navigating issues affecting children’s rights and well-being that are often politically sensitive. To enable its work, the Child Advocate is granted broad authority to access otherwise confidential information, including communicating privately with a child, issuing subpoenas, and securing their enforcement (Section 46a-13m). The confidentiality of information obtained by the Child Advocate is protected (Section 46a-13n), and the Child Advocate may represent a child in any legal proceeding in which matters related to its duties are in issue (Section 46a-13o).

The Role:

The Child Advocate is the public face of the office, leading the agency’s development of public policy recommendations, legislative and policy advocacy, and public communication with families, policymakers, government officials, media, and community organizations. The Child Advocate is responsible for administering and directing the OCA to secure and ensure the legal, civil, and special rights of children residing in Connecticut.

Duties include:

+ Review complaints and investigate potential harm or systemic issues

+ Provide assistance to children and families in need

+ Recommend changes in state policies concerning children

+ Periodically review the facilities and procedures of institutions where juveniles are placed

+ Take action to secure the legal, civil, and special rights of children

Additional Duties can be found here:

Chapter 813a - Office of the Victim Advocate. Office of the Child Advocate

Due to the unique nature of this role, the ideal candidate must have proven expertise in child and adolescent development, the impacts of generational trauma, and a comprehensive understanding of child welfare, children’s mental health, and other child-focused systems. They will have a demonstrated history of leading successful teams dedicated to improving outcomes in areas such as child welfare, health, development, mental health, education, juvenile justice, and law, focused on delivering high-quality, integrated services to children and families. Additionally, they will possess a strong track record of building consensus and effectively facilitating collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including government entities, nonprofits, advocates, and community members with varied perspectives.

The website of the Office of the Child Advocate (Office of the Child Advocate (https://portal.ct.gov/oca/common-elements/common-elements/about-us) ) provides additional information, including links to its enabling statute, fatality investigations, system and facility investigations, annual reports, and profiles of its current staff.

Position Details: (https://portal.ct.gov/oca/oca-statutues/our-statutes/oca-statutes)

+ Full-time, 40 hours/week

+ Monday-Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

+ OCA is located at 165 Capitol Ave, Hartford

+ Hybrid work schedule

Note: This position will be a ppointed by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of Sections 3-1 (https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap\_031.htm#sec\_3-1) and 5-198 (10) (https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap\_067.htm#sec\_5-198) and (18) (https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap\_067.htm#sec\_5-198) of the Connecticut General Statutes.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

+ Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview (https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/jobs/?b=Benefits) page!

+ Work at a Forbes-recognized company! Connecticut is proud to be featured on both America's Best Employers by State and Best Employers for New Grads in 2024. With our dynamic job market and commitment to fostering a thriving workforce, Connecticut stands out as a top destination for both seasoned professionals and fresh graduates seeking to launch their careers.

+ Professional growth and development opportunities.

+ A healthy work/life balance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6n9M1Qd5fo) to all employees.

OCA Mission:

The OCA is an independent state agency. Its mission is to ensure that publicly funded entities that serve children are accountable to the citizens and families of Connecticut, and effectively care for the most vulnerable children. OCA’s statutory responsibilities include investigating complaints regarding services provided to children, evaluating the delivery of services provided to children, advocating on behalf of children in Connecticut, reviewing the circumstances of unexpected or unexplained death of any child, taking all possible action necessary to secure the legal and civil rights of children, reviewing the needs of children in foster care, periodically reviewing facilities in which juveniles are placed, publishing biennially a comprehensive report regarding conditions of confinement for incarcerated youth, and publishing an annual report regarding the activities of the OCA.

RESPECT COMPASSION UNDERSTANDING COMMITMENT RESPONSIVENESS FLEXIBILITY (https://portal.ct.gov/oca/mission/mission/mission-vision-and-values)

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library (https://portal.ct.gov/das/home/services-for-state-employees/statewide-human-resources/applicant-reference-library?language=en\_US) for additional support throughout the recruitment process.

BEFORE YOU APPLY:

+ Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

+ Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.

+ Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69 (https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/act/pa/pdf/2021PA-00069-R00SB-00056-PA.pdf) , resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.

+ Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.

+ Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing [email protected].

+ Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

+ Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

+ Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).

+ Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!

+ Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.

+ The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

+ Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Sharon McIntosh, at [email protected].

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

Administers and directs the Office of the Child Advocate to secure and ensure the legal, civil and special rights of children residing in the state of Connecticut.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

+ Master’s degree or higher in law, public policy, health, human services, social work, education, or a related field

+ Experience leading and managing teams while under resource constraints, utilizing independent, ethical, decision making, including organizational and prioritization skills

+ Experience using quantitative and qualitative data to guide investigations, evaluate the performance of child-serving agencies, identify systemic issues, inform public reports, and shape reform recommendations

+ Experience advocating for policies to enhance the child welfare, mental health, education, and juvenile justice systems, including through legislative and/or executive-level advocacy

+ Experience designing, implementing, and evaluating strategic initiatives and/or systemic reforms to improve outcomes for children in child-serving systems

+ Public speaking experience and experience in public engagement work with families, community organizations, policy makers, and the media, including in high-stakes and sensitive subject matter communications, such as about a child fatality, during a critical incident

+ Experience and responsibility for identifying, developing, promoting, and testifying on legislation and major policy reforms addressing identified systemic inequities in child-serving systems, including those that are racial, ethnic, economic, and/or disability-based

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Click on a link below to apply for this position:

Fill out the Supplemental Questionnaire and Application NOW using the Internet. Apply Online