Court Appointed Special Advocates Volunteer Program Assistant

--- PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE BULLETIN ---       

THIS IS A REOPENING OF AN EXISTING EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will be merged with the scores from the previous list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.  If you have previously applied for the Court Appointed Special Advocates Volunteer Program Assistant (15-6186-01) read this entire bulletin for instructions on how to reapply for this recruitment.  The scores and dispositions of candidates for this examination will be merged with previous exam participants. If you are currently on the list and you choose to reapply you will forfeit your current rank and score. Your new score/disposition will replace your current score and rank. In order to reapply for this position, please contact the examination analyst listed at the bottom of this bulletin to have your previous application released back to you. The eligible list may last for one year, but can be extended.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE:  A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application.  Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Postmarks are not accepted.  Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

HEALTH CARE SERVICES AGENCY

Alameda County's Health Services Program is administered by the Health Care Services Agency (HCSA) and includes the following program areas: Behavioral Health Care, Public Health, Environmental Health, and Agency Administration/Indigent Health. The ultimate mission of the Health Care Services Agency is to provide fully integrated health care services through a comprehensive network of public and private partnerships that ensure optimal health and well-being and respect the diversity of all residents. Health Care Services Agency currently has multiple career opportunities for experienced professionals to become part of a service delivery team dedicated to the optimal health and well-being of Alameda County residents. 

ALAMEDA COUNTY COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES

The Alameda County Court Appointed Special Advocates Program (CASA) mission is to promote and support quality volunteer advocates to speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the foster care system.  Children, youth and young adults eligible for extended foster care transition services in the juvenile court system are connected to a caring and trained adult who provides guidance, resources, advocacy and mentoring.  Advocates are an integral part of the team of professionals assigned to the child or youth offering perspective and support regarding their placement, education, health and other key areas of support and make regular recommendations to the court on behalf of the child.

Click here for more information about CASA. 

THE POSITIONS

Under supervision, the CASA Volunteer Program Assistant position may recruit, train, supervise, coach, coordinate, support, monitor and oversee the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers who research the circumstances of abused and neglected minors and non-minors in the foster care/juvenile court system; report findings to the court and serve as advocates in the courts and community for compliance with court-ordered services;  collaborate with County agencies, community organizations and service providers; and performs related work as required.

THE DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

These positions are located in the Health Care Services Agency Administration - CASA Program and report to the CASA executive director or management designee. Incumbents provide recruitment, training, resources, guidance and support to the CASA volunteers to maximize their roles as 1) advocates for children in the foster care/juvenile court system, or 2) volunteer peer coordinators of other CASA volunteers. These positions are responsible for the administrative case management of open court cases, overseeing the preparation of written court reports provided to judicial officers and attending juvenile court hearings.

IDEAL CANDIDATES 

• Interest and compassion for working with foster children, youth and young adults who have experienced abuse and neglect and has knowledge of Alameda County’s child welfare system, the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program,  trauma informed practice and child development in general
• Ability and experience recruiting screening, training and supervising adult volunteers to work with children and youth and possess knowledge of qualities of a good volunteer and can identify potential issues
• Demonstrated ability to coach, counsel and guide others
• Persons who can collect and analyze data to identify key issues, recruitment and training needs relevant to achieving long-range goals and vision; who can be creative, commit to a course of action to accomplish an organizational strategic plan
• Someone with strong ability to collaborate, create and facilitate partnerships with other County partners and community service providers and other stakeholders
• Knowledge of adult learning theory and applicable facilitation practice with ability to engage a group or audience in a lecture or classroom format
• Someone who is motivated by success and is capable of setting high goals, monitor progress toward and to meet and exceed goals while deriving satisfaction from continuous professional improvement.  
• Someone capable of making a positive impact on diverse groups of people and persuade them to act by exuding confidence, creating good first impressions, professionally commanding attention, and earning trust and respect
• A clear and effective communicator, both in written and verbal form, who takes responsibility for listening and understanding others and conveys information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the audience and helps them understand and retain the message.
• Ability to promote programs, educate, and leverage support from the public on behalf of the agency mission through constantly securing volunteer recruits and public support
• Demonstrated self-directed, ability to work independently, be flexible and have strong team work skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills, ability to prioritize tasks, accomplish multiple projects simultaneously meet various deadlines, maintain regulatory compliance, and take prompt action to achieve objectives as well as identify issues as they arise and them proactively.
• Computer literate and capable of utilizing modern technological systems in everyday tasks, including the internet, websites, social media and databases

EITHER I

- Education:

Equivalent to graduation from a two-year accredited college or university (90 quarter units or 60 semester units) with major coursework in social welfare, social/human services, public health, sociology, psychology, clinical psychology, counseling or other behavioral sciences.

AND

- Experience:

The equivalent of three years of full-time social services casework experience in a public or nonprofit human services agency specializing in children, youth and family services.

OR II

- Education:

Graduation from an accredited college or university (180 quarter units or 120 semester units) with major coursework in social welfare, social/human services, public health, sociology, psychology, clinical psychology, counseling or other behavioral sciences. (Additional experience as outlined below may be substituted for the education on a year for year basis.)

AND

- Experience:

The equivalent of one year of full-time social services casework experience in a public or nonprofit human services agency specializing in children, youth and family services.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

• Roles and responsibilities of Court Appointed Special Advocates.
• State and federal laws and regulations governing Foster Care.
• Foster Youth Bill of Rights.
• Practices and techniques of how to advocate for the best interest of the children/youth/non-minor dependents.
• Training and group presentation technique.
• Community recruitment resources and networking avenues.
• Available community services and resources for children, transition-age youth and young adults and families.
• Function and role of the child welfare, juvenile court, and foster care systems.
• Educational development and emancipation services.
• Children’s physical and mental health development.
• Community Care Licensing Practices.
• Basic social needs problems, attitudes and behavioral patterns.
• Community structure and dynamics, and methods of facilitation.
• Issues and dynamics of families in crisis.
• Computer applications related to the work.
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including records management, navigating and utilizing the internet, data collection and reporting, and operation of standard office equipment.

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with volunteers, children and families, staff, community groups/agencies and the general public.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Represent the best interest of children in court hearings and in the community.
• Obtain and maintain accurate case information and documentation.
• Recruit, train, guide, coach and monitor activities of volunteers.
• Research, analyze and evaluate program.
• Work independently and collaboratively.
• Facilitate and problem solve.
• Exercise good judgment and make sound decisions.
• Adapt to a changing environment.
• Plan, organize and prioritize work.
• Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity.

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF the following steps:

1) A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.

2) A review of candidates’ Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process.

3) An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

** CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING
ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION. **

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components. Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.

Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work. To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Applicants will be informed via e-mail with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN:

*Timeline Updated 12/3/2015; 9/26/2016 (MAH)

 *WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN*

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statues.  To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing.  Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statues.