PROGRAM COORDINATOR (CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES)            21325

                                                                                                                                   (Competitive)

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS

The work involves responsibility for planning, coordinating, and implementing programs in the Department of Children and Family Services. This is a broad classification to designate all positions within the Onondaga County Department of Children and Family Services, which have responsibility for the development of programs or projects of a special nature or are to serve a specific and targeted population in the community. An employee in this class functions as the program coordinator involved in activities such as contract management, coordination and provision of services, community relations and networking, educational promotion, media development, program outreach, developing and managing funding sources, grant writing, budget forecasting and planning, tracking and targeting populations, statistics, recruitment and training of staff, etc.  Independence and initiative are exercised by an employee in this class in accordance with goals established by the department, and with regulatory standards. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Family Services or an administrative director, with leeway allowed for the exercise of independent judgment.  Supervision is exercised over professional, paraprofessional and/or clerical employees; the number of employees supervised may vary depending on the program assignment. Certain assignments made to employees in this class will require reasonable access to transportation to meet field work requirements made in the ordinary course of business in a timely and efficient manner. Incumbents must successfully pass a background check. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES

                Directs and coordinates Child and Family Services programming that provides and networks services, improves community based services, serves as the link between the department and lead neighborhood agencies to the general population, a high risk segment of the population or other designated segment of the population.

                Organizes and facilitates meetings with community agencies, neighborhood based groups, and public or private agencies involved in the provision of services and represents the County at these meetings, to identify problem areas and to provide or facilitate the provision of services.

                Coordinates and networks with other private and public human service agencies to develop strategies and establish objectives to ensure the program goals are met.

                Develops media strategies to publicize programs and ensure targeted populations are informed.

                Provides training to partner agencies in Results Based Accountability performance measurement and management and maintains a technical assistance role to these agencies, with the goal of improving program and population level outcome achievement.

                Prepares grants or other funding requests and seeks out additional funding sources; may assist other groups in applying for funds to provide services.  Administers contracts maintained through the program.

                Prepares and administers the Department's contracts budget, including forecasting, maintenance and purchasing for all contracted services needs.  Assists with future projections for the Department's program and service needs, opportunity for growth, etc.

                Compiles and analyzes data; may consult with staff to design and develop software specifications that can be used to provide more efficient service delivery.

                Provides information to management, gathers data and generates reports for monitoring and evaluation purposes and mandate reporting.

                Prepares reports and makes presentations to community groups, agencies, and executive and legislative groups regarding the program.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

                Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of the Child and Family Services field.

                 Thorough knowledge of the planning, evaluating and methods of implementing Child and Family Services programs.

                Thorough knowledge of performance measurement and management models.

                Good knowledge of the principles and practices of Child and Family Services program administration.

                Good knowledge of Federal, State, and local public welfare regulations and programs.

                Good knowledge of community resources, programs, and funding sources.

                Good knowledge of the economic development, health care, neighborhood revitalization, day care and employment issues that impact the community.

                Ability to establish effective working relationships with public and private agencies, community representatives and all parties associated with community improvement programs, and to coordinate their efforts in productive results.

                Ability to be clear and articulate with diverse constituencies.

                Ability to administer a program budget, prepare grants and determine funding sources.

                Ability to prepare promotional material and strategies to promote the program goals.

                Ability to supervise employees assigned to the program.

                Ability to express oneself clearly, both orally and in writing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a Bachelor's degree or higher in social work, social services, human services, public administration or a closely related field, and three (3) years of professional-level work experience, or its part time equivalent, in planning, directing or evaluating a social services or human services program with a public or private sector social services or human services agency adhering to acceptable standards, one (1) year of which must have been in a supervisory capacity; or,

2. Seven (7) years of paraprofessional or professional-level experience, or its part time equivalent, in social work, social services or human services in a social services or human services program with a public or private sector social services or human services agency adhering to acceptable standards, three (3) years of which must have been professional-level experience in planning, directing or evaluating a program, one (1) year of which must have been in a supervisory capacity.

NOTE: Satisfactory completion of graduate semester credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees in social work, social services, human services, public administration or a closely related field may be substituted for the non-supervisory work experience as follows: Thirty (30) graduate hours is equivalent to one (1) year of work experience; sixty (60) graduate hours is equivalent to two (2) years of work experience.

04/2021 Date of Original Composition