FFPSA Regional Prevention Specialist-Social Work Office of Research and Public Service- UTK

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.

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.

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, polici