CFS Practice Specialist - 165139

What Success Looks Like In This Job

The CFS Practice Specialist provides innovative, engaging, and impactful learning and development initiatives tailored to the unique needs of the Adams County Human Services Department, specifically, Children and Family Services (CFS) and the Social Caseworkers responsible for ensuring the safety, well-being, and permanency of our citizens. A key focus of this role is creating and delivering curriculum designed specifically for Social Caseworkers, ensuring alignment with federal and state guidelines, best practices, certification requirements, and ongoing education applicable to professionals within Child Welfare.

The CFS Practice Specialist will advance ACHSD’s strategic priority of fostering a healthy organization where all team members are seen, heard, appreciated, and empowered to grow.

Reporting to the Learning & Development Team Supervisor, this role requires a dynamic professional adept at training and facilitation, capable of collaborating with internal stakeholders to deliver exceptional development experiences that reflect Adams County’s norms and values and ensure compliance with state regulations, using measurable outcomes to reinforce a culture where all staff thrive.

Examples of Duties for Success

• Design, deliver, and evaluate targeted training programs, including onboarding and ongoing professional development, to support Child Welfare practice and align with organizational goals.
• Provide individualized coaching, mentoring, and facilitation to strengthen caseworker skills in safety assessments, risk evaluation, family engagement, and decision-making.
• Utilize co-active coaching techniques to support staff development, foster self-awareness, and enhance performance, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and professional growth.
• Develop and facilitate curriculum using various methods, such as instructor-led, on-the-job training, e-learning, simulation-based, and team or individual sessions, to meet the unique needs of Children and Family Services.
• Assess training requirements and utilize evaluation tools to ensure compliance with Child Welfare statutes, alignment with best practices, and the promotion of high-quality case management
• Collaborate with leadership and subject matter experts (SMEs) to define learning objectives, develop curricula, and provide actionable feedback on employee progress.
• Leverage advanced technologies to enrich learning experiences while ensuring that course materials are accessible, culturally relevant, and optimized for various learning environments
• Develop and implement metrics to evaluate the quality and impact of training programs while actively identifying opportunities to enhance and expand development offerings for continuous improvement.
• Create detailed documentation to track and report progress towards individual learning and development plan goals, providing insights on achievements and areas for improvement.
• Prepare comprehensive reports and documentation to inform leadership and ensure compliance with State and County requirements.
• Coordinate with County-level stakeholders and external partners to align learning initiatives with broader strategic objectives.
• Participate in red team/group decision-making

• Obtain or ability to obtain supervisor and coaching certification within 1 year.

• Supervise/oversee an intern or team member in their daily work tasks.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications for Success

• Proficient in designing and delivering effective training and curriculum tailored for professionals in Social Casework, utilizing strong written and verbal communication skills for presentations, training materials, and detailed documentation.
• Skilled in facilitating group training sessions and providing one-on-one coaching to develop skills, enhance performance, and foster professional growth among caseworkers, supervisors, and teams.
• Adept at creating and delivering engaging presentations for diverse audiences, with the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
• Strong understanding of various perspectives, particularly in communities affected by generational and historical trauma, and ability to apply this knowledge in practice.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain collaborative and respectful working relationships with internal teams, leadership, and external stakeholders.
• Expertise in using technology and tools such as Word, PowerPoint, and e-learning platforms to develop accessible, inclusive, and high-quality training materials.
• Knowledge of adult learning principles and coaching techniques, with the ability to earn and apply relevant certifications to enhance training impact.
• Experience aligning training programs with organizational performance measures and standards, ensuring alignment with best practices and statutory requirements.
• Strong understanding of responsiveness and equity, with the ability to incorporate these principles into training programs for professionals in Child Welfare and related fields.

More Qualifications for Success

Experience: At least four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in learning and development, designing and facilitating training within complex organizations in fields such as Social Casework, State/Local Government Agencies, Community-based Non-profits, Education, Criminal Justice, or closely related areas is required.

Lived Experience:

• Lived experience encompasses personal, direct interactions with systems or circumstances like those faced by the individuals and families served in human services. This may include navigating child welfare systems, community-based supports, or addressing social or economic challenges.
• Up to 1 year toward combined experience for demonstrated lived experience may be considered. If you would like your lived experience to be included as part of the qualifications for success, please respond to the prompts in the Questions Section.
  

• Bachelor’s degree is required.
• A master’s degree is preferred and may substitute for 2 years of the required professional experience.
• Training and education in coaching/adult education is preferred.

• Colorado Child Welfare Caseworker certification required, and must be completed within 3 months of employment, through the Colorado Training Academy (State Child Welfare).
• Coaches College Certification (Co—Active Coaching) through Colorado Training Academy (State Child Welfare) must be completed within the first year of employment.
• Possession of a valid Colorado Driver's License and proof of automotive insurance.
  

• State Residency: At the time of appointment, candidate must be a legal resident of the state of Colorado.
• Ability to obtain, maintain, and ensure continued access to State and County systems in strict compliance with all applicable county and state regulations, policies, and user agreements.

Adams County complies with Colorado’s Job Application Fairness Act (“JAFA”). JAFA prohibits employers from asking individuals to disclose their age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation on an initial employment application. However, additional application materials such as certifications and transcripts containing this information may be required for certain positions; if such additional materials are requested, applicants may redact information that identifies the applicant’s age, date of birth, or dates or attendance or graduation.