Social Program Specialist

Social Program Specialist (Program Specialist) (4237-12)

Be part of our Team! We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in all employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law. We are a second-chance employer and a recovery friendly workplace. 

Are you interested in serving our community and helping to protect our county’s most vulnerable children? At Hamilton County Children’s Services, this is what we do every day. We are looking for compassionate, tenacious workers who are dedicated to engaging families and ensuring that children are safe.

This is a critical role that directly impacts the outcomes of the children and families whom we serve. This role may be a good fit if you excel in interpersonal communication, problem-solving, and enjoy a fast-paced work environment.  

We look forward to learning more about you and your passion for this work! Please see the full job description below.

11 Paid Holidays, Immediately Begin with 40 hours Paid Vacation if No Prior Service.

Ohio Public Employee Retirement System which includes 14% Employer Contribution AND a defined benefit option.

Highly Competitive and Comprehensive Benefits Package: Medical, HRA, Dental, Vision, Employer-Paid Life Insurance, Long-Term Disability, Tuition Reimbursement, Paid Parental Leave, Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility, Commuter Stipend or Free On-Site Parking, Wellness Incentives, robust Employee Assistance Program, access to Free Medical and Rx through Marathon Health, plus expansive Behavioral and Mental Health Resources.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: Open until filled

WORK LOCATION:

Job & Family Services 

222 E. Central Parkway

Cincinnati, OH 45202

WORK HOURS: 40 hours per week

(Potential for Hybrid Remote Work Schedule)

Starting Hourly Pay:  $22.37

NOTE: Applicants for positions with Hamilton County Job and Family Services are subject to background screening in accordance with the document: "Offenses that May Disqualify Candidates for Employment." Convictions from this list may disqualify a candidate for employment with HCJFS.

Applicants for Children’s Services positions cannot provide foster care for children in the custody of Hamilton County.

REQUIREMENTS (EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION): 

• Undergraduate degree in social or behavioral science plus 12 months DHS experience

• OR Undergraduate degree in a non-related field plus 18 months DHS experience

• OR an Associate degree plus 24 months DHS experience

• OR 36 months DHS experience or equivalent

AGENCY-PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 1 year of experience in Human Services

JOB DUTIES (SUMMARY):

REGULAR AND PUNCTUAL ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE FOLLOWING ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Coordinates the referral and authorization for use of diverse community provider 

contracted services, including but not limited to: in-home services, parenting skills

and enrichment, transportation, visitation, drug screens, domestic violence

intervention, nursing care, placement screenings, and nurse consultation. Acts as

front-line contract liaison and trouble-shooter for provider agencies and agency staff.

Participates in operational meetings with providers. Using independent judgment,

reviews forms required for service authorization for accuracy and completeness,

processes service referrals, provides required information to the contractor, and

reconciles invoices for payment authorization. Keeps staff up to date on changes in

services by timely notification to the supervisor for updates to the Resource and

Referral Guide, including processes, forms, and links. Assist staff in understanding

services provided and appropriate utilization of services. Reviews billing from

providers and reviews and stores administrative service reports. Assists the provider

and the Fiscal Department in resolving billing problems to assure proper payment to

the provider. Tracks contract expenditures by funding source and budget. Reports

monthly spending. Manages case service document storage and data entry as needed

per service.

Provides program support and or acts as a liaison for various specialized services,

progran1s and projects. May require specialized data entry in SACWIS, Children's

Services SACWIS record review and maintenance, and or use of SACWJS Single

Sign-On Application, Outlook or other scheduling tools, Juvenile Court Maintenance

System, OnBase, and other administrative tools/applications. Acts as a liaison for

enrollment, coverage resolution, treatment plan review and insurance card storage for

Managed Care Organizations; directly interacts with Managed Care Plan or triages

inquiries. Acts as liaison for annual credit checks for youth in custody; coordinates

with the three Major Credit Bureaus to request credit checks; receive electronic

access to credit bureau files or requests hard copy credit checks as agreed upon per

credit bureau; tracks compliance and distribution to caseworkers; Acts as the PCSA

liaison with Hamilton County Child Care Licensing Program. Responsible for the

SAC WIS clearance and review of the monthly data match review between Child

Care

providers and active Children's Services cases.

Acts as the liaison with CCHMC and other Medical & Dental providers and JFS staff;

initiates requests to obtain medical records for youth in HJCFS custody including

initial, annual and ongoing medical/dental checks; updates SACWIS with all

medical/dental records; corresponds with medical providers and MCOs as necessary;

coordinates and shares information with contracted nursing staff associated with

medical care and records. Acts as liaison with Juvenile Court reviewing Juvenile Court

Entries and recording legal status and' changes into SACWIS, and recording

Reasonable Efforts statements in SACWIS. Logs reports and files reports with juvenile

court and other case parties.

Acts as liaison to the Ohio Attorney General's Office regarding fingerprint results.

Schedules Semi-annual Administrative Review appointments; generates and distributes

notification letters for SAR participants; may involve coordinating with facilitators,

workers, and/or managers to address scheduling and notification needs for SARs or

other similar appointments, such as family conferences, etc.; Processes birth certificate

requests, reviews and submits associated invoices, maintains birth certificate database,

and oversees storage of original and imaged birth certificate. Conducts fingerprint

process for use in determining placement options for children, and reviews, scans into

OnBase and distributes fingerprint results to staff. Fields inquiries regarding, and

schedules Children's Services disposition hearings

Performs a variety functions requiring interpretive and decision makings skills;

Maintains basic knowledge of all programs and services offered by the agency;

represents agency in lobby (waiting area) locations, accepts applications, forms and

receipts; refers and assists consumers to the proper location or staff person in the

agency; schedules internal visitation rooms; assists with mailing mandated reporter

letters, creating case files, making case plan copies, sorting and distributing mail, and

dependency and administrative order notices; orders supplies and maintains fom1s;

distributes, tracks, monitors and reports expenditures; oversees requests and

distribution of bus cards; manages annual photo process and storage for children in

agency custody; develops tracking and reporting system for oversight of this process.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 Performs other related duties as assigned.

 Attends conferences and training.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: (*Indicates can be developed after employment)

Knowledge of: social or behavioral science (e.g., child and family community services, social work, sociology, psychology, criminology, penology, rehabilitation), agency, state and/or federal statutes, rules, regulations and procedures governing delivery of social programs specific to area of employment*. available community resources specific to area of employment*. social services policy and program planning and analysis.

Skill in: Public relations, effective oral and written communication, SACWIS, JCMS, Identity, and other agency software suites*

Ability to: define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. proofread technical materials, recognize errors, and make corrections. gather, collate and classify data. establish good rapport with program participants and/or program recipients. prepare and deliver speeches before specialized audiences. prepare and maintain meaningful, concise and accurate reports. learn and use a variety of computer & software systems (spreadsheets, databases, etc.) in the execution of the job.

PHYSICAL and/or MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Lift and carry children, child car seats, and infant carrier, large case files, and occasionally push a cart containing case files 

• Frequently climbing and descending stairs 

• Sitting for extended periods while working on the computer, sitting at a reception desk, meetings, etc.

• Stooping, bending, crouching

HAZARDOUS and/or WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Potentially hazardous/dangerous situations and could involve violent/upset clients

BACKGROUND CHECKS REQUIRED:

Background checks consistent with requirements in OAC 5101:2-5-09 must be completed at employment and every ten years following, including but not limited to the following systems:  

• State Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS)
• State Child/Abuse Neglect Central Registry Check for any state in which the applicant resided within the last five years
• Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification Investigation (BCI)
• FBI
• National Sex Offender Public website (WWW.NSOPW.Gov) Code 5101:2-5-09 must be conducted for each prospective employee