What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Medical Director position at Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services?
Assistant Medical Director
Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) – Child Welfare Division
Baton Rouge, LA (On-site)
The Child Welfare Division of DCFS works to protect children against abuse and neglect and find permanent homes for Louisiana's foster children.
About the Job
Overview:
DCFS seeks an experienced medical professional with a passion for the well-being of children to join the Child Welfare Division as the Assistant Medical Director. Under the Director of Medical Services, this position will serve in an administrative capacity, leading the direction for all healthcare services provided to children and adolescents in the care or custody of DCFS.
As the subject matter expert, the Assistant Medical Director will support the creation and implementation of clinical standards, guidelines, and protocols that guide the healthcare services provided to clients. The position will serve as an in-house clinical resource to ensure children and families served by Child Welfare receive timely access to physical and behavioral health services. The Assistant Medical Director will provide consultation to frontline staff on complex medical cases.
This role requires medical expertise, an interest in medical administration, and the ability to manage relationships with various stakeholders.
Responsibilities:
- Work with the Louisiana Department of Health and the healthcare community on behalf of the children and families served by Child Welfare within DCFS.
- Provide consultation on complex medical cases as needed.
- Develop relationships, communication, and educational programming with health care providers and institutions statewide.
- Collaborate with MCOs and medical providers to establish a network of clinicians with expertise and commitment to holistically caring for the physical and behavioral health needs of the foster care population and their caregivers.
- Oversee the implementation of policies for monitoring psychotropic medications in foster care youth.
- Provide clinical guidance and expertise to DCFS staff in the development of policies, protocols, treatment programs, and case planning guidelines.
- Support the system of medical providers that facilitates DCFS policies requiring timely medical screenings and comprehensive evaluations for children entering foster care.
- Collect and analyze data to inform DCFS policy making, with attention to disparate outcomes for minority populations.
- Collaborate in the development and implementation of the following resources and services:
- Intake: Assist with decision-making on medical issues and referrals as needed.
- Investigations: Ensure access to timely, comprehensive medical examinations to assess possible abuse/neglect and provide consultation as needed.
- In-home Services: Offer medical consultations and referrals to caseworkers for high-risk children and families.
- Foster Care: Ensure access to medical history, screenings, evaluations, medication refills, and consultations for foster children and caregivers.
- Adoptions: Provide medical consultations to caseworkers and prospective adoptive parents.
- EFC (Extended Foster Care): Provide medical consultations to caseworkers and youth.
- Post-Adoptions: Offer medical consultations to adoptive parents.
- Staff and caregiver training: Support in the development of training resources for DCFS staff and caregivers.
- DCFS Policy: Align healthcare policies with state Medicaid goals and AAP guidance, including Fostering Health: Health Care for Children and Adolescents in Foster Care.
In partnership with the MCOs, specific goals include:
- Specialized case management for substance-exposed newborns and their mothers.
- Establishment of a statewide network of providers for timely medical examinations when children enter care and when necessary for abuse/neglect determinations.
- Crisis response support for youth and caregivers at risk of placement disruption.
- A dedicated liaison to assist DCFS management with urgent medical issues.
Minimum Qualifications
Required Education:
- Advanced Practice Provider (NP, PA) with a minimum of 5 years of clinical experience in pediatrics or family medicine.
- Current licensure in Louisiana is required.
Experience:
- Minimum of 5 years of experience working with pediatric or adolescent populations, with a strong understanding of physical and behavioral health needs.
- Experience in child welfare or working with vulnerable populations, particularly children in foster care, is highly preferred.
- Expertise in medical consultation, case management, or policy development within healthcare or public health settings.
Preferred Skills:
- Deep knowledge of child welfare systems and the healthcare needs of children in foster care, including psychotropic medication management and care for substance-exposed newborns.
- Ability to collaborate with healthcare providers, DCFS staff, and MCOs to create and maintain medical guidelines and protocols.
- Strong communication skills for collaborating with LDH, healthcare providers, and policymakers.
- Proficiency in data analysis and policy development, particularly in addressing healthcare disparities.