Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

The Three National Organizations are Children Now, Children’s Right Inc and Child Advocates

Children Now

Children Now is the leading non-partisan national, state and local research, policy development, and advocacy organization dedicated to improving children's overall well-being. For the first time, the organization is providing children with the same power as interest groups like the AARP and the Chamber of Commerce by:

·       Providing umbrella representation covering the many individual policy issues impacting kids, and

·       Combining its unmatched policymaking know-how and subject matter expertise with a powerful organized membership.

Children Now's simplified messaging -- "Pro-Kid" -- reflects our umbrella, whole-child approach.

Special Assistant to the President Position 
Primary Responsibilities
Qualifications
Compensation
 

Children’s Right, Inc

Advocacy Coordinator Position

They are seeking a highly-motivated, self-starting and detail-oriented Special Assistant to support Children Now’s President with internal organizational management and scheduling, extensive external education, health, and child welfare policy advocacy and outreach activities as well as supporting the organization’s Children’s Movement and development (fundraising) efforts. This position will be central to managing the President’s schedule according to key organizational priorities; supporting relationships with a wide range of partners, policy makers, funders and donors, key stakeholders and press; and preparing for a diverse scope of meetings. This position will report to the President and be located in our Oakland office.  

Ideal applicants will have the ability to exercise good judgment in a variety of situations with strong written and verbal communication, interpersonal, technology, administrative and organizational skills. The candidate must be flexible, adaptable and solutions-oriented and able to effectively anticipate the needs of the President. This position is ideal for someone who thinks strategically, takes initiative and enjoys learning in a fast-paced environment. The position offers an opportunity to learn about research, policy advocacy, coalition building, politics, non profit management and fundraising while helping to support our efforts to improve the well-being of all of California’s children.

·       Using initiative, attention to detail and critical thinking skills, complete a broad variety of administrative, communications and project management tasks for the President including but not limited to:

·       Professionally managing the President’s busy calendar to optimize his time and ensure his schedule reflects key organizational priorities;

·       Schedule internal organizational meetings that the President participates in including staff meetings and numerous project  team Meetings;

·       Keep the President well informed about and prepared for a range of meetings and responsibilities, following up appropriately;

·       Support the President with daily social media posts;

·       Support Children’s Movement recruitment and engagement;

·       In partnership with the Development & Communications Department, draft correspondence and prepare meeting presentation materials for the President to support outreach and development as well as to strengthen key relationships and increase the visibility of the organization;

·       Manage informational needs of the President by conducting brief research projects, gathering background information, coordinating correspondence and analyzing information for the President and referring requests to the appropriate internal and external resources;

·       Support communications and relationships with the organization’s Board of Directors and Leadership Council, including serving as the liaison in communication, preparing necessary materials for board meetings and maintaining official records of the board;

·       Maintain contacts dataset for the President and assist with maintaining development and communications databases; and

·       Coordinate travel arrangements, plan and prepare for meetings and events and handle all administrative needs such as time reporting, expense reports, etc.;

·       Manage a variety of special projects for the organization and leadership team, including event planning, related to outreach, development, operations or policy efforts with a strong outcomes- and solutions-orientation;  

·       Provide additional administrative, development and policy assistance, as needed; and

·       Conduct other duties as assigned. 

·       Bachelor’s degree;

·       At least two years of relevant experience  with high level responsibilities;

·       Demonstrated effective communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in and across teams;

·       Excellent organizational and project management skills and attention to detail;

·       Superior judgment, confidentiality and discretion;

·       Creativity, a positive attitude, and the ability to find innovative solutions to problems;

·       Ability to be forward looking and actively seek opportunities and propose solutions;

·       Proficiency in prioritizing conflicting needs, handling matters expeditiously and proactively, and following through on projects to successful completion often with deadline pressures;

·       Ability to learn quickly and a commitment to quality work;

·       Highly skilled in all major technology platforms and systems, including advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint);

·       Able to work effectively with others in a vibrant, diverse and multicultural environment; and

·       Strong writing and editing skills.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.  Generous benefits.

Children’s Rights uses the law to hold governments accountable and defend thousands of kids when foster care systems fail. We have secured court orders mandating top-to-bottom child welfare reform in more than a dozen states. As a result, kids are safer. They get the education and health care they need. They have better foster homes. Best of all, children find permanent, loving families more quickly, ensuring they have the brightest possible futures.

SUMMER 2015 POLICY INTERN Position

The Children’s Rights Policy Department seeks undergraduate and graduate-level summer interns to assist with various research, policy analysis, and advocacy projects pertaining to child abuse and neglect, foster care, adoption, and child welfare system performance.  Interns will have the opportunity to collect data, research and analyze key policy issues, and assist with the preparation of reports, articles and other written materials.  The summer internship is 3-5 days per week; selection of days is flexible.  It is a non-paid position.

The Children’s Rights Policy Department has developed a reputation for producing careful research and policy analysis on pressing issues pertaining to the care of abused and neglected children in public child welfare systems.  We work in partnership with our staff attorneys as well as other advocates, experts, policy analysts, and government officials.  On a national level, we are working with our litigation teams to investigate states with poorly functioning child welfare systems, assisting in trial preparation, and monitoring progress in jurisdictions in which we have secured court orders requiring that improvements are made and maintained. Locally, we are engaged in advocating for improvements within the New York City child welfare system and Family Court in order to improve permanency for children in foster care.

Qualifications:

·       Must be in graduate school or entering senior year of college

·       Strong writing skills and attention to detail

·       Ability to work independently and as a member of a team

·       Proficiency in Microsoft Office and internet research

·       Some knowledge of child welfare services is strongly desired, as is a beginning knowledge of statistics and statistical analysis

Child Advocates

Child Advocates recruits, trains and supports volunteers who provide a voice for children in foster care. As Harris County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, we provide lifesaving advocacy that helps abused and neglected children exit foster care to a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible.

The volunteers’ main job is to provide the court with recommendations about where the children they represent should live on a permanent basis. Throughout the case, our volunteers maintain contact with everyone involved in the children’s lives, from foster parents, biological parents and therapists to Child Protective Services caseworkers and attorneys appointed by the court. They make sure the children are receiving the medical and psychological help they need, and they meet with teachers and principals to help the children thrive in school. They dry tears and give hugs and throw birthday parties, too. Most importantly, they serve as a 'constant' person for the children to count on during this tumultuous time. Essentially, our volunteers do whatever it takes to ensure that the needs of the children are being met while they are in care.

Key Duties:

·       Supervise court appointed volunteers to provide ad litem services to abused and neglected children in court system

·       Effectively manage active caseload, participate in case staffings, and adhere to CAI standards for program caseload management.

·       Attend and participate as speaker at Advocacy training sessions, as needed.

·       Interface professionally and effectively with courts and representatives and employees of various social services agencies and other community organizations as needed for case management, community and other functions related to the organization’s overall goals and mission. 

Requirements:

·       Minimum of two years case management experience in social services field, working with abused and neglected children and their families, and the courts

·       Bachelors in social work, psychology, sociology, or related field

·       Strong preference for  previous experience training and managing volunteers in long-term setting

o   Demonstrated advocacy skills

o   Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse client population

o   Proven ability to motivate and manage others

o   Demonstrated written and oral presentation skills and ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences

o   Strong verbal and written communication skills

o   Proficiency in Microsoft Office

o   Must be available to work intermittent evenings and weekends

o   Must have personal car, current TDL and auto liability insurance

o   Spanish proficiency a plus but not required