Performs all tasks related to determining eligibility of families for participation in the Child Care Assistance and Referral (CCAR) program, to include child care referrals from Child Protective Services and Foster Care. Provides case management services for families enrolled in CCAR and provides information about CCAR eligibility requirements to staff from Head Start, Early Head Start, the School Age Child Care Program and other DFS programs. Trains CCAR staff in the development of case management skills. Serves as a consultant to program staff and assists CCAR regional supervisors in analyzing complex eligibility issues related to state and local child care policies and procedures. Serves as a resource in the development of eligibility manuals for CCAR Human Service Workers. Compiles data and is responsible for/assists with the preparation of reports. Duties are performed under the supervision of a Child Care Specialist III.

Note: This position is located in the Pennino Building in Fairfax, with possible weekly assignments in one of the Department of Family Services (DFS) regional offices, either in South County (Alexandria), Reston, or Annandale.

Illustrative Duties

• Maintains knowledge of current public assistance and employment policies and applies, explains and interprets federal, state, and local policies to clients, service providers, attorneys, the public, and other interested parties;
• Conducts in-depth interviews of clients to determine and reassess eligibility of clients for financial, publicly supported medical services and/or medical public assistance programs;
• Performs client needs assessments to aid in making appropriate referrals to other services;
• Works with clients to assist with gathering the information required to establish eligibility;
• Compiles and maintains data and documents and may prepare written narratives to support eligibility determinations;
• Ensures timely processing of applications to meet client needs and program policy mandates;
• Authorizes public assistance (e.g., medical aid, financial assistance, food stamps) based on client circumstances and public assistance program requirements;
• Uses various forms of automated technology to document, obtain, and verify information, to generate reports, and to authorize benefits and services for clients; providers, attorneys, the public, and other interested parties;
• Assists clients in obtaining the resources necessary to meet emergency needs;
• Assists clients in obtaining services and coordinates these with other service providers as needed;
• Coordinates and manages clients' participation in a variety of services;
• Participates in case staffing with other County staff or community organizations to assess and address needs of clients;
• Prepares appeal documents and may represent the agency in administrative appeals filed by clients;
• Determines client's employment needs in order to develop a plan of service to move them towards self-sufficiency;
• Provides career counseling;
• Assists job seekers with job search and resume development;
• Assists workforce development staff in the operation of employment programs.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of basic human behavior and social problems;
• Knowledge of complex federal, state and local laws governing public assistance and welfare reform;
• Ability to read, interpret and apply complex program policies and procedures;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to make mathematical computations;
• Ability to schedule, organize and manage workload sufficient to meet deadlines;
• Ability to use automated technology to establish and maintain case records;
• Ability to handle multiple deadlines, computer systems, high volume of client contact, high caseloads, and competing priorities;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, co-workers and other human service providers;
• Ability to work effectively with people under stress and those from various socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds;
• Ability to maintain professional ethics related to confidentiality of client information;
• Ability to provide excellent customer service;
• Ability to work in a team environment;
• Ability to maintain flexibility;
• Ability to manage a complex caseload;
• Ability to assess client needs through collection and analysis of employment history and other personal, family and cultural information;
• Ability to use supportive counseling techniques to enhance and develop clients' problem-solving capabilities.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience and training equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree, plus one year of professional work experience in human services or a related field.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Familiarity with principles and practices of early childhood education, child care programs, and/or family casework.
• Experience working with families and/or child care programs.
• Experience determining eligibility for benefits and services and using automated systems.
• Experience training and mentoring staff and using Documentum, the County's automated record-keeping system.
• Ability to work effectively as a leader in a team-oriented environment and to use computers and automated systems as tools for casework and generating reports.
• Ability to speak multiple languages.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee will be required to complete a criminal background check and a check of the Child Protective Services Registry to the satisfaction of the employer. Some positions may require a driver's license or ability to efficiently access other means of transportation in order to work with clients and community service providers outside the office. Some positions may require oral and written bilingual competency in English and a target or preferred second language.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to use automated technology. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview; may include written exercise.

It is the policy of Fairfax County Government to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.