Job Description

Work for Indiana

Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

About the Department of Child Services (DCS):

Join a group of passionate, dedicated public servants to support one of Indiana’s most critical missions!

The Department of Child Services helps children who are victims of abuse or neglect and strengthens families through services that focus on family support and preservation. We pursue permanency for children and families through reunification, guardianship, and adoption. Our services also encompass foster care, child support, and transitional support for those adjusting to adulthood. Our culture is built upon our  MVP  foundation:

 
Mission :  Champion Indiana’s future by protecting children and strengthening families with compassion and determination.

Vision :  Every child in Indiana thrives in a safe, loving, forever home.

Purpose : Ignite hope. Cultivate joy.

Role Overview:

The Practice Model Consultant integrates the Practice Model into daily operations across the agency, providing mentoring, coaching, training, and feedback to strengthen child welfare practice. You collaborate on statewide improvement initiatives that enhance family engagement, refine service delivery, and support outcomes aligned with agency and federal goals. As a transformational practice leader, you promote a culture of safety, transparency, and continuous improvement while championing a family-centered approach rooted in understanding each family’s needs, values, and goals. You model authenticity, empathy, respect, and professionalism to build trust, facilitate complex meetings, support trauma‑informed supervision, and bridge training, policy, and field practice.

Key outcomes for this role include:

• Training and Coaching : Facilitate coaching, learning labs, and in-service trainings; provide one-on-one consulting to refine skills and ensure fidelity; and lead learning experiences that equip staff with the tools and mindset for effective child welfare practice.
• Consultation and Facilitation : Consult with staff on family-centered practice and MVP implementation; support challenging team meetings and case consultations; and provide written feedback to leadership on practice performance and staff development needs.
• Data Analysis and Reporting : Collect and analyze data from systems like CQI, PMR/CFSR, KidTraks, Tableau, RPS, and Safety Culture to identify regional barriers, recommend solutions to leadership, and support corrective actions that strengthen practice fidelity.
• Policy and Practice Integration : Act as a liaison between the central office and regional staff to implement new policies, align training with field practice, deliver updates at regional meetings, and complete special assignments in response to emerging statewide needs.

This position works primarily from Frankfort, Indiana, and will serve counties in Northwest Indiana. Residency in the service area is preferred.

Salary:

The salary for this position traditionally starts at $53,222.00 but may be commensurate with education and work experience. Use our to view the total compensation package.

A Day in the Life:

Responsibilities include:

• You will develop and provide regional pre-service sessions for the assigned divisions and departments.
• You will also provide content expertise, through research and experience to curriculum writers on topics identified for curriculum development. This will be done through seminars/workshops, videoconferencing, and webinars for the agency.
• You will assist resource parents with accessing online training modules necessary to complete both pre-service training and ongoing training through coordination with local libraries and local offices as appropriate.
• Additionally, through research and experience, staff development trainers become experts when a new curriculum is needed and provide additional insight to weave the DCS mission vision and values as well as the DCS Practice Model throughout DCS resource parent training. 
• Essential functions of this position require travel on most workdays to inspect, audit, examine, survey, or investigate clients, customers, or other regulated entities and write reports at those sites or employee’s home. Employee reports to the agency’s office for occasional meetings or events. Number and timing of work hours may vary daily or weekly to accommodate operational needs and staffing concerns at the client’s or customer’s worksite, minimize expenditures for repeated visits to complete the work, and allocate resources to complete assigned work effectively.

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time.

This position is exempt from overtime compensation for additional work hours that may be required to complete essential functions or other assigned work. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary.

What You'll Need for Success:

Credentials:

• Completion of relevant educational degree(s) such as a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Education, or other related fields may substitute for equivalent years of experience.
• The ideal candidate for this role should have three years of experience applying the outlined knowledge, skills, and abilities in a similar role.

Additional qualifications:

• Extensive knowledge of and subject matter expert in child development, child welfare, family systems or related behavioral health topics. 
• Ability to promote teamwork by working with other staff development members and field operations personnel to achieve established goals. 
• Ability to provide positive feedback as well as address concerns as they arise.
• Knowledge of issues related to resource and/or adoptive parents regarding the Resource Parent Trainers position.
• Excellent computer skills with Microsoft Word products including Word and PowerPoint and willingness to learn basic information regarding MS Excel and Access if requested.
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to convey written information in a clear, concise manner. Writing samples will be requested.
• Candidates must have the ability to travel statewide overnight to deliver training and in-services.
• Ability to provide training during evening and weekend hours to accommodate resource parents’ schedules.
• Ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:

This role may be utilized in a supervisory capacity based on agency needs.

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees that includes: 

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
• Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
  • 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers
  • Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave
  • Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
  • 12 paid holidays, 14 in election years
• Education Reimbursement Program
• Group life insurance
• Referral Bonus program
• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Free Parking for most positions
• Free LinkedIn Learning access

   

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at jobs@spd.IN.gov .

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