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POSITION SUMMARY: The Program Advisor's primary role is to develop and enhance the ability of an agency's program and staff to provide parent-child relationship focused, outcome oriented services to families implementing a designated research based program model. For agencies with an established subcontract with IBTI, the Program Advisor functions to advance the development of program features, enhance quality of service delivery to families and monitors each agency's status of performance per subcontract requirements for program implementation, levels of service and service outcome achievement. The Program Advisor provides technical assistance oriented to best practices (associated or specified by program model) in services, supervision and program management for all key components of service provided/funded by OPF- IBTI. For sites whose services are not funded by IBTI, the Program Advisor provides mentoring to staff as it relates to training provided through the Ounce of Prevention Fund Training Institute.

The IBTI Program Advisor is responsible for an assigned roster of sites to provide strength based consultation, technical assistance and staff development support to early childhood and family support programs providing home visiting, parenting groups, doula and related services. The Program Advisor is a trainer of the Ounce Training Institute. The Program Advisor functions as a critical member of the IBTI Division and participates as an active member of program, research and training related Division work groups and project teams.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS: The Program Advisor reports the IBTI Program Manager.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND KEY TASKS:

• Develops and maintains skills in consulting, technical assistance, monitoring and training to conduct program development and training activities associated with the range of program models and services implemented by assigned sites. Identifies best practices in field work for use in technical assistance and to the ongoing development of program logic models.
• Establishes and maintains positive working relationship with site Program Coordinator/Director and service component supervisors. Ensures frequency and content of contacts with sites is based on site support plans and consistent with criteria of site level system.
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with site program management contacts and site supervisors and responds to needs as they arise in the course of regular communication as specified in frequency and content per site support plan or improvement plan and level system.
• Provides ongoing, direct technical assistance and consultation to assigned sites in the areas of program development, outcomes, staffing, training, mentoring, documentation, reporting, program model requirements and service levels and practices. Assists site supervisors to understand and effectively integrate new program components, specific strategies, best practices and curricula into site services.
• Site Support Plans: Initiates and develops with each site program director/coordinator, a written annual site support plan consistent with the terms of the agency's approved subcontract program abstract and narrative. Works collaboratively with the IBTI Program Manager, OunceNet, Fiscal Advisor and other Ounce staff to ensure that site plans are comprehensive and specify site efforts and areas of technical assistance. Site support plans focus on expected best practice in services, maintenance of program capacity, intensity of services, achievement of benchmarks for outcomes per subcontract and includes site staff development plans. Reports site progress in supervision, site staffings, internal monthly reports, contact reports (CRS) and site oriented IBTI meetings.
• Quarterly Reports: Reviews reports and monitors status of program quality, adherence to established benchmarks and outcomes for services and fidelity to the program model. Provides analysis of report information in quarterly discussion/review with site contact of: outcome status, service levels and intensity and addresses plans for hiring any staff vacancies.
• Annual Site Assessment: Conducts annual onsite program assessment for each subcontracted site on roster. Reviews include discussion and examination of each site's program design, policies/practices in supervision and service delivery, materials/curricula and other elements of program implementation as they pertain to doula, home visiting, parent group services and other service components. Assessment includes audit of participant and supervisory records. Provides written summary and analysis of assessment visit for use in future or revised site support plans, site feedback in Annual meetings and for other purposes.
• Subcontracts and Amendments: Maintains a current working knowledge of each site's subcontract and expectations for benchmarks in services, capacity/levels of service, staffing, program model and implementation plan. Collaborates with the IBTI Program Manager to stay informed through the year of all changes and to keep IBTI Program Manager informed of changes that affect subcontract.
• Site Staffings: Takes lead role in reporting the status of assigned sites in internal site staffings in preparation for annual review meetings. Utilizes OunceNet reports and other report data, site quarterly reports and direct experience with site as the basis for analysis and reporting on performance. Follows through on steps of preparation and follow-up.
• Annual Meetings: Active participant in site Annual Meetings to present status of site performance including: areas of progress, analysis of reports, and other information relevant to subcontract standing and program functioning.
• Improvement Plans: Collaborates with Program Manager to determine the need, focus and terms of Improvement Plans for sites with demonstrated areas of non-performance or other subcontract issues not successfully resolved through site support plan. Assists Program Manager to identify benchmarks, timelines and expectations for demonstrated improvement. Collaborates with the Program Manager and Fiscal Advisor to monitor progress, participate in meetings with sites and other site communications.
• Develops and maintains in-depth working knowledge of all program models (including associated service components, expected practices and outcomes) implemented by agencies with staff attending the Ounce of Prevention Fund Training Institute and/or with an established subcontract with PTS. Program models include (but are not limited to): Parents Too Soon, Healthy Families Illinois, Nurse Family Partnership, Doula.
• Documents contacts related to site communications, onsite visits and assistance provided to all sites.
• Monitors progress of IBTI-HFI programs to acquire/sustain credentialed status with Healthy Families America through technical assistance and provides access to other resources available to sites.
• Provides training and/or mentoring per site need/request for purposes of staff skill acquisition such as use of video taping with staff and parents, DTSP, mentoring for certification in Denver II screening, CB FANA, technical assistance for H2H, etc.
• Serves as a trainer in the OPF Training Institute (15 % FTE) and assists in the development and implementation of events in collaboration with other IBTI training and program staff.
• Attends and participates in the planning, presentation and facilitation of all Networks associated with site supervisors/coordinators of key service components. These include networks for supervisors of doulas, home visitors, and parent group services.
• May serve on cross divisional work groups related to IBTI such as Ounce research projects.
• Attends all OPF, Division, and team meetings as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATIONAL AND WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIRMENTS:

• Masters degree in early childhood, family studies, social work, human services, related field or RN with 5 years minimum experience. Bachelor degree considered with 10 years experience in working in an early childhood/family support program at the supervisor/program leadership level.
• Minimum of five years related work experience which would include:
  1. Two years or more in supervision and staff development, consulting, and/or contract or program management.
  2. Two years of direct service experience with the modalities of doula, home visiting and/or parent groups.
  3. Two years of experience in training volunteers, direct service, and/or supervisory staff from community based, family centered child or youth programs.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of current trends and issues in services to teen and adult parents, perinatal care, children (0-5), including doula, parent group services, home visiting, maternal & child health, and staff development strategies.
• Experience working with a culturally diverse staff and populations.
• Ability to work independently on site and collaboratively in a team environment to provide training and technical assistance to each program site.
• Must have a working knowledge of child development (especially 0-3), adolescent development, home visiting, prevention services and organizational theory and practice, program design, parent group development and management, adult learning styles.
• Proficient with computer applications – a thorough understanding of Microsoft Outlook, word processing (Microsoft Word), spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel), databases, e-mail systems (Microsoft Office required), Power Point and the ability to learn and master other computer technology /software programs as needed. Good command of Internet usage.
• Ability to process, protect and exercise discretion in handling confidential information and materials.
• Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse staff and external individuals.
• Must have excellent command of English language and grammar, both verbal and written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to monitor, analyze, and report on program activities.
• Ability to provide training.
• Ability to provide program consultation.
• Ability to work independently on site and collaboratively in a team environment to coordinate reporting, training and technical assistance.
• Ability to function effectively leading and serving on teams.
• Ability to represent the division and organization in professional and public settings.
• Ability to travel independently in diverse communities throughout Illinois as necessary with some overnight stays required.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Ability to travel independently and alone to assigned sites (which may not be handicap accessible) and the other regional OPF office, which may include climbing stairs, and managing travel arrangements.
• Must possess valid driver license and have ongoing access to an insured vehicle.
• Ability to talk, hear, sit, stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel crouch or crawl.
• Ability to lift and or move up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to see close, distance and adjust focus.
• Must be able to manually operate and use a phone, computer and other office equipment.
• Ability to clearly hear and understand telephone conversations.

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