Summary Job Goal: This position provides intensive ongoing ICWA Advocacy services for all assigned ICWA Compacted Tribes. This position manages, coordinates, supports child welfare casework and carries potentially very high caseloads across a broad spectrum of state and sometimes tribal jurisdiction cases. The primary goals of this position are to gather, document, and provide assigned tribal ICWA programs concrete and complete information about the status of their ICWA cases and tribal children/families involved in the state child welfare system. This position will present and share all information in a way that assists the tribe in determining their position for their ICWA cases, and, will represent and advocate for the tribe’s position across the child welfare system (admin reviews, court hearing, TDMs, trials, etc.) This is a career ladder position with a level I and II. Level I is an introductory/trainee position with limited independence. Level II includes additional responsibilities and increasing independence. Level III include Supervisory role for Advocate I & II.

Performance Responsibilities: include the following. Other duties may be assigned. ICWA Advocate I 

  • Maintains strict confidentiality of the department and
  • Responsible for ongoing case work management for all assigned cases where an AVCP ICWA compact tribe has requested the assistance of AVCP (as indicated by AVCP’s filing of an Entry of Appearance).
    • Basic ICWA knowledge and skills or the ability to learn and apply basic ICWA skills
    • Accepts, intakes, and fully processes and manages all incoming paperwork related to state child welfare cases for ICWA compacting
    • Responsible for maintaining the ICWA calendar for all assigned cases and providing the ICWA workers and tribal leadership reports about the progress of their ICWA cases on a regular
    • Initiates regular (weekly) telephonic Supervision and email contacts with village-based ICWA workers in order to provide on-going assistance with child welfare
    • Copies all court files soon after AVCP files an Entry of Appearance and provides those documents for the Bethel office and distribution to the assigned ICWA tribal
    • Maintains detailed records for all cases, including, but not limited to, case notes, telephone logs, reports of contact, identifying data, referrals made, services provided, and related
    • Attend and document all OCS reviews and related meetings, TDMs, Admin Review and OOP meetings, etc, on all State cases where AVCP has filed an Entry of
    • Maintain positive and effective working relationship with ALSC (Alaska Legal Services).
    • Appear in court when needed for all CINA ICWA cases assigned and work collaboratively with ALSC in all legal proceedings.
    • Assists ICWA compact tribes in reviewing and providing input into OCS safety plans and case plans for State of Alaska CINA cases.
    • Complete Homestudy Walk-through of Unlicensed relative homes for placement of children in custody.
    • Consistently provide updated documents (ROC notes, all court documents, etc.) for the Bethel office master

 

  • Participates in all Tribal Title IVE activities: time studies, QARs, and has the ability and interest to expand knowledge and skill about IVE to include, but not limited to: participate in IVE training opportunities, continuously improve time study skills, participate in and support IVE reimbursable activities,
  • Initiate and compile list of prevention case work activities in coordination with Tribal council to help prevent children being removed from their home and families
  • Other case work management duties as assigned or needed
  • Other ongoing child welfare responsibilities
    • Travels as needed to facilitate reunification/permanency; ICWA compliant placement or other child welfare needs as requested by the
    • Acts as a liaison between ICWA foster families and OCS in order to provide support to the foster
    • Works on recruiting and retaining native foster homes.
    • Participates in Tribal-State, Tribal Caucus meetings and shares information with assigned tribes and tribal ICWA
    • Works in partnership with other programs, such as TANF, Child Care, Head Start, etc to identify and support
    • Assists with tribal jurisdiction case transfers and the tribal jurisdiction case process from the transfer or opening of a case, ongoing case management support and referrals/coordination for family services with the ICWA/Tribal worker, and case closure

 

ICWA Advocate II 

  • Abilities needed to advance to level III
    • Responsible for directing ICWA advocacy and support of the tribal ICWA programs and ensuring all ICWA staff are fully advocating for tribal positions across the case management
    • Intermediate ICWA knowledge and skill
    • Provide coaching and training to ICWA workers and tribes in order to improve the quality of casework and assist them in increasing their ICWA
    • Weekly Supervision of front line CFSSI
    • Assist with complex ICWA cases requiring specialized
    • Independently advocate for tribal positions in a court room
    • Initiate and perform all of the above responsibilities with independence
    • Manage and analyze high volumes of data
    • Initiate, develop and maintain positive working relationships with the Office of Children’s Services
    • Initiate, develop and maintain positive working relationships with all AVCP member
    • Coordinate development of the Prevention manual between CFSSI and Subregional

 

ICWA Advocate III 

  • This is a 50% direct client services position and 50% indirect or supervisory position
  • Advanced ICWA knowledge and
  • Management of pieces of the ICWA department’s child welfare funding streams including ICWA OSG funding, Tribal Title IVE funding and compiling data for reporting, Assist Manager in Tribal Title IVB parts 1 and part 2
  • Supervise and manage both Bethel and Anchorage based
  • Track and monitor real time volume for all Bethel and Anchorage ICWA
  • Make independent judgement and provide clear consistent advice to tribes, OCS, other CINA parties based on the best interests of child safety and ICWA
  • Initiate, develop and maintain high level working relationship with other agencies including OCS management, Court and all legal parties, Child Welfare Academy,

 

ACRF, Treatment Centers, Cultural Resources like Healthy Families and Calricaraq and the local tribal partners.

  • Manage ICWA Personnel Department by ensuring positions remain filled through recruitment, scheduling interviews and completing reference
  • Report to Director daily for any activities that are outside of any department members scope of

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Fluency in Yup’ik, Cup’ik and English is strongly preferred. Must have strong analytical; organizational; written and verbal skills.

 

EXPERIENCE:

I/II: High School diploma or GED is required. An Associate’s degree or its equivalent and relevant work experience is required. A Rural Human Services certificate and/or a HUMs degree is highly preferred. Must have at least two years of direct related experience in lieu of the Associate’s degree. Proven ability to speak in front of meeting such as Tribal council meetings, ability to read and interpret professional journals, technical and governmental regulations. Proven ability to write reports, business correspondence, and on-going maintenance of a Prevention manual. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.

 

III: Additionally, at least three (3) years of proven, high level ICWA social work. Previous evaluations noted as good to excellent. Consistent ICWA knowledge and application. Proven ability to speak in a court room setting, at statewide meetings, or other settings which need tribal influence for decisions involving ICWA. At least 2 years of supervisory experience is highly preferred with previous evaluation noted as good to excellent.

 

This position is a Grade 4 and has a Salary Range of:  $46,318 – $60,161

Job Posting Expiration Date: June 30, 2023

We hope to have this position filled by date listed above, if no qualified applicant is hired we may advertise an additional 30 days.

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