Jewish Child & Family Services (JCFS) provides vital, individualized, results-driven, therapeutic and supportive services for thousands of children, adults and families of all backgrounds each year, facing challenges with life transitions, mental health, developmental/intellectual disability and basic human need. 
 
Offering over thirty programs at ten different locations across the Chicagoland area, JCFS’s services are comprehensive and diverse.  Selected programs include:
 

• Counseling Programs aimed at services individuals in all stages of life, including, but not limited to, Financial Counseling, Pre-Marital Counseling, Divorce Counseling, Bereavement counseling and counseling for Children and Teens.
• Community programs with a wide range of focus including advanced illness support, adoption support, the Jewish Center for Addiction, and sexual abuse prevention.
• Testing and assessment programs including comprehensive psychological evaluations and testing for adults and children to address emotional, behavioral and academic needs.
• Programs for both children and adults with disabilities and their families.
• Child welfare services including foster care, group homes, and maintaining adoption connections.
• A wide range of special education programs, including a special needs camp, a legal advocacy center, and resources for Jewish Day schools.

 
 
The Residential Program for Teens and Young Adults
 
The JCFS Residential Program offers a supportive, confidential and empowering environment for teens and young adults whose emotional, developmental and behavioral needs merit 24 hour attention, due to abuse, neglect or chronic family conflict. 
 
The JCFS Residential Program has adopted the Sanctuary Model because of its documented, positive outcomes for children's residential treatment. The Sanctuary Model is a state-of-the-art program to help children who have suffered severe trauma and chronic stress and have emotional, behavioral or psychiatric disorders that have prevented them from living in a foster care environment. The program provides a safe, stable home for these abused and neglected young people.  It embraces them and teaches the idea that every person big or small, has a voice and should be heard.
 
About the Group Homes
 
JCFS operates five group homes that provide the highest level of emotional therapeutic support.  Residences are supervised by a highly qualified staff of professionals who provide a safe and stable environment. 
 

• Rosenberg Group Home, for up to twelve girls and young women ages 12 to 21
• Price Pregnant and Parenting Teen Group Home, for up to eight teens
• Cummings Group Home, for boys ages 13 to 21 with both developmental disabilities and behavioral/emotional needs
• Talman Group Home, for boys ages 13 to 21 with both developmental disabilities and behavioral/emotional needs
• Campbell Group Home, for girls ages 13 to 21 with both developmental disabilities and behavioral/emotional needs

 
Each of the JCFS homes is located in the West Rogers Park community in Chicago, and treats children and adolescents with a wide range of clinical disorders, including mood disorders, ADHD, and oppositional behaviors, sometimes combined with developmental disabilities. Each home has a master’s level clinician who provides individual, group and family therapy when appropriate. JCFS also assumes an advocacy role within the larger systems, which affect the children and their families. The agency provides multidisciplinary care, as each resident’s medical, educational, psychiatric and recreational needs are assessed and met through a combination of community and JCFS resources.
 
JCFS accepts appropriate referrals for residents with funding from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Illinois Department of Human Services and Illinois State Board of Education.
 
The Opportunity:  Director of Residential Services
 
JCFS is searching for a Director of Residential Services who will provide skilled leadership, administration and oversight for the Agency's Residential Program which operates youth group homes for DCFS wards of the state with a variety of challenges including behavioral, emotional, and development disabilities.  Clinical expertise and oversight is a key position component.  The Director is a member of the Agency’s Directors Group, a key team in the organization that has major responsibility for implementing agency-wide policies, practices and initiatives, teaching in the Agency's prestigious Educational Institute, and representing the agency in professional groups in the community. The Director will directly manage a staff of 8 professionals and 50 indirect staff, and administer a $4 million budget.
 
The position reports to Margaret Vimont, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and requires a strategic thinker with a high level of expertise with the clinical, operational and management responsibilities of residential treatment facilities for people with behavioral/emotional needs or developmental disabilities.  Leadership staff experience with youth and young adults residential programs is preferred.
 
Primary Performance Objectives
 
Strategy and Leadership
 

• Represents the Agency to the community and other social service organizations and stakeholders.  Consistently articulates the Agency’s mission and vision to the local community and the community at large.
• Attends internal and external supervisory meetings to keep abreast of systematic changes and to inform attendees of the perspectives of the Agency and Residential Services Program.
• Reviews current literature on child welfare to ensure the program operates with “best practices” and remains in compliance with DCFS regulatory requirements.
• Evaluates program or facilities and plans for the long-range future of the homes and makes recommendations to the Executive Team.  Ensures programs are in alignment with the overall mission, vision, purpose and objectives of the Agency.
• Assumes overall responsibility for the agency's client relationships.

 
 
Department and Staff Management
 

• Administers operational details of the group homes within budgetary limitations; plans for execution of administrative functions including purchasing of supplies and equipment and maintenance of the physical facilities.
• Assists in the selection of staff (direct service, clinical, and operational); consults with and evaluates staff and makes recommendations for improvement.  When needed, participates in progressive disciplinary action in conjunction with supervisors and Human Resources in accordance with Agency policies and union contract guidelines. 
• Identifies staff training and development needs as necessary.
• Directly supervises Clinical Supervisor, Assistant Director and the Group Home Supervisors.
• Maintains frequent contact with consultative staff.  Develops cross program relationships, collaborations, and consultation where appropriate for the Residential program.  Seeks and develops collaborations with other community agencies or external resources when necessary or appropriate.
• Works collaboratively with nursing staff to develop procedures and controls for preparation and use of drugs other medical care.
• Develops annual budget in collaboration with the Executive Team and the finance department.  Monitors individual group home budgets including; reviewing expenditures, identifying and recommending budget amendments and overseeing the maintenance of budget documents.  Develops controls for programmatic systems such as petty cash.

 
 
Miscellaneous
 

• Successfully completes training in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), successfully completes all requirements to maintain certification in TCI and uses these skills effectively as needed.
• Provides and bills for Medicaid services under Rule 132 as a Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts.
• Performs other duties as delegated.

 
The Qualified Candidate
 
JCFS seeks an inspirational, dynamic leader with demonstrated success in effectively managing a residential treatment program preferably in a complex, matrixed, nonprofit environment.  The ideal candidate will demonstrate a successful track record in both the clinical and management aspects of residential treatment, particularly in the context of child welfare group homes.  The Director will maximize the opportunities to communicate the mission of JCFS and to strengthen relationships with community stakeholders.  A passion for youth and the mission of JCFS is essential.
 
The successful candidate will have:

• A Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university.
• LCSW or LCPC licensure.
• At least five years of experience in group work or casework agency setting, with child welfare and DCFS experience.  Included in this, at least three years of supervisory-administrative responsibility is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work in a fast-paced environment and to juggle multiple competing priorities while keeping key constituents informed.
• Ability to meet both revenue and expense financial targets, with a special emphasis on actively seeking out opportunities for Medicaid revenue.
• Ability to effectively synthesize information, analyze data and make decisions.
• Ability to prioritize and focus on outcomes.
• An optimistic, “can-do” attitude with an intrinsic drive to lead a team to succeed even when obstacles are overwhelming.
• Ability to be flexible and able to adapt to frequently changing compliance requirements.
• Continual attention to detail in order to organize data and manage deadlines. 
• Excellent organization, self-management and project management skills, especially when under time pressure.  The successful candidate will possess proven ability to monitor complex systems for consistency and ensure feedback loops are in place to trigger potential gaps in care or regulatory compliance.
• Self-reliance and the ability to work independently while producing high quality work.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, use good judgment and be mindful of all relevant stakeholders.
• Valid Illinois Driver's license, auto insurance, and car.
• Ability to work evening and occasional weekend hours including regular rotation into on call availability on weekends.

 
 
To Apply
 
This position offers a competitive salary and benefits.  All inquiries will be held in strict confidence.
 
Jewish Child & Family Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria.
 
Alford Executive Search is providing Search Assistance to JCFS to develop and screen a pool of qualified candidates.  JCFS will conduct interviews and make the hiring decision.  This project is being managed by Laura Weinman, Senior Consultant at Alford Executive Search.    
 
To apply, candidates must complete the online application at https://alfordexecutivesearch.applicantstack.com/x/openings and thereon submit their cover letter and resume.  To assure confidential tracking of all applicants, no applications will be accepted via email. Questions may be addressed to Ms. Weinman at lweinman@alfordexecutivesearch.com.
 
Alford Executive Search (www.alfordexecutivesearch.com), a division of KEES, is a retained search firm dedicated to providing recruitment services of exceptional quality and strengthening the not-for-profit community through professional staffing solutions.