Posted on September 2, 2012

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Program Assistant, Evidence-Based Practice

The Annie E. Casey Foundation is a private charitable organization dedicated to helping build better futures for disadvantaged children in the United States. The primary mission of the Foundation is to foster public policies, human service reforms, and community supports that more effectively meet the needs of today’s vulnerable children and families. The Foundation distributes approximately $150 million annually in grants to organizations that help states, cities, and neighborhoods improve the life outcomes of these children and families.

Job Summary: The Program Assistant is a full-time, entry-level professional position at the Foundation. The positions are intended to introduce a diverse group of people early in their careers to the Foundation’s major work to improve the outcomes for children living in distressed neighborhoods by strengthening their families and communities. The Program Assistantship is designed to help participants gain valuable experience and exposure to further their career paths and enable them to make important future contributions to the field.

Program Assistants have opportunities to develop skills, deepen their formal knowledge, expand their networks, and challenge their thinking about disadvantaged children and distressed neighborhoods while learning about innovative programs, policies, and strategies that are strengthening communities and families.

Program Assistants are appointed for one year, renewable for up to an additional two years on the basis of satisfactory performance. The Program Assistantship is not a permanent position and will not be extended beyond three years. Program Assistants are precluded from applying for any other positions at the Foundation for a period of at least two years. This position reports to the Director of the Evidence-Based Practice Team and will be located in Baltimore, MD.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities: The Program Assistant will become a member of the Evidence-Based Practice Team at the Foundation. The Evidence-Based Practice Team is focused on increasing the availability and utilization of evidence-based programs that improve outcomes for children and families in five key domains – education and skills attainment, emotional well-being, positive relationships, behavior and physical health. We have found that evidence-based programs and practices that can be successfully implemented in public systems (such as child welfare and juvenile justice) and communities have been evaluated through a randomized controlled trial or quasi-experimental trial without design flaws, demonstrate positive impact on child well-being outcomes, clearly define the population of focus, target risk and protective factors that theory and research link to positive outcomes and possess training materials and fidelity monitoring tools as well as information on the financial and human resources re quired for implementation.

The Program Assistant will play a role in supporting the Evidence-Based Practice Team’s grantmaking efforts and Evidence2Success project. The team’s grantmaking focuses on investing in building evidence for programs that are most likely to positively impact child outcomes and in taking successful programs to scale. Evidence2Success is a framework to guide public investment in proven programs for children and youth by strengthening partnerships among public systems, schools and communities. The Evidence2Success framework includes surveys of children and families to allow communities to benchmark and track trends in child well-being and the root causes that promote or impede children’s health and development. Evidence2Success communities also have access to an interactive online database of proven programs that have the greatest potential to meet children’s strengths and needs. Through coaching and technical assistance, communities will develop the capacities that they need to utilize the Evidence2Success framework, including the capacity to integrate multiple funding streams into a coordinated approach to finance and sustain evidence-based programs.

Responsibilities and activities of Program Assistants may vary from one program area to another but generally include program coordination, research and support.

• The Program Assistant will provide staff support for development and implementation of Evidence2Success, including but not limited to maintaining a database with project data, materials and information; organizing performance management information; conducting relevant research and assisting with coordination of on-site technical assistance.
• The Program Assistant will provide staff support for strategic grantmaking that focuses on evidence-based practice, including but not limited to assisting in the grant evaluation process, providing technical assistance to grantees and conducting relevant research.
• The Program Assistant will help with meeting preparations for the Evidence-Based Practice Team, including compiling background materials, communicating with participants, and logistics.
• The Program Assistant will be responsible for maintaining correspondence, responding to requests for materials and information, tracking and obtaining resources and information, and providing follow-up on visits and meetings.
• The Program Assistant will also prepare oral and written summaries on projects. This will include development of briefing memos addressing content and policy issues, strategies, literature reviews, data analysis, and background or research papers.
• The Program Assistant will establish and maintain relationships with key contacts and organizations as assigned. S/he will attend meetings and communicate with grantees and Evidence2Success participants.
• The Program Assistant will participate in conferences, seminars, and other activities to stay current within areas of concentration. This will include becoming familiar with significant organizations, networks, leaders, and literature critical to the work
• The Program Assistant will exhibit sensitivity to and respect for diversity in personal, professional and business relationships on behalf of the Foundation. Seek to utilize the Foundation resources in an equitable manner with regard to race, ethnicity, and gender.
• The Program Assistant will demonstrate awareness and appreciation of the Foundation’s mission, values, standards, principles, and programs, drawing on Casey’s Knowledge Management System, Intranet, website, staff development sessions, and other learning opportunities to establish this competency.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Skills & Abilities:

• Demonstrated academic experience, strong research and analytic skills, and ability to prepare reports and conduct literature reviews.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Ability to conceptualize and present information to a variety of audiences.
• Interest and willingness to work effectively with diverse groups and residents of local communities.
• Capacity to work well with competing priorities and tight deadlines; requires high degree of independent action, flexibility, multi-tasking, and minimum supervision.
• Proficiency with word processing, databases, Internet and performance management and presentation software. Strong skills in managing websites and data research.
• Must be team player with strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to travel overnight and attend some evening meetings (up to 30% travel).

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will bring a demonstrated working knowledge and experience in programs related to health and human services, child welfare issues, education, housing, and economic and/or community development. The successful candidate must have a strong personal commitment to the mission of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. In addition, the personal and professional qualifications for this position include:

• Master’s degree in urban policy, public health, social work or a related field preferred or a Bachelor’s degree with equivalent professional experience of 5 years.
• Candidates must have a minimum of 2 years of experience with community-based organizations and/or policy organizations focused on health and human services, education, and/or economic and community development.

Tools and Equipment Used:

Telephone, personal computer including word processing software, copy machine, fax machine, and ten-key calculator.

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

The work is performed primarily in an office setting with 30% overnight travel required.

This is an exempt position, meaning pay is on a salaried rather than hourly or daily basis. Starting salary is commensurate with experience and earnings history. A strong benefits package will be provided as well.

Application Instructions

Please apply online at www.aecf.org/careers.aspx. Maxine Norris, HR Recruiter
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
701 St. Paul Street
Baltimore, MD 21202