Policy Fellow

FUNCTION-SCOPE STATEMENT

Chapin Hall is seeking an experienced Policy Fellow to provide leadership and oversight on the implementation and sustainability of the Blueprint for Transformation: A Vision for Improved Behavioral Health Services for Illinois Children. The Policy Fellow will lead the Chapin Hall Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative team and work with external stakeholders including the Deputy Governor for Health and Human Services, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Illinois Departments of Human Services, Children & Family Services, Public Health, Juvenile Justice, and Healthcare and Family Services

This position will report to the Director of Policy Operations and allows for remote work and periodic in-person attendance at Chicago, IL and Springfield, IL meetings. The successful applicant is expected to work normal business hours and must have flexibility in their work schedule to accommodate business demands.

The Policy Fellow will work with a collaborative and integrated research and policy team to bring a unique blend of clinical experience, policy expertise, and applied research to the leadership and oversight of the initiative. The successful candidate will bring deep familiarity with the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative and content expertise and understanding of the Illinois and national policy landscape related to children's mental health, equity in service accessibility, , trauma-informed and strengths-based practices and policies, and residential care, including best-practice processes and tools, staffing patterns, care coordination and referral, and continuous quality improvement.

The individual will have a leadership track record of successfully leading the implementation of empirically-supported practices, tracking and monitoring effectiveness of programs, drafting or enhancing policies to support implementation of services, cultivating community and lived experience engagement, advising state agency leaders, experience working with multiple public and private stakeholders, and building infrastructure to promote well-being for youth.

This policy expert will establish themselves as an organizational leader who attracts collaborators, executes work promptly, efficiently, on budget, and with quality. Additionally, this leader will engage a diverse group of stakeholders through a range of dissemination formats and outlets, in keeping with organizational priorities. Additionally, the policy expert will seek and maintain an active, positive role in contributing to organizational culture.

Chapin Hall embraces a Work from Anywhere approach, offering flexible remote work from anywhere in the United States. Our fully remote model is grounded in trust, accountability, and a shared commitment to high-quality work and collaboration, regardless of location. To get a glimpse of what this looks like in practice, we invite you to watch a short video featuring Chapin Hall staff working from home and across the country: Watch here

While our work is remote, we intentionally create opportunities for connection and belonging. We offer in-person opportunities for staff to build (1) relationships and connection, (2) team cohesion and creativity, and (3) a strong sense of belonging to the organization. Staff are expected to participate in occasional work-related travel, including attendance at in-person All Hall Convenings, which emphasize shared learning, collaboration, and community. Reasonable accommodations are made for those who require modifications.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project and Stakeholder Management

• Leads the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative team, as part of Chapin Hall's Illinois DCFS contract.
• Serves as principal point of contact with key external stakeholders, and coordinates the Chapin Hall team to ensure consistent and transparent communications by directing and delivering frequent progress reports.
• Understands the complex relationships between key funding and policy stakeholders relevant to work, develops and sustains network, and navigates those relationships effectively.
• Cultivates relationships with key funding and policy stakeholders necessary to develop and carry out policy work.

Capacity Building/Policy Development

• Provides practical leadership support to the Deputy Governor's office and participating state agencies to guide the sustainability of system transformation efforts including implementation of strategies to leverage the new repository of residential treatment beds, the BEACON platform for centralized care, and the implementation of Universal Mental Health Screening.
• Conducts policy, fiscal and evidence reviews to develop, deploy, test, and refine capacity building and implementation tools frameworks, tools and resources.
• Through results-based organizational development, coaching, education, and facilitation of meetings and change processes, builds capacity of system partners to:
  
  
  
  • use data and evidence in decision making;
  • build and sustain structures that support large scale systems improvement;
  • further effective and sustainable implementation of practices and programs that lead to intended outcomes;
  • understand and leverage policy and financing as tools for progress; and
  • use continuous quality improvement to promote progress- monitoring and mid-course improvements.
  
  
  
  

• Facilitates connections between education, mental health, and child welfare systems in support of leveraging shared values and achieving collective impact.

Research and Analysis

• Together with colleagues, conceptualizes innovative data analytic support and research approaches toward the development and execution of plans for effective, tailored implementation of transformation efforts.
• Leads and contributes substantively to research and policy teams working to effectively analyze, translate and present findings and implications into practical decisions, and, ultimately, policy change.

Administration

• Engage in formal supervision of staff as required; contribute to professional development of colleagues.
• Through close engagement with colleagues and Chapin Hall leadership, functions as a critical thought leader in the organization to collectively further Chapin Hall's mission.
• Through internal service, contribute to the development and refining of systems that support the execution of projects, staff development and advancement, and a positive organizational culture.
  
  
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

• Master's degree in education, public policy, social work, developmental or clinical psychology or other relevant field required, Ph.D. preferred.
• First-hand experience with the Illinois Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative, including interagency collaboration on expediting placement and services for youth experiencing mental health service needs and crises.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of experience conceiving, developing and facilitating the implementation of programs, practices, and/or policies that improve outcomes for children, youth, and families.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience supervising staff or colleagues.
• Experience working in clinical settings with multi-disciplinary teams on formulating treatment plans and goals for clinical recovery.
• Knowledge of and experience with applying implementation/improvement science principles to the implementation of evidence-based interventions and other child welfare system reform efforts.
• Experience in successful dissemination, including but not limited to: writing and publishing research and/or policy analyses and recommendations; delivering presentations; and providing consultation to a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Track record of success translating empirical research findings into actionable frameworks, as well as evidence of having leveraged policy-relevant translational research intended to inform policy, programs, systems, and interventions.
• Demonstrated facility interpreting quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis.
• Track record of partnerships with community, funding, and policy stakeholders, including in the development and/or implementation of evidence-based programs, practices and/or policies.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the desire and ability to contribute positively to the culture and intellectual life of Chapin Hall.
• Strong communications skills with the ability to translate and convey complex concepts and study findings in oral and written communications.
• Strong project and personnel management skills, with the ability to manage multiple, concurrent tasks.
• Demonstrated leadership skills including the capacity to effectively recruit, retain, and mentor staff, and to compose diverse teams with needed capacities to complete projects.
• Highly flexible problem-solving and analytic skills.
• Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative.
• Demonstrated judgment and discretion in the handling of sensitive information.
• Understand the complex relationships between key funding and policy stakeholders relevant to work and navigate those relationships effectively.

MINIMUM PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Pre-employment background checks are required for all Chapin Hall positions. Chapin Hall approaches background checks with respect and fairness, ensuring that every applicant is given equitable review and opportunity. Chapin Hall's background check process complies with Section 2-103.1 of the Illinois Human Rights Act. Accordingly, a conviction will only be considered disqualifying if it has a substantial relationship to the job, or if hiring the individual would pose an unreasonable risk to workplace safety. If you have any questions, please reach out to HumanResources@chapinhall.org

Formal expressions of interest are accepted online only. A cover letter, resume, writing sample, and reference contact information are required to be considered for this position. Individuals in need of reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should contact Human Resources by calling (773) 256-5157, or by sending an email to recruiting@chapinhall.org.

Chapin Hall is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer that values and actively seeks diversity in its workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, citizenship status, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, status as an individual with disability, ancestry, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Per U.S. Department of Labor regulations, Chapin Hall offers visa sponsorship in limited instances for hard-to-fill specialty occupation roles. If you have questions about visa sponsorship at Chapin Hall, please reach out to humanresources@chapinhall.org

Regarding the salary range:

Chapin Hall adheres to a competitive market-aligned salary structure for all its administrative, policy, and research roles. Starting salaries within posted ranges are determined by the Chapin Hall Human Resources Department using a consistent, rigorous, and equitable review process.

Benefits

Chapin Hall provides a strong benefits program that addresses the diverse needs of our staff. We offer competitive and comprehensive benefit options that allow you to design your own plan, to balance individual needs with affordability and support long-term financial stability for staff and their family. Our benefits include comprehensive health plans, paid time off, sick time, parental leave and retirement options. For more information on our benefits visit our Chapin Hall Website.

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

Chapin Hall is an independent policy research center that provides public and private decision-makers with rigorous research and achievable solutions to improve the lives of children, families, and communities. Chapin Hall partners with policymakers, practitioners, and philanthropists at the forefront of research and policy development by applying research, real-world experience, and policy expertise to deliver actionable information, practical tools, and positive change for children, youth, and families. Chapin Hall's partnership mindset is demonstrated in a collaborative and innovative work environment committed to diversity and inclusion in our culture, projects, and workforce. Established in 1985, Chapin Hall's main impact areas include child welfare systems, community capacity building, and youth homelessness. For more information about Chapin Hall, visit www.chapinhall.org or Chapin_Hall. Take a moment to view a video clip of staff on why they enjoy working at Chapin Hall.

In our efforts to create a vibrant workplace and because diversity is integral to designing and conducting research, collecting and analyzing data, and drafting policy solutions, Chapin Hall seeks to recruit, foster, and retain staff who are diverse in terms of their ability, age, ethnicity, gender identity, race, religion, and sexual orientation.

As part of Chapin Hall's Racial Equity Principles, we especially encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, including individuals who reflect the experiences and perspectives of families and young people served by child- and family-serving systems and programs.

Our unwavering partnership mindset is also demonstrated in our commitment to employees by fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment that is committed to reflecting diversity and inclusion in its culture, projects, and workforce. We embrace diverse backgrounds, diverse perspectives, and diverse experiences in everything we do, in every partnership, and in our workplace. Our inclusive approach to people, partnerships, and communities makes us a better and stronger organization by bringing in innovative, multidisciplinary staff committed to fostering a truly collaborative work environment. We are committed to a respectful and inclusive work environment, work life flexibility, and partnerships that support diversity amongst our staff and within the communities we support.