Policy & Advocacy Fellow

In May 2021, the C.A.S.E. Board of Directors approved a new strategic direction. This new direction formalizes C.A.S.E. as a national entity whose goal is to make all clinical therapy for foster care, adopted, and guardianship children and families – Adoption Competent Therapy. Leveraging C.A.S.E.’s location in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, C.A.S.E will expand public awareness of adoption competent benefits among legislators and policy makers. Its goal is to inform & change public policy by educating Congress on important issues including:

Federal funding for expansion of adoption-competent post-adoption services
Recognizing adoption-competence as a sub-specialty of mental health therapy
Developing an adoption-competent child welfare & mental health workforce
Impact of lack of funding and access for mental health services for foster adopted youth
Improving Educational outcomes for transitioning youth
Advance federal and state policies to promote accessible and affordable post-adoption supports
Improve access and reduce racial disparities for mental health care
Reducing the over utilization of psychotropic medications

Summary of Position

This position works closely (under the direction of) Board Member Sara van Geertruyden in implementing the Center for Adoption Support and Education’s (C.A.S.E.) legislative outreach and educational programming. The Advocacy Fellow position requires strong organizational, interpersonal, and writing skills.

Education and Experience:

An undergraduate degree is required, preferably in public policy, political science, or related field and relevant experience in adoption or foster care-related policy. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Experience in public policy and/or government relations is preferred.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have strong educational, advocacy, and relationship‐building skills. Including creative, engaging, and strong time management and organizational skills. Specific qualifications include:

Available to work 40 hours/week.
Lived experience in the U.S. foster care system.
Excellent interpersonal, oral, written communication and research skills. Creative thinker, personable, and team player.
Knowledge of and experience with effective Capitol Hill advocacy and education.
Understanding of and experience in congressional/government relations communications, strategies, goals and campaign development, and implementation.
Ability to assist in congressional engagement and education strategies, tasks, and projects, including working groups.
Demonstrated ability to set priorities and reach goals.
Strong organizational and time‐management skills with impeccable attention to detail.
Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, commitment to the mission.
Child welfare and adoption policy expertise.

Responsibilities:

Under the direction of C.A.S.E CEO, Debbie Riley, and advisement by Board Member, Sara van Geertruyden, the chief responsibilities include:

Provides Advocacy to key committees including the Education/HELP Committee:
- Conduct research and manage data on members of congress and their staff.
  - 1^st Tier: those with lived experience relevant to adoption and foster care.
  - 2^nd Tier: Members that overlap with the committees of jurisdiction and in states with active TAC and NTI programs
- Educate targeted MOCs on the impact of adoption-competent mental health therapy
- Develop champions: Build deep relationships with targeted MOC and their staff to educate them on the issue and raise the profile of the organization:
  - Write briefs/white papers that track with current events and share C.A.S.E. messaging
  - Hold briefings or meetings
  - Organizing quarterly lobby days that bring voices of lived experienced to the Hill

Communications:
- Assist in the development of materials, talking points, and other supporting materials per advocacy priority
- Raise voices of those most impacted:
  - Build a national coalition of parents, agencies, youth , –everyone who cares about and is affected by the issue and that can represent the different facets of the issue. Coalition members are able to be responsive to the issue of the day. They are organized and prepared.
  - Identify & train emerging leader spokespersons with unique & diverse lived experiences. Spokespersons can testify at state/federal offices, write op-eds, etc.
  - Proactively seek speaking opportunities for C.A.S.E. spokespeople
- React strongly/quickly to field shaping events and news, working with communications
  - Press placements for DR or C.A.S.E. coalition members
  - Target media and message to advocacy opportunities

State-level advocacy:
- Outreach to every state with NTI and TAC to educate the reps on the work and connect it to C.A.S.E.

Serve as an ambassador of C.A.S.E.

Salary & Benefits

Salary; $47-50K Depending on experience.

Vacation leave, Sick leave, Holiday leave

Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits

403(B) retirement plan options with employer matching contributions

Short-term disability, long term disability and life insurance (employer paid)

Flexible work hours (weekdays/ evenings / weekends) to include options to telework. DC/MD/VA

Opportunities for professional development.

Supplemental Benefits (i.e., accidental coverage, hospital coverage, higher education tuition investment options, higher education loan payment options)

To Apply:

If interested: Please submit a resume and cover letter via email to careers@adoptionsupport.org and state Policy and Advocacy Fellow in the subject line.

Position Duration: October 2022 – September/October 2023 (could be extended for 2 years)

Location: DC, MD, VA (Remote Option Available)

Reports to: CEO

Closes When Filled.

OUR VISION

To create a world where every child and family connected to adoption, foster, and kinship care thrives, embracing our individual and collective diversity.

OUR MISSION

Improving the well-being and permanence of children and their families by delivering adoption competent mental health services, training a national network of professionals, and informing the field through research and advocacy.

As an equal opportunity employer, we believe deeply in diversity and are committed to creating and inclusive environment for all.

Our passionate and dedicated Staff and Board of Directors are guided by the following core values:

Compassion Excellence Integrity Innovation

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