See yourself achieving solutions. Join our team!

About The Center for Youth and Family Solutions (CYFS):

(CYFS) is seeking compassionate, committed, and culturally competent individuals who align with our mission of helping children and families in need with dignity, compassion, and respect to resolve life challenges. CYFS is one of central Illinois' largest, nationally accredited social service agencies, serving over 20,000 individuals in 37 counties.

Our family-centered, inclusive, trauma-responsive, and strength-based interventions help bring about lasting positive change.

Perks of Working at CYFS:

• Supportive, inclusive, and strengths-focused culture
• Opportunities for advancement and professional development! As we grow, you grow with us!
• Flexible Work Schedule, with the ability to work remotely on occasion
• Employee Assistance Program to help with Work-Life Integration and other potential well-being challenges
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Accrual of 15 vacation days and 8 sick days, plus 5 personal/wellness days
• Paid 3 weeks parental leave
• "Dress for your day" dress code
• Educational Reimbursement
• Reimbursement for mileage
• Agency issued cell phone

About the Position:

Oversee all facets of CYFS advocacy agenda and its implementation and execution; lead agency legislative and policy advocacy activities; serve as a primary lead with advocacy partners and state departments; facilitate community education and engagement on issues impacting those we serve; develop and maintain strategic relationships; and lead, design, and support the execution of assigned long and short-term agency strategic initiatives.

Assists with public relations and media strategies. Provides written and verbal communications to external stakeholders and works as a liaison with various media.

A Typical Day as a Public Policy and Communications Coordinator:

• Define and develop the agency's shared advocacy agenda based on current organizational priorities and external policy landscape.
• Identify and monitor pending local and state legislative initiatives, administrative rule change, external agency policies and practices and other policy and advocacy issues relevant to CYFS mission and service delivery.
• Develop and implement strategies for advancing policy and advocacy goals and lead the agency's strategic initiatives in advocating for social policy and lasting change on local, regional, state, and federal levels that benefits those we serve.
• Work collaboratively with CFO to understand and estimate fiscal implications and costs of proposed strategies.
• Share all relevant information including legislation, pending policy and rule changes, and advocacy updates internally ensuring CYFS agency, program, and department leaders are made aware of legislation or policy that will impact their work and have the opportunity to provide input and assist to further advocacy agenda.
• Build strong relationships with legislators and other relevant policy advocates.
• Identify key stakeholders - individuals, organizations, businesses, legislators, etc. to determine potential partners for our advocacy work. Develop and maintain relationships with potential partners.
• Serve as the primary lead with certain advocacy partners and state departments as assigned and ensure coordination of advocacy efforts with all other advocacy partners and state departments. Participate in local community and statewide committees and collaborative partnerships to advocate for change that promotes equity and the delivery of a continuum of community-based support that promotes conditions that help families thrive.
• Stay informed, be aware of and advocate to mitigate threats to the agency and/or our sector's ability to meet the needs of those we serve; including leading and coordinating efforts to advocate for fair rates and rate-setting methodologies in government contracts.
• Serve as a key representative of the agency, maintaining and developing relationships with key external contacts and the community at large. Attend relevant meetings, seminars, conferences, etc. to share the agency's policy and advocacy agenda.
• Develop a range of approaches for informing internal and external audiences of policy and advocacy matters relevant to the CYFS programs and those we serve and sharing opportunities for engagement (written reports, blog posts, website content and other web-based materials; learning sessions: events, trainings, webinars, workshops; presentations: internal or with partners).
• Engage the communities we serve as partners in change; addressing inequity, discrimination and bias and advocating for lasting systems change that addresses disparities in access to resources and opportunities that impact our clients and the communities we serve.
• Direct, engage, lead, and support others (staff, foster parents, youth, persons with lived experience, other stakeholders, and community members) in local effective advocacy efforts. Working closely with Director of Advancement, train and support other CYFS staff to represent The Center for Youth and Family Solutions effectively in the community, building community presence and involvement at the local level in all locations.
• Lead and contribute to the development and actualization of the Agency's strategic plan as assigned, collaborating with all programs and departments for the actualization of assigned strategies, tasks, and plans for timely achievement.
• Share information internally to assist agency in proactively anticipating, identifying, and developing needed and inclusive programming in line with our mission and in response to community and statewide needs.
• Provide subject matter expertise and consultation to all internal program leaders and other agency leaders as requested.
• Assist Director of Marketing and Development to develop public relations and media strategies.
• In collaboration with the Director of Marketing and Development, generates content for newsletters, appeals, brochures, flyers, events, and program and relevant happenings in the agency, and/or specific programs through all CYFS social media channels.
• Establish and maintain ongoing contacts with media to generate coverage of agency services, accomplishments, and events.

Does the Following Apply to You?

• Bachelor's degree
• Policy and Legislative Process Experience (preferred)
• Knowledge of Child Welfare, Behavioral Health, and Youth Programs (preferred)

Additional Qualifications:

• Completion of DCFS criminal background check and fingerprinting
• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Obtain an insured vehicle
• At least three years of driving experience with a valid driver's license
• Successful completion of DCFS Foundations Training to obtain Child Welfare Licensure

Additional Benefits:

• Choice of 4 medical plans including PPO and high deductible plans with HSA
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• 401k plan with employer match
• Employer Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Plan and Dependent Care Plan

For information on The Center for Youth and Family Solutions, including more information on employee benefits and our company culture, visit our website at https://www.cyfsolutions.org/.

The Center for Youth and Family Solutions is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.