Public Service Coordinator I - Associate Child Advocate I

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

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Office of the Child Advocate

Opening Date:  October 16, 2026

Closing Date:  October 21, 2026

Grade/Admin Unit : 27 / Confidential

Job Class Code : CA27

Salary: $67,267.20 - $95,097.60/Annually

Position Number : 200025307
Location: Augusta

Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions.

DESCRIPTION:

The Associate Child Advocate I is responsible for assisting the Interim Child Advocate to establish the Office of the Child Advocate, a new agency established to provide independent oversight of state agencies and promote the best interests of children and ensure that children receive timely, safe and effective services in accordance with state and federal law. The office will begin the work of the new agency while also completing a needs assessment for the new agency. The Associate Child Advocate I will also be responsible for providing expertise for Children's Behavioral Health issues.

REPRESENTATIVE TASKS:

- Assist the Interim Child Advocate (ICA) to review the complaints and determine if the office considers it necessary to investigate the actions of the state agency and make recommendations to address concerns and identify whether a complaint raises a systemic issue and make recommendations.
- Assist the ICA to complete case-specific reviews on receipt of a complaint or on the office's own initiative.
- Assist the ICA to complete systems-wide of periodic review of policies, programs, rules, procedures, or services offered to children and make recommendations to address systemic concerns.
- Assist the ICA to regularly consult with state agencies and the advisory committee and participate in conferences, meetings, and studies aimed at improving the performance of state agencies.
- Assist the ICA to provide information and referral assistance to families and the public.
- Assist the ICA to perform educational outreach and advocacy initiatives as part of the mission and responsibilities of the office.
- Assist the ICA to complete outreach and learning with appropriate experts, agencies, research, and participate in any necessary trainings and research to set up the office during the interim period.
- Provide technical expertise for children's behavioral and mental health issues.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

- Knowledge of child welfare law and practice
- Ability to analyze and review complex situations
- Strong writing and research skills
- Working understanding of the child welfare database Katahdin.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A professional graduate degree in law, health care, public health, social work, or a related field.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Please submit a cover letter along with a current resume and three (3) professional references.

In order for us to properly determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for any posting, you must be sure your resume includes the month and year for any relevant experience listed. Your resume should include the duties and responsibilities associated with each position. Any experience that was not full-time employment should be identified as such.

CONTACT INFORMATION:  For more information or questions specific to the position, please contact  [email protected]

The selected candidate will be required to pass the required background checks (fingerprinting may be required) as a condition of employment.

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

- Work-Life Balance  – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using  13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave,  and  3+ weeks of vacation leave  annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
- Health Insurance Coverage  – The State of Maine pays  85%-100%  of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs (https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/benefits/som-health-plan/premium-rates) for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
- Health Insurance Premium Credit  – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements (https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/benefits/health-premium-credit).
- Dental Insurance  – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
- Retirement Plan  – The State of Maine contributes 18.86% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
- Gym Membership Reimbursement  – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
- Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts  – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
- Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness  – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office (https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service).
- Living Resources Program  – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
- Parental leave  is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive  forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave . Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act (https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-employees/rules-policies/policy-practices-manual/Employee-Rights-and-Responsibilities-Federal).
- Voluntary Deferred Compensation  – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package , covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness .

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart.

If you require a paper application, please download and print one HERE

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If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.