ABA Clinic - Licensing Specialist.

This position is open to current Colorado residents only.

About the role

This position is a 100% remote role within the Division of Child Welfare, Provider Services Unit. The Division oversees the implementation of child welfare services in Colorado, supervising county departments of human/social services and privately operated 24-hour child care facilities. The Provider Services Unit licenses, manages, and provides statewide oversight for various facilities, including Residential Child Care Facilities, Secure Residential Treatment Centers, Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTPs), Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs), Homeless Youth Shelters, Child Placement Agencies, Adoption Agencies, and Day Treatment Facilities.

The goals of the unit are to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of youth served in these facilities through comprehensive integrated licensing, monitoring, auditing, and investigating reports of licensing violations or facility culpability.

This role serves as a technical expert in interagency collaboration, particularly with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and designs policies, procedures, and regulations impacting ABA Clinic settings. The position is critical in implementing the Division’s audit process, including sample reviews, technical assistance, training, issuing inspection reports, fines, licensure authorization, and recommending adverse actions. The role ensures compliance with applicable guidelines, rules, policies, and standards while identifying opportunities to improve practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide or research options for and coordinate technical assistance to licensed facilities and agencies to support quality care delivery and compliance with State and Federal rules, focusing on child protection and safety.
• Oversee and direct providers to improve programming, ensuring the safety, care, and well-being of children in placement.
• Serve as the Division’s technical assistance expert in licensing, child care/child welfare, and treatment planning for relevant populations.
• Develop and oversee best practices for local health authority inspections, immunizations, and general health safety requirements in ABA Clinics.
• Determine best practices for obtaining and reviewing background records for staff, foster parents, adults over 18 in foster homes, and volunteers working directly with children.
• Evaluate programming quality, practices, and compliance through building/site inspections, staff training assessments, treatment planning, milieu observation, home study evaluations, behavioral intervention reviews, medication administration, restraint/seclusion practices, financial documentation, and interviews with staff, foster families, and youth.
• Research Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy practices and implement national/state standards and safety protocols for day treatment settings and ABA Clinics.
• Support other Licensing Specialists on health inspections, general health safety, and immunization practices in licensed facilities.
• Compile and interpret data on provider deficiencies to determine when adverse licensing actions are warranted.
• Provide documentation and testimony in summary suspension and adverse action cases, issuing expert opinions on child protection and safety.
• Advise management on corrective actions for ongoing concerns and violations, including follow-up and increased on-site licensing until deficiencies are resolved.
• Participate in developing and implementing integrated licensing protocols with internal and external stakeholders, including CDPHE, Department of Education, and other government agencies.
• Consult on protocols with county departments, develop review instruments, and ensure facility self-assessment tools address child safety concerns.
• Provide licensing technical consultation to Divisions responsible for out-of-home placements to develop or revise rules, statutes, and policies.
• Initiate Volume 7 rule revisions to reflect current practices and statutory changes, serving as the expert on interpretation and implementation.
• Evaluate and license programs for initial and ongoing licensure, analyzing policies, procedures, staff qualifications, medication administration, treatment services, and site compliance.
• Ensure facilities meet requirements from external entities such as CDPHE, zoning/planning, and fire departments.
• Conduct annual reviews of staff and youth files, complete inspection reports, and ensure timely correction of violations.
• Handle and safeguard confidential information regarding youth in care and conduct background checks for provider staff.

Requirements

• Seven (7) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position.
• OR a combination of related education and/or relevant experience equal to seven (7) years.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, or Sociology.
• Two (2) or more years of work experience related to human services or licensing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of child welfare policies, residential best practice standards, and licensing regulations.
• Experience in an advisory or consultative role.
• Proven ability to direct research, analyze, and report on complex issues.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to adapt to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to establish collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency working with internal teams and national, state, and community partners.
• Knowledge of Volume 7 Rules and Regulations.
• Experience with CCCLS, TRAILS, I-LINX, and multiple databases/scanning systems.
• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) work with children/youth with autism.

Benefits

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. Refer to the Supplemental Information section for details.