Senior Policy Advocate Education and Prevention

The California Alliance of Child and Family Services is the unifying force in charge of leading change and providing support for the state’s children, youth, and families. For those dedicated to improving the lives of these at‑risk populations, the California Alliance stands apart as the champion and leading voice for organizations that advocate for children and families, and for advancing policy and services on their behalf.

The Catalyst Center leverages connections between research, policy, and practice to inform and lead capacity‑building efforts amongst service providers across the state of California who work in the fields of child and family services.

The California Alliance of Child and Family Services and the Catalyst Center serve a statewide network of professionals and collaborate with advocates, community‑based service programs, national and state organizations, legal, health, and mental health professionals, researchers, and advocates from social justice organizations working to support the health and wellbeing of children and families. The California Alliance of Child and Family Services and Catalyst Center offers a rich working environment that includes connecting with inspiring activists and frontline providers, an opportunity to understand the experiences of children, youth, and families, and how all these forces contribute to sociopolitical change and systems transformation.

Both the CA Alliance and its Catalyst Center are committed to ensuring that our work is centered on equity and social justice, working to ensure that the voices of those most impacted are part of any decision‑making processes.

The Center and the Alliance are dedicated to maintaining an environment that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion. We denounce white supremacy, homophobia, sexism, and all forms of prejudice and intolerance. The only thing that will not be tolerated in our organization is intolerance itself.

The Senior Policy Advocate, under the supervision of the Director of Public Policy and as part of the CA Alliance policy team, leads the development of policy positions related to education and Prevention. This position actively works with the Legislature, state agencies and other advocacy groups to assure the adoption of those positions in statute, regulation or as part of statewide policy.

The Senior Policy Advocate works closely with member organizations to support and forward policy issues developed through member committees.

Legislation, Regulation and Policy Development

Actively work with Board, assigned program committees and other staff in the development of policy goals in assigned interest areas as needed.

Work with appropriate state agencies to have Alliance policy objectives adopted into state policy or regulation.

Work with appropriate members of the Administration, Legislature and their staff in moving policy positions into law from conceptualizing legislation through passage of a bill and signing into law.

Review, analyze and develop a position and priority on all bills, in assigned policy areas and of relevance to Alliance member agencies, and complete tasks necessary to support, oppose or amend targeted bills.

Track and advocate on bills and be able to explain and defend bill positions as well as complete bill reports for members and stakeholders.

Develop analyses, positions, options and strategies in assigned policy areas to ensure representation of Alliance member agencies in the state budget development process and coordinate budget communications between the Alliance, the Alliance contract lobbyist, the Legislature and the administration.

Lead in drafting legislative language for sponsored bills and budget asks as developed with CA Alliance member agencies, which can include developing advocacy materials for bills staff is leading, completing budget and background forms as required by the Senate and Assembly, participating in legislative visits, staffing advocacy days, facilitating meetings with CA Alliance members and Legislators and the Administration, and working with partners on these efforts.

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