Position Function:
Provides clinical and technical support to Foster/Adopt parents through intensive case management services, client behavioral support services, crisis management, home visits, weekly contact, monitoring of standards compliance, documentation, ongoing training, transportation assistance as needed, aftercare services, and advocacy. The job requires sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
Requirements:
Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required; a Master’s degree in social work or related field is preferred.
Experience: A minimum of two years of documented full-time work experience in a child-placing agency is required with a Bachelor degree.
Functional: Must have excellent verbal and communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with youth, families, collaborating agencies, community professionals, and ACH Child and Family Services staff.
Working Conditions:
Position includes exposure to parents, guardians, and conservators as well as to youth with behavioral problems, including possible physical aggression. A personal vehicle is required for travel. The position provides 24/7 on-call support to assigned foster families.
Exposure to Confidential Information:
The Foster Care/Adoption Specialist will have access to confidential records including youth files, foster care/adoption records, and foster/adopt parent information. Must maintain confidentiality and follow policies related to personnel records and client records.
Key Expectations/Responsibilities:
- Ensure that all case management practices, including crisis management, interventions, and family support, are driven by a child-centered Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) approach that respects the unique needs of each child.
- Demonstrate knowledge of and utilize trauma-informed practices when working with children and families, recognizing the impact of trauma on children’s development and emotional well-being.
- Work with families in a culturally responsive manner, ensuring that care plans and interventions are sensitive to the cultural, environmental, and socio-economic needs of children and foster/adopt families.
- Emphasize the strengths of both the children and the families served, helping them build resilience and increase their capacity to care for and support children in foster care.
- Establish and adhere to a regular work schedule.
- Engage in collaborative efforts with foster parents, biological families, service providers, and community agencies to create a holistic, child-centered support system.
- Advocate for the child’s needs and best interests in all settings, ensuring that the child’s voice is heard in decisions related to their care and placement.
- Empower foster and adoptive families through support, training, and crisis management, ensuring they feel capable and supported in meeting the needs of children in their care.
Planning:
- Participate in the development of foster care/adoption programs, ensuring alignment with TBRI® principles and T3C requirements and responsiveness to the evolving needs of children and families.
- Participate in the development and facilitation of training curriculum for foster/adopt families, incorporating principles of trauma-informed care, child development, and culturally responsive practices.
- Participate in case planning meetings with collaborating agencies to ensure a cohesive, child-centered approach to each child’s care.
Implementation:
- Schedule and facilitate Plan of Service meetings and reviews, ensuring plans prioritize the child’s well-being and development, incorporate family input, and reflect trauma-informed principles.
- Document meetings, case progress, and interactions with families in a timely and thorough manner.
- Ensure that children receive recommended and/or required services as outlined in their service plan and T3C service package.
- Maintain regular communication with foster/adopt parents through phone calls and home visits, providing ongoing support and guidance.
- Lead monthly meetings with foster parents to review youth progress, discuss concerns, and provide guidance on behavior management and interventions.
- Assist in conducting home studies and assessing potential foster/adopt parents.
- Facilitate and participate in home inspections to assess compliance with licensing standards.
- Provide aftercare services beginning with an aftercare plan that includes referrals and transition supports as indicated by the service package and agreed upon by the managing conservator.
Training and Supervision:
- Participate in weekly supervision meetings to reflect on casework and ensure practices align with child-centered care principles.
- Communicate regularly with supervisor and seek supervision when appropriate.
- Attend relevant in-service training offered at ACH to expand knowledge of services and application of clinical skills.
- Attend TBRI®, MAB, first aid, HIPAA, and CPR training.
- Attend at least one round of preservice trainings attended by foster/adopt families.
- Attend training on trauma-informed care and attachment-focused parenting and demonstrate ability to implement interventions in the home.
- Attend continuing education necessary to expand knowledge and maintain certifications or licenses.
- Notify supervisor properly when absent.
- Complete assignments on time.
- Establish effective working relationships with co-workers.
- Deal satisfactorily with and acknowledge work-related stress.
- Maintain appropriate boundaries between professional and personal issues.
- Adhere to all policies and procedures of the agency and its accrediting and standard-setting bodies.
- Respect the dignity and worth of clients and foster parents.
- Maintain client confidentiality per agency standards and applicable codes of ethics.
- Use outside professional collaboration and intra-agency teamwork appropriately.
- Use a professional development plan to address strengths and limitations in reviews.
- Learn, understand, and support the agency mission, purpose, and function.
- Be prepared to address appropriate issues during supervisory conferences and meetings.
- Accept direction from supervisor and implement suggestions and instructions.
- Understand job responsibilities in relation to other agency positions.
- Continue to improve skills needed for the position held.
- Consider environmental, cultural, safety, and diversity issues and needs for foster parents and clients.
- Identify and understand the strengths, abilities, and competencies of foster/adopt parents and clients.
- Complete other duties as assigned by supervisor.
#ACH1
The above noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give the employee a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of his/her position. As the nature of business demands change so, too, may the essential functions of this position.
Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required; a Master’s degree in social work or related field is preferred.
Experience: A minimum of two years of documented full-time work experience in a child-placing agency is required with a Bachelor degree.
Functional: Must have excellent verbal and communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with youth, families, collaborating agencies, community professionals, and ACH Child and Family Services staff.