Job description
For more than 145 years, Thornwell has met the call to care for and support children and families in need. Today, the same spirit that guided our Founder to create a home for children orphaned by war guides us to provide hope and healing for some of society’s most vulnerable. We believe in a world where everyone belongs to a thriving family, and this belief guides everything we do to heal and build up children and families.
We desire professional and deeply committed, ministry-minded people who believe in accepting the challenge of working with children and families from hard places. If you are interested in serving God by serving children and families, we invite you to apply.
We desire professional and deeply committed, ministry-minded people who believe in accepting the challenge of working with children and families from hard places. If you are interested in serving God by serving children and families, we invite you to apply.
Position Summary
The Foster Care Family Specialist will assist with licensing foster homes according to the Child Placing Agency regulations and provide family support and case management services to foster families and children placed in their homes.
The Foster Care Family Specialist will assist with licensing foster homes according to the Child Placing Agency regulations and provide family support and case management services to foster families and children placed in their homes.
Core Responsibilities
- Assist with screening and logging prospective foster family calls.
- Assist with screening child placement calls from referral agencies, parents and community and provide appropriate referrals when on-call.
- Assist with interest meetings and orientation and interact with prospective foster families.
- Process foster family applications within required time frames (references, SLED, CPS check, medicals, fingerprinting, inspections by Fire Marshall)
- Conduct Home Study for foster care applicants at the time of licensure and re-licensure.
- Facilitate training events and speakers for regional foster parent meetings/support groups and coordinate volunteers needed for support for the event (i.e. childcare, snacks/meals, directions/greeting/sign-in).
- Schedule and visit each foster home in your caseload every month. Provide unannounced/limited notice visit 2 times per year.
- Maintain foster parent files with required documentation and case notes using electronic system and hard copy files as appropriate.
- Maintain contact with biological family and DSS worker as needed and document visitation arrangements, court orders and services requested and provided.
- Discharge planning with foster families, DSS, schools and medical/mental health connections.
- Ensure each licensed home is regularly in compliance with licensing procedures.
- Complete re-licensing packet every 2 years and meet annual licensing requirements for each home and provide State DSS Office with necessary documentation.
- Provide support for foster parents and be an advocate for children.
- Assist with planning Family Fun Events, Regional Trainings/Support Meetings and Annual State-Wide Conference
- Assist in establishing quarterly and annual goals and objectives for Thornwell Foster Care Program. Assist in providing monthly activity reports with data collection for grants and outcome measures.
Qualifications
- Commitment to supporting foster families that are devoted to establishing a healthy home environment
- Strong communication skills: ability to organize, prioritize, and implement work activities independently; strong team building skills
- Experience working within community-based case management field and direct foster care experience is preferred
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree
- Valid driver's license in the state they reside
Skills
- Experience working with youth with emotional and behavioral challenges and their families.
- Effective problem solving and creative resolution skills.
- Possess strong organizational strategies to manage own workflow and prioritize.
- Strong capacity to build positive relationships with community stakeholders and market the Foster Care program to appropriate sources within the state.
- Ability to participate effectively as part of the Foster Care team.
Thornwell is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit religious organization affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and prefers to employ individuals who are Christians and who possess a Christian commitment, as well as concern, for children and families in need
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