Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York is a not-for-profit charity serving children, families, and individuals with developmental disabilities across New York City and Long Island. Our staff of over 600 people provides caring and professional services to nearly 2,000 people every year. Since 1930, Little Flower has been committed to improving the lives and well-being of those we serve by providing foster boarding home care, residential treatment care, and where appropriate, adoption. Our work focuses on strengthening the family so that they can provide a safe nurturing environment for raising children and overcome a myriad of obstacles that threaten a child’s safety.

Summary Job Description:

The Home finding Administrator is responsible for developing, identifying and implementing strategies designed at recruiting foster and adoptive parents for children and youth served by the Therapeutic Foster Boarding Home (TFBH) program with Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York. The Administrator will create, establish and implement the operations and responsibilities of a Home finding Department and begin the outreach and development of such a department specifically for the TFBH program. The Administrator will partner and collaborate with our referral sources to identify their needs and coordinate foster parent recruitment efforts. The Administrator will manage the Homefinding/Intake process; matching process by identifying appropriate foster/adoptive homes for the children and youth served by the program). The Administrator will assist with the training (Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting model) required to certify and approve foster adoptive parents. The Administrator will undertake collaborative efforts to identify, support and engage appropriate foster/adoptive parents. The Administrator will oversee the maintenance of foster parents records and ensure the foster parents are in good standing in terms of training and recertification. The Administrator will be involved in program reviews and audits, and develop improvement strategies if necessary.

Principle Responsibilities:

• Create and build the foundation for the Homefinding department specifically for the TFBH program, and assist in strategic planning for program expansion, including the supervision of newly developed positions.
• Responsible for identifying, planning, and attending recruitment events to recruit potential foster/ adoptive foster parents
• Utilizes public relations, media contacts and community resources to assist in recruitment activities
• Locates and conducts recruitment efforts at community and neighborhood events while generating enthusiasm within the agency and community around foster parent recruitment and retention
• Designs creative strategies for identifying prospective foster/adoptive parents within specified areas identified through collaboration with both Nassau and Suffolk counties.
• Makes initial contact with prospective foster/adoptive families within 24 to 48 hours of inquiry
• Assists with facilitating foster/adoptive parents orientation meetings
• Following- up with applicants within 24 - 48 hours after each orientation meeting
• Reviews and ensures that submitted applications and forms are thoroughly completed and submitted for processing in a timely manner
• Performs comprehensive assessments of prospective foster/adoptive families
• Conducts initial home visits to assess the viability of potential foster homes according to Nassau County, Suffolk County, New York State and agency’s regulations
• Become familiar with MAPP and TFBH specialized training curricula and be available to facilitate MAPP and TFBH trainings
• Participates in the screening and investigative process of prospective foster families
• Oversee the certification process of the foster home to completion
• Assists with the Re-certifying and/ or re-approving of foster/adoptive homes
• Maintain foster parent records
• Monitor foster parent training hours
• Represents the agency at meetings and events hosted by the agency and Nassau and Suffolk counties.
• Participate in reviews and audits of foster care case records

Minimum Requirements:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field from an accredited college or university
• Minimum of one year of experience in the field of child welfare/ foster care/adoption or Homefinding)
• MAPP certification a plus
• Ability to work as a team-player
• Skills in identifying and building a network of community relationships
• Ability and skill to speak in public; to inspire, encourage and motivate others to become foster/adoptive parents
• Ability to accommodate flexible work schedule, including evenings and weekends
• Ability to travel when necessary recruitment efforts and trainings.
  

Travel Requirements:

This position is in Wading River and may require periodic travel. A valid NYS driver’s license is required.

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected group status