Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Multidisciplinary role responsible for ensuring families have access to relevant services providing service navigation, individual customized support based on need, and group facilitation services through agency and evidence-based models.
Kinship Recruitment
- Work in partnership with agency staff to identify youth for referrals to the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program.
- Review the case record, interview the youth, caseworker, other agency staff with knowledge of the case, and any available family members and/or other supportive connections to assist in the recruitment process.
- Utilize Internet search tools to identify and locate resources within the youth’s network.
- Develop an initial written adoption readiness assessment describing the youth’s understanding and feelings about adoption.
- Create child-focused recruitment plans for the youth.
- Meet with the youth every month.
- Communicate with the caseworker monthly to review the progress of the recruitment plan.
- Meet with family members and supportive connections to discuss the progress of locating permanent resources for the youth.
- Once matched, work with the caseworker, youth and the adoptive resource to ensure preplacement visits are implemented
- Assist with developing and coordinating the transition plan with the youth and matched family. Work with the youth and family during the transition process to assist with placement support.
- Work with the caseworker to ensure the adoptive family is working towards adoption finalization.
- Attend educational opportunities provided by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption including, but not limited to: WWK classroom training, online modules, database training, webinars, and the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Summit hosted by the Foundation
- Submit monthly data in the WWK database.
Compliance
- Maintains regular contact with stakeholders involved in client caseload to ensure communication about program participation and progress to goals to support client’s success best.
- Maintain 50% of work hours in direct contact with parents and caregivers participating in the program and assigned to caseload.
- Monitor client engagement in services and communicate gaps and methods for re-engagement.
- Conducts assessments with outcome tools to understand needs and support identifying and achieving goals.
- Complete documentation promptly, accurately, consistently, and according to agency contractual agreements and COA standards.
This role is office, and community-based and requires frequent travel throughout the community to support program recruitment, events, and outreach. Office responsibilities may be a mix of hybrid (in-person, online). Working outside of standard office hours, including evenings and weekends, is also required.
Education and/or Work Experience Requirements
- High School Diploma or equivalent is required. Associates or Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Early Childhood Education, Child & Family Studies, Criminal Justice or related Human Services area preferred.
- 3+ years related work experience supporting services for kids and families.
- Valid driver’s license; must maintain agency-required auto insurance of $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 property damage.
- Knowledge of case management and mental health billing.
- Knowledge of peer-to-peer support and/or mentoring.
- Strong coaching ability with the capability to customize a developed program to meet the needs of varying customers.
- Solid organizational and collaborative skills, with the ability to work independently and have a method to maintain organization.
- Outstanding facilitation skills, with the ability to engage and train diverse audiences.
- Willingness to maintain a flexible schedule that may include evening and weekend hours