Adoption Caseworker

Fairfield County Ohio•Lancaster 43130, OH

About The Position

The primary purpose of the Adoption Caseworker (Social Service Worker 3) position is to assess the readiness of a child for adoption in collaboration with other agency staff and providers. This role involves screening home assessments for potential matches with children needing adoption, participating in matching conferences, and conducting face-to-face meetings with children freed for adoption. The caseworker will identify important individuals for children on their caseload and initiate contacts with parties interested in waiting children or potential permanency connections. Additionally, the position requires participation in case reviews and semi-annual reviews for children on the assigned caseload.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in human services-related studies, OR a bachelor’s degree in any field and have been employed for at least two years in a human services occupation, OR an associate’s degree in human services-related studies, OR have been employed for at least five years in a human service-related occupation.
For employment to continue, individuals qualifying under the second, third, or fourth option must obtain a job-related bachelor’s degree not later than five years after the date employment with the agency commences.
Completion of at least ninety hours of in-service training during the first year of continuous employment, covering topics such as recognizing and preventing child abuse and neglect, assessing risks, interviewing persons, investigating cases, intervening, and providing services to children and their families.
Completion of thirty-six hours of annual training in areas relevant to assigned duties after the first year of continuous employment.
A valid driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

Face to face meetings with children freed for adoption.
Identify individuals of importance for children on caseload.
Initiate contacts with parties interested in waiting children or with potential permanency connections.
Participate in case reviews and semi-annual reviews for children on assigned caseload.
Participates in weekend and night coverage on rotating basis.

Responsibilities

Providing pre-finalization, finalization, and post-finalization adoption services to children and families.
Completing pre-adoptive staffing, matching, disclosure, and finalization materials documenting work with adoptees and their caregivers.
Completing Child Studies and Child Study Updates as required.
Seeking and maintaining Ohio Assessor qualifications.
Conducting family finding and recruitment for adoptive families among related and non-related kin and other parties.
Conducting foster-adopt home assessments, including home visits, interviews, and consultations with family members; observing family interactions and assessing overall functioning; recommending certification/approval or denial based on home study findings.
Planning, implementing, and evaluating child-specific recruitment activities, such as identifying needs, responding to inquiries, and conducting home visits.
Increasing public awareness through developing and evaluating recruitment materials, advertisements, flyers, inquiry packets, and public presentations.
Maintaining case records and supporting documentation in the State Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS) and the Electronic Data Management System (EDMS) for supervisory approvals and agency record retention.
Utilizing technology in daily work activities.
Participating in ongoing training, supervisory/staff meetings, staff consultations, and other related management support tasks.
Implementing planning for foster care adoption programs and developing recommendations on policy or procedural changes to improve service quality.
Establishing and implementing a measurable system to evaluate services.
Assisting with overflow case assignments by assessing the validity of complaints accepted according to ODJFS rules and agency policy of abuse, neglect, and dependency by conducting interviews, completing assessments in SACWIS, gathering evidence, and working with community partners and/or collateral sources.
Providing interventions to alleviate crises and reduce risks to children by engaging the family, community partners, and referring for service linkage.
Performing other duties as assigned.