Adoption Preparation Specialist

DePelchin Children’s Center • Houston, TX

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Adoption Preparation Specialist supports children in achieving safe, stable, and permanent adoptive placements. The position is legally responsible for the welfare and well-being of children in state conservatorship under Texans Together’s supervision and monitors their progress while in care. The Specialist works with children, prospective adoptive families, child-placing agencies, legal parties, and other stakeholders to prepare children and families for permanency, including addressing separation, attachment, and transition needs. The position may also participate in abuse and neglect investigations involving foster and adoptive families.

This is a full-time, non-exempt, office-based position serving Regions 6a and/or 6b, with specific work locations to be assigned as staffing plans are finalized. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; occasional evening, weekend, and after-hours responsibilities may be needed. Frequent travel is required across Harris County and the 12-county service region, and reliable transportation is required. Work involves frequent interaction with children, families, stakeholders, providers, and governmental agencies and may include emotionally challenging, crisis-oriented, or high-stress situations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; relevant experience may be considered in lieu of the education requirement.
• Experience providing permanency case management for children in Permanency Managing Conservatorship (PMC).
• Knowledge of child welfare, adoption, permanency, and casework practices.
• Knowledge of applicable policies, procedures, laws, and regulations related to child placement, abuse, and neglect.
• Skill in preparing children and youth for adoption and permanent placement.
• Skill in assessing child and family needs to support appropriate placement decisions.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective professional relationships.
• Skill in case management, documentation, and report writing.
• Ability to support children and prospective adoptive families through separation, attachment, and placement transitions.
• Ability to gather, analyze, and apply information to case planning and decision-making.
• Ability to manage a caseload and meet required deadlines.
• Ability to understand how race, poverty, and access to services may affect outcomes for children and families.
• Ability to travel locally, regionally, and out of state as needed; reliable transportation is required.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of experience working within human services.
• Adoption casework experience.
• Experience supporting children and youth through the adoption process, including older youth preparing for adoption.

Responsibilities

• Assess children's readiness for adoption and help them understand adoption in an age-appropriate manner.
• Help children process grief, loss, trauma, separation, and attachment issues related to family and placement experiences.
• Identify each child's strengths, needs, preferences, and permanency goals.
• Develop adoption-related information to support matching activities.
• Provide permanency planning and recruitment activities for children on the caseload.
• Seek adoptive placements and relatives that best meet each child's individual needs.
• Support planning efforts to achieve safe, stable, and lasting permanency.
• Participate in selection staffing and placement decision-making processes.
• Facilitate children's transitions into adoptive homes.
• Monitor placement progress and address concerns that may affect permanency.
• Support children and families dealing with attachment and separation issues.
• Guide foster and adoptive families throughout the adoption process and help caregivers understand the child's history, needs, and services.
• Promote lifelong connections and supportive relationships for children.
• Complete the Health, Social, Educational, and Genetic History (HSEGH) report.
• Review child records and gather information from caregivers, educators, medical providers, and mental health professionals.
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation.
• Prepare reports and court testimony, including recommendations related to adoption planning, well-being, and placement decisions.
• Work with supervisors, caregivers, attorneys, CASA volunteers, service providers, and community stakeholders.
• Coordinate services to meet children's emotional, educational, medical, and permanency needs.
• Participate in staffing, case consultations, and permanency planning meetings.
• Travel locally, regionally, and out of state as needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time