Adoption Specialist-Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter

DePaul Community Resources•Roanoke, VA

1d•$22 - $24

About The Position

The Adoption Specialist -Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiter will provide case management services to children, adoptive families, and potential adoptive families using Wendy's Wonderful Kids evidence-based/child-centered recruitment model, supported by the Dave Thomas Foundation. This role serves youth who face significant barriers to permanency and explores a child's history of social connections to optimize the potential for successful placement outcomes. Primary responsibilities include intensive search and recruitment efforts for children awaiting adoption, rapport-building with youth, therapeutic preparation for children/youth to join an adoptive family, assisting with pre-placement visitation, locating appropriate community resources, and helping navigate the adoption process. This position requires frequent travel across Virginia to visit assigned youth monthly, with occasional overnight accommodations as needed. This position often requires the ability to work a flexible work schedule to accommodate monthly face-to-face visits and travel.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree in social work or a related human services field with one year of experience providing casework services to children or families is required.
Knowledge of: Office and records administration techniques and procedures
The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, and virtual meeting applications such as Zoom, WebEx, Google Meet
DePaul's policies, procedures, and standard practices and the rules and guidelines established by regulatory and governing agencies
Relevant policies, procedures, and strategies to promote the safety and protection of people, data, and property
Office procedures and spelling, grammar, punctuation, and arithmetic
Policies, procedures, and guidelines established by DePaul, professional organizations, governing agencies, and local laws, statutes, regulations, codes, and standards related to the area of responsibility
Motor vehicle operations, traffic rules and regulations, and maintenance of motor vehicles
Skill/Ability to: Demonstrate interpersonal and verbal skills to defuse emotional situations, calm upset individuals, allay fears, and lessen confusion.
Give full attention to what other people are saying, take time to understand the points being made, ask questions as appropriate, and not interrupt at inappropriate times
Demonstrate verbal and written communication and body language that purveys professional composure, emotional intelligence, thoughtfulness, patience, and respect amidst change, ambiguity, and within the daily trajectories of work
Operate standard office equipment such as telephone, calculator, printer, scanner, cellular phone, tablet, computer, postage machine, shredder
Collect and analyze data
Manage multiple priorities and complete assignments on time, accurately, and with attention to detail, and ensure a high-quality work product
Develop and maintain professional working relationships and appropriate boundaries with individuals served, coworkers, management, community partners, and business associates, and work collaboratively in a team environment
Operate a computer and utilize computer applications, including spreadsheets, databases, word processing, email, internet, virtual meetings, internet, and department or program-specific software
Develop objectives, evaluate effectiveness, and assess service plans for individuals served
Analyze and prepare concise and accurate documents, reports, and correspondence
Communicate effectively in both oral and written form
Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing
Make arithmetical computations and tabulations
Effectively communicate policies and procedures clearly and concisely to coworkers, providers, and community partners
Effectively market the programs and services of the department and organization
Exercise sound judgment and critical thinking in decision-making and solving various work-related situations
Learn and adhere to policies, procedures, and guidelines established by DePaul, professional organizations, governing agencies, and local laws, statutes, regulations, codes, and standards related to the area of responsibility
Assist with the general upkeep and cleaning of office areas and agency vehicles
Other Characteristics: Demonstrate self-awareness, ongoing self-evaluation, and a commitment to being part of a diverse, equitable, respectful, and inclusive workplace where all people are valued
Demonstrate professional composure in difficult and stressful situations
Demonstrate the FIRST (fairness, integrity, respect, safety, trust) values in the daily trajectories of work
Demonstrate professionalism regarding access to sensitive and confidential information related to employees, clients, and business records with no disclosure to others without needing to know

Responsibilities

Work in partnership with agency staff to identify youth for referrals to the WWK 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 and demonstrate willingness to engage in cold calling people identified as current and previous connections of the youth.
Develop an initial written adoption readiness assessment describing the youth’s understanding and feelings about adoption.
Create child-focused recruitment plans for the youth based on the belief that all children deserve legal permanency and knowledge regarding the impact of trauma and trauma-informed practices.
Meet with the youth on a monthly basis in the locality where the youth resides.
Communicate with the custodial caseworker on a monthly basis 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 custodial caseworker, youth and the adoptive resource to ensure preplacement visits are implemented.
Assist with the development and coordination of 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 in conjunction with the custodial caseworker to ensure that 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.
Collaborate with supervisor, adoption team members, other DePaul staff across programs, and community partners as needed to optimize services and program outcomes
Complete other duties as assigned.