Adoption Specialist

SCO Family of Services•Jamaica, NY

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Adoption Specialist will be responsible for facilitating the adoption process for pre-adoptive and kinship foster parents. This role involves extensive documentation, court appearances, and collaboration with various internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful adoptions and permanency for children. The position requires a commitment to the agency's mission and values, with a focus on providing compassionate and effective services to vulnerable children and families.

Requirements

Bachler’s degree required, BSW or MSW preferred.
Approved background clearances and fingerprinting are required.
Excellent oral and written communication.
Proficiency in computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Excel and Connections.
Bilingual abilities are strongly encouraged.
Valid NYS Driver License is a must.
Be team players. Maintain a constructive, cooperative, and positive atmosphere.
Demonstrate commitment to the Agency’s mission and values.
Be able to empathize and provide quality services to children and families that have histories of chemical dependency, mental illness, neglect, physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse.
Be willing to work closely with children, families, and staff from different cultural and religious backgrounds, as well as from varying socio-economic statuses.
Work competently, compassionately and without judgment with individuals who may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or may be in different stages of discovering or disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Possess a strong belief in people’s ability to grow and change; forge a mutually respectful partnership with persons served and their families.
Be flexible in their ability to work extended hours or irregular schedules in response to the program’s needs.
Be willing to travel between the various EFFC offices and other agency sites, as required.
Demonstrate an ability to set limits and maintain the helping role of practitioner, as well as to intervene appropriately.

Nice To Haves

BSW or MSW preferred.
Bilingual abilities are strongly encouraged.

Responsibilities

Meet with pre-adoptive foster parents/kinship foster parents to gather information and documents needed for home study, adoption subsidy, and finalization process.
Write and organize adoption home study, including any needed addendums.
Prepare adoption/kinship subsidy application.
Gather all documents needed to complete adoption package for adoptive parent’s attorney to file in court.
Gather all documents needed to complete KinGap packet.
Work collaboratively with casework and home finding staff.
Appear in court for adoption finalizations/KinGAP finalizations and as required by judges and ACS attorneys.
Prepare status update reports for case workers for permanency hearings and other court appearances.
Attend regular adoption update meetings with leadership.
Attend all required training courses. Kinship recruiters should be aware of any significant changes in the field and be willing to attend outside training, seminars, and workshops, as needed for professional development.
Fulfills duty of Mandated Reporter, which entails reporting any suspected instances of child abuse or maltreatment.
Meets with Supervisor one-on-one on a weekly and consistent basis to discuss permanency issues of caseload.
Communicates and work effectively with SCO foster care support staff such as Youth Skills Coaches, Educational/Vocational Specialists, Parent Advocates, and medical and mental health staff and with NYC Children’s Services, outside medical and mental health centers, schools, consultants, other SCO programs, and all other relevant parties.
Adheres to SCO’s personnel policies.
Performs other duties as assigned.