Adoption Support Specialist - Social Worker

FOUR OAKS FAMILY AND CHILDRENS SERVICES•Waterloo, IA

About The Position

As the Adoption Support Specialist you will be responsible for providing support to post-adoption families in the following counties, Howard, Chickasaw, Bremer, Blackhawk, Winneshiek, Mitchell, Floyd, Allamakee, Butler and Grundy, who are receiving Iowa subsidy in an effort to maintain permanency and prevent disruption. This position will also recruit new families eligible for services while conducting outreach and activities designed to enhance and expand local services. These activities include provision of family support, care coordination, family functioning interventions, supervision and safety monitoring. this position will cover the counties of Howard, Chickasaw, Bremer, Blackhawk, Winneshiek, Mitchell, Floyd, Allamakee, Butler and Grundy, IA. Specific responsibilities include: Direct Support to Families Provide initial support to adoptive families receiving subsidy. Develop Family Support Plans with adoptive families to identify supports, needs, and crisis planning. Develop specific service goals and document progress in meeting those goals. Provide crisis response when families have children needing additional, immediate support to ensure child abuse or disruption does not occur. Provide regular contact with adoptive families to monitor progress towards meeting child-specific service goals and coordinate treatment services or school support as needed. Maintain cooperative working relationship with families, referral sources and stakeholders. Ensure appropriate documentation of PAS services based on federal and state guidelines. Recruitment/Outreach Implement recruitment activities designed to engage new subsidized adoptive families for support. Team with service area Licensing/Recruiters and other staff members to conduct local outreach through scheduled recruitment events or community meetings. Meet with local DHS Adoption teams regularly to promote PAS services and generate new referrals. Work with other programs that will assist in marketing and recruitment efforts of new subsidized adoptive families. Qualifications & Program InformationWhat you need: A Bachelor Degree, or higher, in social work or a related field plus a minimum of two years experience within the child welfare field is required. Experience in the area of adoption and/or foster care and special needs adoption and dynamics is preferred.

Requirements

A Bachelor Degree, or higher, in social work or a related field plus a minimum of two years experience within the child welfare field is required.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the area of adoption and/or foster care and special needs adoption and dynamics is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide initial support to adoptive families receiving subsidy.
Develop Family Support Plans with adoptive families to identify supports, needs, and crisis planning.
Develop specific service goals and document progress in meeting those goals.
Provide crisis response when families have children needing additional, immediate support to ensure child abuse or disruption does not occur.
Provide regular contact with adoptive families to monitor progress towards meeting child-specific service goals and coordinate treatment services or school support as needed.
Maintain cooperative working relationship with families, referral sources and stakeholders.
Ensure appropriate documentation of PAS services based on federal and state guidelines.
Implement recruitment activities designed to engage new subsidized adoptive families for support.
Team with service area Licensing/Recruiters and other staff members to conduct local outreach through scheduled recruitment events or community meetings.
Meet with local DHS Adoption teams regularly to promote PAS services and generate new referrals.
Work with other programs that will assist in marketing and recruitment efforts of new subsidized adoptive families.