Adoptions Specialist

One Hope United • Bartow, FL

4h

About The Position

Under an assigned supervisor, the Adoption Specialist 1 works with children and families to promote child safety, permanency, and well-being. The role involves meeting families in their homes at varied hours, including evenings, nights, and weekends, and may involve work in potentially high-risk neighborhoods. The specialist focuses on preventing inappropriate out-of-home placement and strengthening family functioning.

The position coordinates adoption activities and services, including family recruitment and matching, adoption home and child studies, disclosures, placement and post-placement visits, court documentation, and collaboration with biological, foster, and adoptive families. The specialist assesses safety and risk, connects families with community resources, communicates with case stakeholders, and performs adoption-related duties in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and required timeframes.

The role requires a relevant bachelor's or master's degree, child welfare experience, and State of Florida Child Welfare Certification. It also requires reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record and insurance coverage, and knowledge of FSFN adoption procedures and community resources. Work takes place in varied residential environments and includes local and regional driving, with occasional overnight travel.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Social Work, Criminology, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, Special Education, Education, Human Development, Child Development, Family Development, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Nursing from an accredited college or university.
• One to two years of related child welfare experience, including one year of child welfare adoptions experience.
• State of Florida Child Welfare Certification.
• Reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, an acceptable driving record, and OHU-required levels of auto insurance coverage.
• Knowledge of FSFN adoption procedures and workable knowledge of community resources.
• Ability to assess, interpret, and deliver care-related information concerning the life-span development of children and families.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to document clearly and concisely.
• Strong organization and flexibility, ability to manage multiple projects or priorities, and ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Proficient computer skills in a Microsoft Windows environment and ability to expand software application skills as needed.
• Intermediate data entry skills.
• Positive attitude in a challenging environment, patience and respect when working with children and families who may become angry or demanding, cultural sensitivity, and ability to contribute positively to a team.
• Resourcefulness in researching issues, analyzing information, solving problems, and developing solutions with minimal supervision and in a timely manner.
• Willingness to work non-traditional hours and days when needed or appropriate.
• Ability to exercise discretion and ensure confidentiality.
• Ability to meet the stated physical and work-environment demands, including driving and entering or exiting vehicles and buildings without assistance.

Responsibilities

• Arrange match staffings for prospective adoptive families.
• Assist individuals and families in crisis in ways that promote positive change, growth, development, and safety.
• Attend all recruitment and match events.
• Attend and prepare for internal TPR cases with supervisors and case management at least once a month.
• Attend court hearings and prepare and file court documents within required timeframes.
• Complete adopt-only home studies, child studies, OTI and ICPC adoption home studies, and subsidy files.
• Conduct full disclosures for potential adoptive families.
• Visit children and prospective adoptive families, including ongoing assessment of child safety, permanency, and well-being.
• Continually assess risk of abuse, neglect, and threatened harm by gathering appropriate information.
• Engage and assess families from a strengths-based perspective.
• Ensure children are registered on the adoption exchange within 10 days.
• Ensure post-placement work is completed within one week of a child being placed in the identified prospective adoptive family’s home.
• Facilitate placement and delivery services in collaboration with biological, foster, and adoptive families, including appropriate referrals.
• Meet with the team weekly.
• See the child in the home at least twice a month after a matched placement.
• Perform adoption-related responsibilities in accordance with state and federal laws, Department of Children and Families Administrative Codes and Operating Procedures, funding source policies, and internal policies concerning child abuse, abandonment, and neglect, within required timeframes.
• Prepare a staffing packet for the adoption review committee when an adoption home study is denied.
• Serve as a conduit of information between parties to the case and identified stakeholders, including medical, educational, and mental health providers.
• Use empowerment approaches to develop case plans with children and families.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Tuition assistance up to $2,500 per year.
• Up to four weeks of paid vacation days, up to six paid personal days, and up to five paid sick days annually.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage; 403(b) retirement; flexible spending accounts; health savings account; and short-term disability options.
• Agency-paid life insurance up to $50,000 based on salary.
• Voluntary supplemental life insurance for employees, spouses, and children.
• Voluntary legal plans.
• Agency-paid long-term disability after one year of employment.
• Career ladders, professional development, and promotion opportunities.
• Free LCSW and LCPC supervision hours available in some locations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level