Child and Family Services Specialist-Family Finding

State of Nebraska•Pending Location Assignment (PLA) - no city, NE

4d•Remote

About The Position

Family Finding specialists work independently under the direct supervision of their assigned supervisor to assist Child and Family Services Specialists (CFSS), Relative Kin Services Specialists (RKSS), and placement team with following federal guidelines under the “Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act of 2008”. The Family Finding specialists role will be one of support to ensure that every child is able to maintain connections to their family and community while obtaining safety and stability. This role conducts comprehensive kinship searches and coordinates respite options with individuals known and trusted by the child, reducing placement disruptions and strengthening permanency outcomes. The goal of family finding is to ensure that every youth whose life is touched by Child Protective Services either through the court or non-court services, can maintain a relationship with their family, kin, and/or community while being served by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Family Finding is a fast-paced position that is utilized immediately upon a child’s life being touched by NE DHHS. Services provided are fast-paced and multitasking is a must to successfully complete the task assigned. THIS POSITION IS POSTED STATEWIDE CONTIGENT UPON OPEN OFFICE SPACE

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, human development, mental health care, education, criminal justice, or other related fields.
Consideration will be given to applicants who are enrolled in the final semester of their bachelor’s degree.
Valid Driver's license is required.

Nice To Haves

Currently in Child and Family Services Specialist Role.
Strong communication, organization, and customer service skills.
Bilingual skills in English and Spanish are strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Identify family and kinship supports for every child served through genograms, file mining, and family mapping.
Maintain professional communication with internal employees and the community.
Access and utilize online search engines (private and public) to conduct searches for family members and community members.
Assist in creating genograms using Genopro for every non-court and court involved family and upload them into document imaging.
Locate and attempt contact with family/kinship who are able and willing to support the parent and/or child (for placement, permanency, or other support).
Submit background checks when requested.
Document information in various areas, including kinship contacts and entering relative notices and relationships into the state database system N-FOCUS.
Generate relative notice letters and follow-up letters.
Maintain organization to manage the Family Finding email and track assigned cases.
Assist in locating suitable safety plan participants if a safety plan can prevent a removal.
Complete family mapping by speaking with parents and/or youth to brainstorm possible supports.
Go into the community and meet with children and/or parents when family mapping is requested by CFSS (if logistically feasible).
Assist with locating non-custodial parents.
Be on-call.
Work with RKSS to identify and engage supporting relatives and other significant adults in a child’s life to promote placement stability or respite relief.
Perform initial screening of respite providers by ensuring background checks, training, and walk-throughs are completed.
Coordinate respite when the need is identified by a DHHS supported foster home.