KS Family Finder

KVC Health Systems•Topeka, KS

4h•$0 - $47,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Family Finder locates and engages relatives and other connections for youth in foster care. The goal is to identify a relative or NRKIN placement; when a placement cannot be identified, the Family Finder works to build a community of connections for the youth. The role carries out kinship department objectives and collaborates with children, families, caregivers, agency staff, community partners, DCF, and courts. The position is based in Topeka, Kansas, with a hybrid schedule that varies according to in-person workload and requires 1–3 days in the office.

Requirements

A bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, community counseling, human development, child and family development, applied family and youth services, public health, health sciences, trauma studies, sociology/social services, substance abuse/addictions, early childhood, education, or psychology.
Valid driver's license and auto insurance.
Must be at least 21 years of age.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience working with children and family services.

Responsibilities

Carry out the goals and objectives of the kinship department.
Train KVC staff, agency partners, and community partners in Family Finding and the importance of relative and kin connections.
Maintain working relationships and communication with DCF, courts, and other community partners.
Interview and collaborate with children at the office, at their placement, or in the community to gather information about possible connections.
Interview parents, caregivers, and other family members to gather information about possible connections for children.
Attend court hearings as necessary to build relative and kin networks for assigned clients.
Search for relatives using databases, online searches, social media, file mining, and other available resources.
Facilitate and schedule family meetings involving children, their family, family connections, and professionals to develop lifetime networks and action plans addressing the child's biggest unmet need.
Use Family Finding tactics such as mobility mapping, calendaring, connectedness maps, and genograms to identify network connections and provide children with positive interactions.
Complete required paperwork and follow agency policies and procedures within specified timeframes.
Attend frameworks and other staffing meetings as assigned.
Observe children for signs of abuse or neglect and report incidents as mandated.
Provide transportation for clients as needed.
Document all contact with clients and collaterals, and complete case activity logs and related documentation.
Attend required trainings.