Family & Permanency Specialist

The Salvation Army • Allentown, PA

11d

About The Position

The Salvation Army Children’s Services mission is “Doing the Most Good by Nurturing Children, Strengthening Families and Engaging Communities”. We do this by protecting and caring for every child, building caregiver capacity through trauma informed education and support and partnering with local community organizations that have a heart for foster care and adoption. The Salvation Army has a long rich history of serving the community and offers innovative programs that meet the diverse needs of children, youth and families. This is a multi-faceted position providing support to resource families (foster, kinship, adoptive), birth families, and children. The primary function of this position is to provide permanency services to resource families and children moving toward, or having achieved, permanency. Direct services include but are not limited to: Family Profiles, Adoption Finalization, Child Specific Recruitment, Child Profiles, Child Preparation, Post-Permanency Services, and Interstate Compact services. The Family and Permanency Specialist will evaluate, assist with planning, and promote the development of agency services as they pertain to permanency service provision. Additionally, the Family & Permanency Specialist will have the opportunity to gain experience understanding and utilizing the principles of Trust Based Relational Intervention© as well work with the agency’s initiative to develop new and unique educational programs that promote healing and permanency for families and children.

Requirements

• Masters in Social Work or related field Preferred and Bachelors in Social Work or related field required.
• A minimum of five years’ experience in a human service setting serving children and/or families.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the effects that separation and loss, neglect, physical and sexual abuse have on a child as well as complex developmental trauma.
• Training in Trauma Informed Care.
• A safe driving record, valid driver’s license, a reliable automobile, and insurance are required.
• Flexibility in scheduling work hours is necessary to meet the needs of children and families.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, engagement skills, advocacy skills, organization skills, computer skills and ability to work as a team member is critical.
• Child Protection Clearances PA Act 153 requires that all prospective employees complete the following clearance and background checks: PA Child Abuse History Clearance, PA State Police Criminal Record Check and FBI Criminal Record/Fingerprint Check.
• Must have an understanding of and appreciation for the Mission of The Salvation Army.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in foster care and adoption settings preferred.

Responsibilities

• Family Profiles
• Adoption Finalization
• Child Specific Recruitment
• Child Profiles
• Child Preparation
• Post-Permanency Services
• Interstate Compact services
• Evaluate, assist with planning, and promote the development of agency services as they pertain to permanency service provision.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off every year that includes: holidays, vacation time and sick time.
• Employer funded Pension Plan (company contributions begin after 1 year of employment)
• Eligibility for supplemental insurance plans including Short Term Disability, AFLAC and Voluntary Term Life
• a job with a good purpose!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees