Family Specialist

Ponca City Development Authority • Ponca City, OK

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Family Specialist (FS) is responsible for engaging in activities designed to recruit, assess, train, approve, support, re-assess, and retain foster families. This role involves working cooperatively with internal and external sources to provide a safe environment when a child in OKDHS custody is placed in a Marland’s Place foster home.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in social work; or in a behavioral science, social science, or a related field and one (1) year of experience in children or family services; or at least nine college credit hours in family focus, individual function and interaction, child development, sociology, social work, and/or a closely related subject and two (2) years children’s or family services experience.
• Required compliance with ethical practices and continuing education requirements.
• A valid driver's license with a clean driving record.
• The ability to pass pre-employment screenings.
• Strong English language aptitude, including the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing (including the use of texting and email).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; including ability to maintain effective relationships with the Board of Directors, chamber members and staff; effectively collaborate with business leaders of the community, as well as with government representatives, civic leaders and members of the public.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages.
• Must have strong understanding of business accounting and statistical analysis understanding.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, including demonstrated ability to anticipate and plan for the future and realign priorities quickly when dealing with unanticipated events.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Responsibilities

• Engages in activities designed to recruit foster families that reflect the diversity of the children in out-of-home care and who are willing to parent children with special needs.
• Documents foster family inquiries.
• Discusses with potential applicants the basic responsibilities and requirements of a foster parent, the types of special services children requiring out-of-home placement have, and the approval process.
• Assures a safe environment for the child by completing the initial consultation in the family’s home.
• Evaluates the prospective foster home to assess location, condition, and ability to accommodate children in foster care through a home assessment.
• Evaluates each prospective foster parent and adult household member’s child welfare and criminal background history.
• Provides pre-service training for the foster parents.
• Assesses the family through the home study assessment and helps the family complete all appropriate forms.
• Provides the foster family with a copy of the family assessment without the reference and verification sections once approved.
• Engages in activities that value and support the foster parent’s role.
• Assists the family with navigating the Child Welfare (CW) system.
• Completes yearly re-assessments by addressing concerns not previously addressed with the foster family.
• Documents training the foster parent completes, including the 12 hours of continuing education training required each calendar year.
• Provides the foster parent with materials to obtain the 12 hours of continuing education training required.
• Helps the foster family complete all required forms.
• Updates the family information.
• Completes monthly visitation with the foster family to provide ongoing support and address concerns or issues.
• Sees the child(ren) placed in foster care during the monthly visit with the foster family.
• Considers the child’s physical and emotional health and safety when identifying placements.
• Considers the foster family’s strengths and training when identifying potential children for placements.
• Collaborates with the foster family to place siblings together.
• Collaborates as a professional team member with OKDHS and the foster family to ensure the child’s safety, welfare, and permanency.
• Assists with gathering information regarding the child including medical and educational information, behaviors, tribal affiliations, visitation plans, and important connections.
• Treats the foster family with respect and professionalism.
• Assists the foster family with issues and concerns regarding the children placed in the home.
• Consults with his/her supervisor and/or director as needed in providing services to foster families and keeping children in OKDHS custody placed in Marland’s Place foster homes safe.
• Works with OKDHS and the foster family to address identified issues, concerns, or policy violations through a written plan of compliance.
• Attends the 10-day staffing held during the foster home investigation when requested by OKDHS.
• Assesses the need for closure of a foster home with consultation from his/her supervisor.
• Completes all necessary documentation related to the home’s closure as outlined in Policy.
• Coordinates/provides up-to-date training for foster families including program orientations; first aid/CPR trainings; and OKDHS required trainings.
• Performs all other duties/responsibilities as directed by the Chief Executive Officer and/or his/her direct supervisor.

Benefits

• 120 hours of PTO annually
• 15 paid holidays
• 50% medical coverage for employee and dependents with options available for vision and dental
• Simple IRA with 3% retirement matching after 1 year of employment

What This Job Offers

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