Foster Care Licensing Worker

Wellspring Lutheran Services•Gaylord, MI

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Wellspring Lutheran Services is hiring a full-time Foster Care Licensing Worker serving Traverse City and Gaylord. The role supports prospective and licensed foster families through the licensing process, including home studies, assessments, paperwork, training requirements, and preparation for caring for children in foster care. The worker identifies family strengths and readiness, provides guidance and ongoing support, monitors compliance, and helps families access resources and training. The position also contributes to foster parent recruitment and retention, coordinates with foster care teams, community partners, and licensing agencies, and helps ensure children are matched with families suited to their needs. Work takes place in the community and includes home visits, orientation sessions, home studies, foster parent support, placement coordination, training, recruitment activities, and meetings. Local travel within the service area requires use of a personal vehicle. The schedule is primarily daytime, with evening and occasional weekend responsibilities to accommodate trainings, orientations, and home visits.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related human services field.
Experience working with children and families.
Valid driver’s license, good driving record, and auto insurance.
Strong assessment, communication, and documentation skills.
Ability to evaluate family strengths, needs, and readiness for foster care.
Strong organizational and time management skills.
Commitment to strength-based, family-centered practice.

Responsibilities

Build relationships with individuals and families considering foster care and explain the difference fostering can make in a child's life.
Guide families through licensing paperwork, training requirements, home assessments, and fostering-related decisions.
Conduct comprehensive home studies to assess family strengths, readiness, and ability to provide safe, nurturing care.
Provide ongoing guidance to licensed foster homes, monitor compliance requirements, and connect families with resources and training.
Participate in foster parent recruitment and retention efforts.
Collaborate with foster care teams, community partners, and licensing agencies to help match children with families who can best meet their needs.
Conduct home visits, facilitate orientation sessions, complete home studies, support foster parents, coordinate placements, and provide training.