Home Finder II

Hillside Childrens Center • Cortland, NY

1d • $21 - $31

About The Position

This position is a 32/hours a week position. Job Summary The Home Finder II recruits, trains, and certifies high-quality foster/kinship homes. The Home Finder II develops strong working relationships with Department of Social Services (DSS) staff in order to partner in the successful certification of County foster/kinship homes. Essential Job Functions Recruit, train, and certify high-quality foster/kinship homes Organize, coordinate, and facilitate foster/kinship parent recruitment events and training schedules. Identify the relevant curriculum and provide training, 1:1 or in groups, for potential foster parents/kinship caregivers to assist them in meeting certification requirements. Identify additional resources and/or training needed to ensure the foster/kinship parents are capable and confident in addressing the needs of youth in foster or kinship care. Partner with DSS to understand the placement needs of youth in the county so that training reflects those needs. Share ongoing assessment of the appropriateness and development of individuals in the training class with the Department of Social Services (DSS) workers. Perform end to end home certifications. Complete all aspects of the home study process which includes conducting a thorough home assessment and writing the initial home study report with a clear rationale for the recommendation. Obtain and complete all paperwork and documentation required by regulatory bodies including all background and State Central Registry checks to ensure the certification process for foster/kinship homes is on file and meets all necessary requirements. While this job description covers many aspects of the role, employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 1 year of experience working with youth and/or families.
• SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for minimum of 1 year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards.
• Ability to successfully understand and teach the identified curriculum to train potential foster parent/kinship caregivers
• Ability to empathize with the experiences and emotions of children in foster care and their families, demonstrating sensitivity, understanding, and support.
• Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with children, foster families, and professionals in the foster care system.
• Knowledge of all federal, state, and local statutes, regulatory agency standards and Hillside policies.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, train, and certify high-quality foster/kinship homes
• Organize, coordinate, and facilitate foster/kinship parent recruitment events and training schedules.
• Identify the relevant curriculum and provide training, 1:1 or in groups, for potential foster parents/kinship caregivers to assist them in meeting certification requirements.
• Identify additional resources and/or training needed to ensure the foster/kinship parents are capable and confident in addressing the needs of youth in foster or kinship care.
• Partner with DSS to understand the placement needs of youth in the county so that training reflects those needs.
• Share ongoing assessment of the appropriateness and development of individuals in the training class with the Department of Social Services (DSS) workers.
• Perform end to end home certifications.
• Complete all aspects of the home study process which includes conducting a thorough home assessment and writing the initial home study report with a clear rationale for the recommendation.
• Obtain and complete all paperwork and documentation required by regulatory bodies including all background and State Central Registry checks to ensure the certification process for foster/kinship homes is on file and meets all necessary requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED