Lead Adoption Specialist

Youth and Family Alternatives•Fort Lauderdale, FL

17h

About The Position

Provides mentoring and coaching support to new adoption staff. Provides regular coaching sessions, attends home visits and court hearings with new case managers to provide feedback, and helps train staff regarding adoption specific tasks. This position also provides continuity of care, with the goal of permanent placement for children through an adoption case management model that includes developing, expanding, accessing, and linking resources in the community to the needs of the child and family. In addition to the duties and requirements listed below, YFA expects employees to be committed to incorporating principles of trauma-informed care in all areas of service delivery. Commitment to these principles is demonstrated through active participation in agency-required training, use of trauma-informed practices, and understanding that trauma-informed environments require cultural sensitivity and an emphasis on a safe and respectful environment for all.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a human service-related field
2 years’ experience in foster care and adoptions or related job preferred.
Ability to communicate effectively, verbally, and in writing.
Ability to document timely in a clear, concise manner.
Must possess skills necessary to assess, interpret, and deliver care-related information concerning the life-span development of children and families.
Required to become certified as a Child Welfare Case Manager (CWCM).
May require the use of your personally owned vehicle.
Must possess a positive attitude concerning all aspects of working in a challenging environment, including significant patience and respect for children and families who can become angry and demanding.
Must be sensitive to cultural needs and willing to serve as a positive member of a working team.
Functions as a mandatory reporter, ensuring child safety, and protection.
Must possess demonstrated knowledge of community resources.
Must possess a valid Florida driver’s license and be insurable by the agency’s current insurance carrier.
Arrive/report to work on time and ready to work.
Abide by principles of EEO compliance and a workplace of dignity and respect.
Ability to work cooperatively in a group/team setting.
Ability to take guidance and direction from supervisors.
Abide by core values and mission statement of the agency.
Ability to have a flexible work schedule.
Proficiency in Microsoft Suites.

Nice To Haves

Preferred knowledge and understanding of trauma-informed principles and practices, including the importance of creating a safe environment, fostering trust, promoting collaboration, and empowering individuals.

Responsibilities

Establish and maintain effective working relationships required for proper functioning within the role of an Adoption Specialist to include: Relationships as a member of the interdisciplinary team within the unit, particularly in supporting other team members as appropriate and expected. Relationships with supervisory staff, emphasizing proper response to and use of supervision, and appropriate reliance on supervisory staff to guide their activities during unusual circumstances. Relationships with primary case management staff to ensure effective collaboration and timely adoption finalizations. Relationships with community resource providers, particularly emphasizing facilitation of the referral process and providing continuity of care. Relationships with children and families, including awareness of and attention to developmental issues related to interpersonal functioning within the family environment.
Serve as a mentor, coach, and trainer to new Adoption Specialists.
Conduct regular coaching and performance feedback sessions.
Assist Adoption Specialists with completion of adoption tasks.
Provide adoption case management services, including assessment, planning, linking, monitoring, and advocacy to assigned children through case assignment through adoption finalization.
Complete child studies, adoption home-studies, subsidy paperwork, and other adoption related paperwork as required.
Provide consultation and training to foster parents, prospective adoption parents, and service providers to achieve the goal of adoption for children identified as not likely to result in reunification
Assist the foster and adoptive parents as they begin to resolve problems, overcome obstacles, and access resources
Input and audit Adoption Exchange information
Inform interested parties of the Adoption Reunion Registry
Verify that all relatives are explored prior to considering adoption outside of the child(ren)'s biological family.
Participate in separated sibling staffings as required.
Participate in Adoption Applicant Review Committee (AARC) staffings as required.
Collaborate with adoption recruitment staff regarding recruitment activities as required.
Ensure families are staffed with the multi-disciplinary team as needed or as is appropriate.
Develop and ensure service/case plan includes specific task assignments with timelines and meets all legal requirements under Chapter 39 and Florida Administrative Code.
Provide families with educational information to enhance their awareness of child abuse and neglect, promotes family stability, and a healthy family system.
Maintain electronic and paper records of each case, ensuring that chronological notes and activities are accurate and entered timely into the appropriate data system.
Ensure all legal/judicial work is prepared timely and in accordance with the Florida statute.
Refer children and families to appropriate community services and otherwise ensures continuity of care for children and families.
Attend court as needed.
Treat all children and families with the utmost respect and common courtesy.
Participate in staff development programs and opportunities.
Participate in team meetings, client care and utilization reviews, and other meetings as required.
Function as a member of the on-call team as required.