Social Service Program Coordinator 2 (Kinship Navigator)

Human Services, Department of•Atlanta, GA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Stronger Families for a Stronger Georgia. The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) is a dynamic state agency responsible for delivering a wide range of services to Georgia's most vulnerable populations. Our mission is to strengthen Georgia by providing individuals and families access to services that promote self-sufficiency, independence, and protect Georgia's vulnerable children and adults. Start your career in public service. This position reports to the Kinship Navigator Manager and will be responsible for working directly with kinship caregivers to provide support as they care for relative children in Region 11. The Kinship Navigator hybrid position will assist in identifying needs, providing referrals, providing emotional support and guidance; as well as connecting kinship families with community resources. This position will also be responsible for providing supportive services to ensure kinship caregivers can support a child in their care during Child Protective Services and Foster Care interventions. This hybrid position will identify services and support tailored to meet the needs of the caregiver and/or child to achieve agency best practices.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of job-related experience; or two (2) years of experience at the lower level Social Svcs Prgm Coord 1 (SSP030) or position equivalent.
Strong proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite and/or standard technology applications typically used in a corporate office environment.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university OR Bachelor's degree in Social Work from an accredited college or university AND two years of experience at lower level Social Svcs Spec 2 (SSP071 ).
Provide education and advocacy on behalf of kinship families; and strong empathy and understanding of the unique role, needs and challenges of kinship caregivers.
Promote placement stability and positive permanency outcomes.
Respond quickly to time sensitive requests.
Engage with high level personnel and build partnerships.
Knowledgeable of Child Protective Services and Foster Care best practices.
Travel frequently within assign district.
Knowledgeable of changing climate in the human service field.
Excellent oral, written, research, presentation, analytical, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
Excellent customer service skills.

Responsibilities

Provides support and guidance to the kinship family, including helping to navigate the “array” of DFCS administrative systems, gain access to public and private community resources, permanency planning, and interpreting policies and procedures for programs serving families and children.
Demonstrate ability to triage caregiver needs, assess strength, communicate effectively both oral and written.
Ability to develop and present clear information to groups.
Make accurate needs assessment and make appropriate referrals.
Maintain regular and consistent contact with kinship families in the office, client’s home, or in the community.
Demonstrate awareness of, sensitivity to, and competence in dealing with a culturally and socioeconomic diverse client population.
Demonstrates ability to evaluate situations and make decisions regarding case services or family needs.
Knowledgeable of navigating benefit services such as TANF, SNAP, Medicaid.
Engage families to elicit, gather, evaluate, analyze, and integrate pertinent information to determine a kinship family’s capacity to meet safety and quality of care needs for the child; determine strengths, concerns, and support needs.
Advocates and plans long-term care of the child by providing caregivers with full disclosure of responsibilities and legal options.
Provides awareness of navigator services throughout assigned district.
Assist county and regional staff with establishing family-action plans, timeframes, and agency decision points.
Serves as a point of contact for the Kinship Caregivers with open CPS and Foster Care cases.
Provides caregivers and staff with pertinent information to timely and successfully transition caregivers along the Kinship Continuum.
Collects necessary data and completes required reports to support program evaluation.
Excellent customer service skills.
Perform other professional duties as assigned.