Adoption Specialist

About the role

The Adoption Program is primarily involved with placing children with special needs into adoptive homes. The Adoption Specialist is involved in recruiting adoptive families that will provide permanent homes for these children. They assess both the child and the family, carefully screen adoptive applicants, match children with families, prepare both children and families for placement, facilitate training, and provide ongoing support services to these children and families to achieve a high level of success.

Responsibilities

• Assess, prepare, and place children from foster care into adoptive homes.
• Recruit, screen, assess, educate/train and support adoptive families.
• Supervise children in their adoptive placement to assure that the children are adjusting.
• Make referrals as needed.
• Organize, facilitate, and monitor services so that annual adoption objectives are successfully achieved on an annual basis (i.e., placements and finalizations in a timely manner).
• Cookordinate community resources (i.e., counseling, special education, and DHHS, etc.) available for and needed by adoptive children and families.
• Complete all necessary agency, DHHS, Adoption Assistance, and legal paperwork requirements on a timely basis.
• Help develop and implement adoption plans so that children obtain permanency in a timely manner.
• Aid in support group activities.
• Participate in required case related activities such as court hearings and other meetings.
• Agency-related duties include attendance at general staff meetings, departmental meetings, cooperation with other departments within the agency, and timely completion of paperwork (to include mileage, paid time off requests, outlook calendar).
• Staff members may be assigned to assist with other duties by the administration.
• Examples include public relations and promotions, recruitment, special committees, or task forces.
• In addition to scheduled 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. work hours, staff members are expected to accommodate their personal schedule to clients' availability and agency needs.
• This will include court hearings, home visits, group meetings, special events, and other after-agency hours appointments and telephone contacts.
• Other responsibilities shall include those set forth in agency personnel policies as amended.
• After the required training, a full-time Adoption Specialist can expect to be responsible for 15 children as well as families.
• A Adoption Specialists are required to receive a minimum number of training hours annually.
• Work cooperatively with other agency staff and with personnel from related community agencies, law firms, other agencies, and courts.
• A Adoption Specialists are expected to have satisfaction surveys returned that are positive.
• Timely reports with good quality and timely placements as measured by the departmental scoreboard.
• Take responsibility for maintaining accurate and current case records.
• Make sure the services provided are in keeping with the highest standard of professional child welfare services.
• Supervision Received: Specific Direction - General Direction - Plans and arranges own work. Uses a wide range of procedures to accomplish assigned objectives.
• Uses a wide range of procedures to accomplish assigned objectives.
• Supervisory Responsibilities: No supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in social work or a related human services field.
• Background experience in foster care, adoption, and/or with individuals with special needs.
• A comprehensive understanding of child development, especially as it relates to adoptive children from foster care.
• A good understanding of community resources.
• Good conflict resolution skills.
• The ability to work with others in a team and coordinate case planning with other departments.
• A valid driver’s license, good driving record, and adequate insurance with a reliable vehicle available at all times.
• An understanding and sensitivity to the client’s socioeconomic characteristics with personal qualities of warmth and the ability to establish meaningful relationships with people from various cultures.
• Competence in computer use and keyboarding skills.
• A good moral character and no criminal record.
• Become familiar with and follow the code of ethics and agree to abide by the related Agency standards.
• A personal commitment to the Agency’s mission, philosophy, and values.

Qualifications

• Must have a valid driver’s license, good driving record, and adequate insurance with a reliable vehicle available at all times.
• Must have a good moral character and no criminal record.
• Must become familiar with and follow the code of ethics and agree to abide by the related Agency standards.
• Must have a personal commitment to the Agency’s mission, philosophy, and values.

Skills

• Working under pressure.
• Planning and organizing.
• Detail orientation.
• Customer service.
• Motivation.
• Integrity.
• Reliability.
• Communication.
• Adaptability.
• Problem solving.
• Decision making.
• Technical skills.
• Accountability.
• Teamwork.

Benefits

DABSJ strives to be a fully inclusive organization as we support a diverse group of children and families. We are building a diverse team that represents our customers and our community and recognize that each of us brings a unique perspective to the organization. We welcome differing thoughts, faiths, beliefs, groups, and lived experiences. The diversity and differences of each team member, foster parent, adoptive parent, child, and family make us #DABSJ strong together for children and families.

Pay

Beginning Pay Range: $36,660-$39,104

Schedule

Full Time, Salaried, Exempt