Foster Care Navigator

Job Summary

The Foster Care Navigator/ Recruiter is responsible for providing direct support and guidance to current and prospective foster parents through in-person contact, telephone contact, and/or email, depending on the needs of the foster parents.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Must be available to prospective foster families and assist them in navigating through the licensing process.
• Serve as liaison between the licensing worker or child placing agency, and the current or prospective foster family when need for clarification is identified.
• Responsible for Foster Care Recruitment and Retention Services.
• Able to work independently and meet job requirements.
• Provide Foster Care Licensing Support Services to the county agencies.
• Provide quality customer service primarily via phone and email.
• Sensitive to the concerns of potential foster parents.
• Establish rapport quickly and effectively with families.
• Identify resources available to adoptive families statewide.
• Share personal experiences with foster care in a professional manner with the public.
• Maintain contract compliance.
• Participate in required trainings.
• Attend all scheduled team meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications

• Personal experience with the child welfare system as a licensed foster, adoptive, relative or kinship caregiver.
• Knowledge of child welfare policies and procedures.
• Involvement in the local foster family community and foster family groups.
• Ability to relate to current and prospective adoptive, foster and kinship families.
• Ability to relate to local DHS and private agency personnel.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule to accommodate families with whom the Foster Care Navigator works.
• Ability to travel/work statewide as necessary.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to provide culturally competent services that shows sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

Core Competencies

• Customer Service – regularly respond to customers in a courteous and timely manner with focus on providing quality services.
• Job Knowledge – demonstrate mastery of basic principles, techniques, and skills related to job, consistently applying technical and procedural competence.
• Professionalism – consistently present a positive image of self and the agency, operating with integrity and credibility.
• Planning & Organization of Work – reliably demonstrate time management skills through advance planning in order to deliver high quality work product within deadlines.
• Relationship / Leadership – exhibit ability to develop cooperative relationships based on mutual respect and trust, treating others fairly, consistently listening, openly and actively encouraging others to express candid and differing views.
• Judgement & Problem Solving – show ability to review facts and information using sound judgment to arrive at the most effective solution and when appropriate seek supervisory assistance.
• Quality & Accuracy – consistently present work product that is thorough, accurate, and effective in accomplishing intended purpose of assignments.
• Initiative & Independence – demonstrate ability to effectively complete work tasks with minimal direction from supervisor and take initiative to increase effectiveness of work and that of the department.
• Reliability / Dependability – exhibit consistency in performance and reliably follows through on tasks and assigned responsibilities.
• Temperament – maintain emotional control, a positive perspective, and effectively respond to stress on the job.

Education, Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Valid Michigan Driver’s License, appropriate insurance and use of own vehicle.

Working Conditions

• Works in an office environment and in the community as needed.
• This position may require evening and weekend hours.
• Possible stressful environment working with families and court system.
• Fast paced, enthusiastic and team oriented workplace.

Physical Requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit, communicate verbally and in writing, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard.
• Close vision requirements due to computer work.
• Regular, predictable attendance is required.