Part-Time Youth & Family Specialist

Primary Responsibilities

• Demonstrate a human centered, strength-based, and trauma informed philosophy.
• Create a trusting and safe relationship with the client and encourages personal growth of the client.
• Advocate for the youth’s needs to ensure equitable and quality care.
• Provide clinical case management working in multiple systems and settings.
• Provide group and/or individual counseling and coaching services, mediation and guidance to children and their biological and/or foster families.
• Facilitate supervised family visits, and provide parent coaching as appropriate.
• Undertake the responsibility of “on-call” duty as assigned.
• Coordinate dental, medical, psychological and community support for youth.
• Ensure that educational needs are met including advocacy for special education services.
• Attend all meetings called by collaterals and support a team approach to best serve the needs of children, youth and families.

Recruitment and Foster Family Support

• Support and participate in the development and implementation of strategic plans for program-specific foster care recruitment.
• Recruit qualified foster homes on a continuous basis to meet the growing and challenging needs of clients.
• Support foster families through the recruitment and training process.
• Participate in “matching process” and prepares foster parents for their work with the child/youth and family of origin.
• Promote the program through community networking and positive representation to internal and external committees, government entities, etc.
• Maintain an excellent relationship with state or private funding sources and other state authorities responsible for regulating foster homes or child placing agencies.
• Complete all documentation required by state licensing regulations in a timely manner.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or a related field with 1 year experience and LSW licensure eligibility.
• Significant experience working with children with social/emotional/physical problems desirable.
• Mediation and conflict resolution skills helpful.
• Word processing/computer skills.
• Open to new ideas and desire to grow professionally.
• Flexibility in thinking and scheduling.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and a good driving record.
• Ability to utilize independent sound clinical judgement and decision making with regards to best interest of children and families.
• Ability to work flexible hours and be available to meet for emergency situations.
• Ability to effectively manage client behavior, foster independence, and maintain perspective and a sense of humor.
• Ability to handle people and situations with compassion, diplomacy, and tact.
• Ability to work independently by setting priorities; organizing resources and effectively performing tasks in a timely manner.
• Ability to provide documentation such as valid driver's license, evidence of automobile insurance and a clear criminal record check.
• Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment and to problem solve unexpected/unpredictable circumstances calmly.
• Knowledge of federal, state and local regulations, protocols and/or procedures.
• Ability to travel to meet client needs.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Ability to use independent judgment and discretion; investigate, analyze and draw professional conclusions.

Physical/Mental Demands

• Regularly stand, walk, sit, talk or hear.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
• Frequent use of hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• Sit for long periods.
• Light physical effort required.
• Infrequent light physical effort required.
• Requires driving own vehicle to various sites.