Verification Specialist

We are looking for an individual to join our Child Placing Agency team of dedicated employees who desire to help kids and adolescents find safe, stable and permanent, Forever Families. Applicants should have a strong work ethic, the ability to work independently and as part of a team and a passion for working with kids and families.

All New Horizons’ Staff are expected to study, practice and operate within the New Horizons’ Philosophy of Keeping Kids First.

Keeping Kids First requires that every decision and action be motivated by and geared toward meeting the highest need of the individual kid. New Horizons will not tolerate anyone who is not committed to keeping kids safe from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

At New Horizons, we Keep Kids First while providing a safe, therapeutic and loving environment for kids and adolescents. Through our Child Placing Agency, we recruit and train families to provide a home to boys and girls, ages birth to adulthood, who have been removed from their biological homes due to neglect and/or abuse.

Our Child Placement Verification Staff work closely with our Child Placing Agency Administrator and are responsible for recruitment and verification of foster parents in the Abilene and the surrounding areas as well as all Child Placement Staff, families, and children involved. This position works directly with foster parents, legal guardians and conservators while receiving direction from the Director and Executive level staff when needed.

The position also works directly with kids who may exhibit behavioral problems related to the trauma they have experienced.

• Values a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a person or kid.
• Recognizes and values the capacity of people to grow and change.
• Establishes respectful relationships to help others gain skills and confidence.
• Works well independently and collaboratively with other personnel and professionals.
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills, training skills and leadership capabilities.
• Adheres to the Texas DFPS Minimum Standards and New Horizons’ Policies.
• Sets appropriate limits both in relationships and in personal work ethic.
• Embraces and embodies the Philosophy of New Horizons.
• Demonstrates strong organizational and time management skills.
• Demonstrates excellent written, oral and electronic communication skills.
• Is willing and able to participate in the development of the foster care program.
• Works collaboratively with youth, families, other agencies, community professionals, and New Horizons’ staff.
• Recruits foster parents and evaluates their suitability as caregivers.
• Provides properly documented supervision and assures that agency philosophy and policies are carried out in a timely manner.
• Holds themselves, staff, and foster parents accountable to the minimum standards and to any best practice that keeps children safe and avoids risk.
• Demonstrates approved, proper parenting techniques and the ability to teach and communicate these techniques to staff and foster parents when appropriate.

• Keeping Kids Safe!
• Showing consistent management of application and verification documentation.
• Respecting the dignity and worth of clients and foster parents while seeking permanency for kids through reunification or adoption.
• Demonstrating a willingness and ability to work collaboratively with biological and foster families to find solutions to problems, as well as implementing crisis intervention skills when necessary.
• Following and utilizing the Employee Handbook.
• Updating professional knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
• Engaging with the community to provide outreach and education about foster care and services offered by New Horizons.
• Enhancing department and organization reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.
• Supervising and assuring completion of all documentation; accurately, in a timely manner and within the…