Foster Care Recruitment and Emergency Placement Specialist

Foster Care Recruitment and Emergency Placement Specialist

Job Category
:
Human Services

Requisition Number
: FOSTE
002976

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• Posted:
  December 1, 2025
• Full-Time
• On-site

Showing 1 location

824.5 Delaware Avenue
824.5 Delaware
Buffalo, NY 14209, USA

Child and Family Services (C+FS) Foster Care Program provides temporary, safe, and loving homes for children and supports parents/caregivers in developing the skills they need to achieve family reunification. When reunification is not possible, our program helps secure permanency through adoption. This program plays an essential role in our agency’s 150+ year mission of nurturing a healthier and more equitable Western New York.

Position Summary:

The Foster Parent Recruitment and Emergency Placement Specialist is a dual-role position responsible for recruiting and certifying foster parents for both general and after-hours placement needs. The Specialist also coordinates emergency placements outside traditional business hours and serves as the liaison with Erie County Department of Social Services (ECDSS) for after-hours Child Protective Services (CPS) situations. This role requires flexible availability, including the ability to respond to after-hours placements that occur outside regular business hours including weekends.

During the last 12 months, there have been an average of 2 after-hours placement calls per month with an average stay of 3 days.

Major Responsibilities:

• Respond to inquiries and conduct initial assessments of prospective foster parents
• Actively recruit foster parents through a variety of community engagement and outreach strategies including attendance at community events that may occur during evenings and weekends
• Coordinate and conduct informational meetings (individual and group)
• Facilitate and coordinate initial and ongoing foster parent training sessions
• Become an approved National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) trainer within 12 months of hire
• Complete timely home study assessments and certification documentation
• Maintain accurate training and certification records for all foster homes
• Assist with planning and delivery of foster parent appreciation and engagement events

• Recruit and maintain a pool of certified emergency foster homes and monitor capacity to adhere to ECDSS contractual requirements
• Respond to and coordinate with ECDSS CPS staff and emergency foster homes for after-hours placement needs and be available for telephone consultation on a frequent basis and less frequently for in person consultation
• Regularly communicate with emergency foster homes to ensure they have adequate supplies for immediate placements of children of all ages and support the homes on a regular basis to ensure children’s needs are met
• Facilitate transitions to longer-term placements when applicable
• Must be available 24/7 to address emergency placement needs as communicated by ECDSS or the foster homes unless a preapproved backup coverage plan is in place

• Maintain open communication with foster families, colleagues, and county partners
• Ensure compliance with all state and agency policies and procedures
• Use required database[s] and other communications protocols to share information with the team and to document foster home openings, reauthorizations, and closures
• Participate in agency quality improvement activities
• Promote cultural sensitivity, inclusion, and trauma-informed care in all interactions
• Bachelor’s in Social Work or related field;
  Masters in Social Work preferred
• At least two (2) years of child welfare experience required; direct experience in foster care preferred
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends on an on-call basis required
• Experience with emergency response or crisis coordination highly preferred
• Strong communication, organizational, and assessment skills
• Demonstrated commitment to family-centered, trauma-informed care and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with foster parents, program staff, and external healthcare…