Statewide Placement Specialist

Overview

At Upbring, our team is united by a shared mission: to break the cycle of child abuse and advance the wellbeing of children, families and communities, empowering them to thrive. As servant-leaders, we lead by example, working passionately to create a brighter future for those we serve. Every day, we strive to embody our core values:

• We are Warriors
  :
  Fierce, resilient, and courageous, we face challenges head-on with unwavering loyalty and passion.
• We are Servants: We dedicate ourselves to serving others, empowering those around us to thrive.
• We are Family: We work together as a supportive, caring community, creating a sense of belonging and strength.

Joining Upbring means becoming part of a family of passionate individuals who are fearless in their pursuit of lasting change. Together, we are making a difference, one life at a time.

Your Mission in Action

The Statewide Placement Specialist is  responsible forassessingchildren todeterminean appropriate matchwith potential qualifying foster families;analyzing and deploying the current network of foster care parents and community partners to aid in the placement and/or adoption of foster care children in the Foster in Texas (FIT) program.

• Provide appropriate socialservicesin accordance with licensing standards, contract terms, agency policies, accreditationstandardsand funding requirements
• Respond promptly to placement calls (phone/email) and perform intake/eligibility assessments to match children with foster families
• Monitor timelines for placements and alert leadership to potential delays or issues
• Track referrals received for placement, including documenting referral sources, status, and outcomes in the Agency’sdatabase
• Collaborate with the Foster Care & Adoption team to recruit andmaintaina diverse pool of certified homes for emergency and long-term placements
• Represent the agency as a liaison within the foster care and adoption provider network to create andinitiatecommunity wide recruitment and placement efforts
• Respond to inquiries from parents, partner agencies,and staffregardingintake,eligibility, placement,and post-placement processes
• Record andmaintaininformation and statistics necessary to measure the effectiveness of recruitment and placement efforts
• Cross-train and provide back-up supportforintake-related process, including the completion and/or reviewoffosterand adoptive placements
• Assist staff withidentifyingand creating partnerships with other community agencies;establish and maintain relationships to aid in collaboration of recruitment and placement efforts
• Participate in on-call rotation to ensuretimelyresponse to placement and support needs
• Develop andmaintainpositive and strong working relationships with the Foster Care and Adoption teams and foster care parents and families, whilemaintainingprofessional and ethical boundaries always
• Work as a team player andexhibitprofessional behavior and a positive attitude with both internal and external clients that reflects positively on the Agency and is consistent with Agency policies and practices
• Activelyparticipatein exhibiting cultural awareness and sensitivity when interacting with children, parents (s)/ guardian(s),staffand the community

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a closely related field
• Child Placement Management Staff (CPMS)
• Three (3) years of relevant experience in foster care, child welfare, or adoption
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines and prioritize competing tasks/projects
• Strong customer service skills; respond to telephone and in-person inquiries in a pleasant and professional manner
• Strong people and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact and work with diverse groups of people
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• At least 21 years of age
• Valid TX driver’s license and auto insurance coverage

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a closely related field
• Licensed Child Agency Administrator or eligible within 12 months of hire
• Bilingual (English and Spanish, based on service area and service population)