Post Permanency Specialist

Position

Post Permanency Specialist

Full-time, Salaried, Non-Exempt

Manager, Permanency

Houston, TX

The Post Permanency Specialist is responsible for referring families to Post-Adoption Services as contracted and maintained by Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and coordinated with Texans Together (TTG). These services are available to support adopted children and their families within the Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) catchment area, regardless of where the adoption was finalized. All families of children adopted through DFPS are eligible for post-adoption services, which may be accessed in conjunction with Title IV-E and state-paid adoption subsidies administered by DFPS.

• Provide information about the Post-Adoption Services contractor to families prior to adoption. Ensures that Post-Adoption Services are discussed during pre-adoptive placement meetings, adoption subsidy negotiations, and in ongoing communication with the assigned Adoption Specialist before the adoption is finalized.
• Ensure the adoption assistance agreement is executed and signed prior to the legal finalization of the adoption. Collaborate with the adoption agency and/or service provider to review and discuss all eligibility criteria and application requirements to ensure compliance and timely completion.
• Provide post-adoption services to support children and families after an adoption has been finalized. Available services as funding allows include Information and Referral;
  Casework Services/Service planning, Parent Groups, Parenting Programs, Counseling Services, Respite Care, Residential Placement Services (in critical need situations), and Crisis intervention.
• Coordinate, host, and facilitate selection staffings with DFPS, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), attorney ad litem, and guardian ad litem to ensure appropriate placement decisions and team communication.
• Provide recommended home studies to all staffing participants prior in advance of the selection staffings allowing for adequate time for review and informed decision-making.
• Present recommended adoptive homes for each child/youth to all relevant parties, ensuring transparency and collaboration in the selection and placement process.
• Invite Paid Placement Providers and foster parents to participate in selection staffings and related meetings as appropriate.
• Send official email notification to all parties confirming the staffing decision and authorizing the plan to proceed with the selected family, if identified.
• Once an adoptive home is approved, provide the prospective family with all appropriate redacted information to the prospective family (i.e., psychological evaluation, service plans, Home Screening Evaluation and General History HSEGH, etc.).
• Ensure the prospective family has an opportunity to review the child/youth’s case file prior to the Presentation Staffing.
• Ensure a Presentation Staffing is held with the prospective family, current family if appropriate, CASA, attorney ad litem, guardian ad litem, DFPS, and service providers as appropriate.
• Coordinate, host, and facilitate the Presentation Staffing. Follow up with potential adoptive families to determine their decision regarding adoption after the Staffing and communicate the outcome to DFPS in a timely manner.
• Responsible for general and child/youth-specific recruitment activities for adoption-motivated homes for children/youth. SSCC is fully responsible for all general and child/youth-specific adoption recruitment activities.

• Bachelor’s degree required in social work, human services, or related field.
• Minimum two (2) years’ experience working within human services field required.
• Experience in case management related to permanency planning for children and youth under Permanent Managing Conservatorship (PMC).
• Experience as an Adoption Specialist Caseworker preferred. Preferably with specialized experience working with children and youth through the adoption process, and/or working with older youth in permanency preparing for adoption.

• Knowledge of…