Permanency Recruiter

Program Overview

Youth Villages’ Treatment Foster Care program provides evidence‑based, intensive in‑home treatment for youth in foster care, supporting foster parents and advocating for each youth’s best interests. The program serves children and adolescents (ages 0‑18) who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect, and may have behavioral and mental health needs.

• Carry a caseload of 15 youth in active recruitment status.
• Connect youth in foster care and residential treatment settings with no identified permanency options to adoptive families through intensive, child‑focused recruitment efforts.
• Identify, engage, and support permanent connections for children, older youth, sibling groups, or those at risk of aging out of care.
• Conduct in‑depth file reviews and interviews with youth, caseworkers, family members, and other significant individuals.
• Develop and implement individualized, child‑specific recruitment plans informed by case history, youth preferences, and professional recommendations.
• Conduct monthly face‑to‑face visits with each youth to assess and support adoption readiness and permanency planning.
• Utilize tools such as internet searches, genograms, and historical documentation to identify past and potential connections.
• Create written assessments of adoption readiness and progress.
• Collaborate with caseworkers and other professionals to coordinate recruitment and permanency activities monthly.
• Communicate with the caseworker monthly to review recruitment plan progress.
• Coordinate and organize meetings and appointments to fit the needs and schedules of involved parties, including after normal business hours.
• Assist with pre‑placement planning and support, including coordination of visits and safety planning, once matched.
• Help develop and implement a transition plan, connecting the family to mental health treatment services, community resources, and education support; provide psychoeducation on the youth’s specific needs; develop a support network and safety plan.
• Advocate for the youth’s best interest, including overcoming resistance to permanency.
• Participate in and facilitate team meetings, case conferences, and permanency planning reviews.
• Ensure adoptive family is working toward adoption finalization, in conjunction with the caseworker.
• Maintain accurate documentation of recruitment activities, youth engagement, and family matching in accordance with agency and program standards.
• Attend all required trainings and conferences.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Master’s degree in a social services discipline (preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree in a social services discipline (required). Considered degrees include social work, drug and alcohol education or counseling, psychology, criminal justice, guidance counseling, or marriage and family therapy (others subject to review).
• Minimum of 2 years post‑degree experience in child welfare or adoption services (preferred).
• Minimum of 6 months experience at Youth Villages (preferred).
• Experience with youth in state custody and knowledge of the permanency planning process (preferred).
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent written, verbal, and oral skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Basic computer knowledge.
• Ability to maintain a flexible schedule.
• Current, valid driver’s license, an automobile for work purposes, and proof of auto insurance.

• Medical, dental, prescription drug coverage, and vision.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid vacation: 2 weeks for full‑time, 1 week for part‑time.
• 12 paid sick days per year.
• 11 paid holidays.
• Paid parental leave.
• Mileage and cell phone reimbursement (when applicable).
• Tuition reimbursement and licensure supervision.
• Growth and development through continuous training.
• Clinical and administrative advancement opportunities.

The schedule is flexible and non‑traditional, based on the availability of youth and families served. Community‑based staff will be reimbursed for applicable mileage.

Youth Villages is an equal‑opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Youth Villages is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and in its work with children and young adults.