Adoption Specialist - North- Hybrid

Job Description

This is a hybrid positions and the candidate must reside within the following county(s) within Region 8:
Bandera, Kerr, Gillespie, Kendall, Comal or Guadalupe County.

PRIMARY FUNCTION/RESPONSIBILITY

The Adoption Specialist provides case management services to children and youth placed in adoptive or foster-to-adopt homes, as well as support to foster/adopt parents through intensive case management services, crisis management, home visits, monitoring for compliance, documentation, ongoing training, and advocacy. The job requires sensitivity to the service populations’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics. Although this is classified as a Hybrid position, there will still be required traveling 95% of the time.

• Recruits, identifies, and matches children with prospective adoptive families, including providing information during adoption staffing's, and provides services to children in adoptive placement or assists with connecting to services.
• Maintains sufficient case documentation, including forms and narratives, to provide a complete and accurate written record.
• Compiles and submits documentation required for adoption billing.
• Builds and maintains communication and working relationships within the program, region, and community groups to ensure that the objectives of the agency are accomplished.
• Conducts assessments of current life situations of a child or children and families to determine the presence of child abuse and neglect.
• Composes final reports for court and testifies in court when necessary.
• Provides services after normal working hours and on weekends when necessary.
• Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity among coworkers and all work-related contacts.
• Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.
• Travel is required for this position, up to 95% of the work week.
• Performs other duties as assigned as required to maintain unit operations.

• Adheres to all policies and procedures of the agency and its accrediting and standard setting bodies, such as Council on Accreditation (COA) and state licensing.
• Maintains client confidentiality per SJRC Texas/Belong standards and all applicable codes of ethics
• Learns, understands, and supports the SJRC Texas/Belong mission, purpose, and function.
• Carries out the Trauma Informed Care principles and practices for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Responsible for the environmental, cultural, safety, diversity issues and needs of the clients and others that enter the work area.
• Attends mandatory training as defined in positions training matrix.
• Attends continuing education as necessary to expand knowledge and maintain certifications or licenses.
• Uses outside professional collaboration and intra-agency teamwork appropriate to the agency.
• Skilled in organizing work in an environment with multiple challenges and priorities with minimal supervision.
• Avoid all conflicts of interest, real or perceived.

Required:

• Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in Child Welfare or related field plus two (2) years of relevant work experience OR 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience.
• Experience may be substituted for education

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Child Welfare or related field OR Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Child Welfare or related field.

• Valid Texas Driver’s License, safe driving record, ability to provide own transportation and proof of current automobile insurance.

• Knowledge of child development.
• Knowledge of family dynamics.
• Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Skill in problem solving techniques.
• Ability to operate a personal computer.
• Ability to travel and attend child and family visits as well as other work-related appointments and meetings after 5PM.
• Ability to be on call on a rotating…