Permanency Specialist

Position: Permanency Specialist

Classification: Full-time, Non-exempt

Reports to: Mentor Program Specialist

Company: Texans Together

Location: Region 6A & 6B

The Permanency Specialist supports children and families throughout the child welfare process by managing cases after children have been removed from their homes and placed in substitute care. This role assesses each child’s needs, coordinates services and evaluations, conducts kinship home studies, and ensures caregivers have the resources and information needed to provide safe, stable care. The Specialist works closely with children, families, foster caregivers, community partners, and legal stakeholders to develop permanency plans, identify permanent living arrangements, facilitate reunification when appropriate, and advocate for the child’s well-being.

Responsibilities include monthly child visits, court preparation and testimony, case documentation, and collaboration with community, medical, legal, and law enforcement partners to achieve positive outcomes for children and families. Permanency Specialists may voluntarily participate in the organization’s mentoring program in accordance with the requirements of the Professional Development training and the federal court litigation. Participation as a mentor is intended to be optional but depending on mentor availability, staff may be assigned a mentoring role as needed to fill Permanency Specialist vacancies.

This position may be filled at the Permanency Specialist I, II, III, or IV level based on the selected candidate's education, relevant experience, demonstrated competencies, and organizational requirements. Placement within a level does not substantially change the position's essential functions.

• Receive cases from investigators after children are removed from their homes and placed in care outside their homes.
• Determine each child’s needs and ensure that appropriate referrals for testing, evaluations, records, or further assessments are made, ensuring that all services are focused on achieving positive permanency.
• Work with children, families, and communities to plan for a child's permanency.
• Identify potential permanency resources for the child through ongoing contact with parents, family members, and other individuals the child and family identify as important to them.
• Conduct search for potential kinship providers throughout the life of the case. Complete home studies of a child's family members or family friends (kinship providers) who might care for the child.
• Meet with the parents to assess child safety and risk factors, identify behavioral changes necessary to ensure child safety, connect families/parents to appropriate services and resources to address the identified needs and support toward positive permanency outcome.
• Meet and participate in case meetings and conferences with children, parents, relatives, family friends, foster families, and other involved parties in homes, community settings, and other appropriate locations accommodating family needs and schedules.
• Collaborate with the Placement Team, including Kinship staff, to identify, coordinator, and support appropriate placement options for children, as needed.
• Conduct monthly visits with children to assess their safety and well-being in their current placement, to plan for permanency, and to discuss their needs, wishes, and progress while in care.
• Attend and participate in court hearings related to children and families, including communicating with relevant parties in the case prior to hearings, preparing court reports and documentation, providing testimony regarding the child’s needs, family progress, case activities, efforts toward achieving permanency.
• Maintain timely…