Adoptions Specialist

Join our team at FSS and enjoy comprehensive benefits including but not limited to:

• Tuition Reimbursement
• Health Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Short & Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Employee Discounts
• 401k Plan with 3% Employer Contribution

The mission of Family Support Services is to be the leader in providing safety, stability, and quality of life for all children by working with the community to strengthen the family unit.

This position is responsible for coordination of adoption activities. The position serves as the technical expert in child welfare adoptions. It also serves as a lead agency liaison for adoption related matters; handling inquiries and/or concerns made to the Lead Agency regarding the adoption process, disseminating adoption as needed to the case management agencies, providing adoption technical assistance, working directly with providers of adoption related services and coordination, review and approval of any adoption subsidy payments that exceed 100% of the foster care board rate.

This position also facilitates problem resolution, assists with process information and disseminates resource contact information as needed.

• Track, on an on-going basis, all children receiving services, who are permanently committed to the custody of the Department, with a goal of adoption and lead agency outcomes related to adoption finalization, to include stratifying data related to adoption targets/performance by case management agency.
• Ensure that the lead agency has data to support how well a child is navigating towards adoption to include the child’s status, specific barriers to achieving timely adoption finalization and efforts to effectively address and eliminate barriers.
• Coordinate with FSS staff and/or community partners directly responsible for adoptive home recruitment and participates directly or indirectly in all activities that promote community awareness of the adoptions program and the need for adoptive families.
• Assist in developing and maintaining policies and procedures for adoption and related services while maintaining compliance with all child welfare laws, policies and procedures governing adoption and related services.
• Provide technical assistance and training to all adoption related staff working for the case management providers.
• Facilitate adoption specific pre-adoptive family training and monthly information meeting.
• Work collaboratively to plan recruitment events for waiting children.
• Other duties as needed

Education:

Bachelors degree in social work or related human services field required.

Experience:

Requires a minimum of three years child welfare experience. Preference will be given to staff with 2-year background in child welfare adoptions.

Licensure, Certification, and/or Registration:

Valid drivers license. Current Child Welfare Case Manager Certification.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Ability to:

• Represent self and the organization in a professional manner
• Work independently with little direct supervision
• Interpret statutes, policies, contracts, and administrative rule requirements as related to program area
• Assess a situation and make appropriate recommendations/decisions
• Research, organize and analyze data
• Solve problems and to think through critical, time sensitive issues
• Maintain a professional working relationship with outside agencies
• Work collaboratively with staff at all levels in the organization
• Follow through on commitments, projects and responsibilities
• Speak effectively before small and large groups
• Calculate figures and amounts
• Maintain confidential information

Knowledge of:

• Florida Statutes, Florida Administrative Rules, and policies that regulate the adoption process

Skills:

• Strong Written and Verbal Communication
• Strong follow-up and follow…