Part-Time Youth & Family Specialist

Primary Responsibilities:

• Youth and Family Support
• * Demonstrate a human centered, strength-based, and trauma informed philosophy by treating all clients, families and collaterals in a non-judgmental and respectful
• manner while building on their strengths.
• * Create a trusting and safe relationship with the client and encourages personal growth of the client; Advocate for the youth’s needs to ensure equitable and quality care
• * Provide clinical case management working in multiple systems and settings providing services to foster children, foster families and biological families
• * Depending on level of training, provides group and/or individual counseling and coaching services, mediation and guidance to children and their biological and/or
• foster families.
• * Facilitates supervised family visits, and provides parent coaching as appropriate
• * Consistently demonstrate discretion and independent judgment with regard to assessing and making decisions around the best interest for children and families
• * Undertake the responsibility of “on-call” duty as assigned and is responsive to crises independently either by phone and\or in person, demonstrating a calm and
• professional approach while assuring safety for all involved.
• * Facilitate treatment meetings/ foster care review, and invites the appropriate attendees, while ensuring effective interagency collaboration
• * Coordinate dental, medical, psychological and community support for youth; Ensure that educational needs are met including advocacy for special education services
• * Attend all meetings called by collaterals and support a team approach to best serve the needs of children, youth and families 
• Recruitment and Foster Family Support
• * Support and participate in the development and implementation of strategic plans for program-specific foster care recruitment in conjunction with foster care
• recruitment across the Children and Families Service.
• * Recruit qualified foster homes on a continuous basis to meet the growing and challenging needs of clients
• * Support foster families through the recruitment and training process.
• * Participate in “matching process” and prepares foster parents for their work with the child/youth and family of origin
• * Promote the program through community networking and positive representation to internal and external committees, government entities, etc.
• * Maintain an excellent relationship with state or private funding sources and other state authorities responsible for regulating foster homes or child placing agencies
• * Develop and maintain expertise regarding regulatory requirements for foster parent qualification and renewal including record checks, evaluations and
• updating of file materials
• * Complete all documentation required by state licensing regulations in a timely manner, including but not limited to home studies, background checks , annual
• foster care review and waivers
• * Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein to help meet the goals of the program or the agency
• Record Keeping, Reporting, Trainings and Meetings:
• * Document all contacts and incidents and ensure files are up to date
• * Develop and complete assessments/homestudies, service plans\tx plans, progress notes and any other necessary documentation
• * Provide updates to the court both in writing and in person
• * Maintain organized up to date case/foster care files in accordance with contractual standards, state and federal law
• * Keep supervisor updated on any incidents or concerns involving clients and foster families
• * Attend weekly staff meetings and any other meetings or events required by the agency 

* Complete all mandatory training on a timely basis to meet certification standards, including 20-30 hours of specialized training each year including ethics, current
practice and needs of the service population.

• Qualifications:
• * Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or a related field with 1 year experience and LSW licensure eligibility
• * Ability to work within the Mission of the agency.
• * Significant experience working with children with social/emotional/physical problems desirable. Mediation and conflict resolution skills helpful.
• * Word processing/computer skills.
• * Open to new ideas and desire to grow professionally. Flexibility in thinking and scheduling.
• * Possession of a valid driver’s license and a good driving record.
• * Ability to utilize independent sound clinical judgement and decision making with regards to best interest of children and families
• * Ability to work flexible hours and be available to meet for emergency situations.
• * Ability to effectively manage client behavior, foster independence, and maintain perspective and a sense of humor.
• * Ability to handle people and situations with compassion, diplomacy, and tact.
• * Ability to work independently by setting priorities; organizing resources and effectively performing tasks in a timely manner.
• * Ability to provide documentation such as valid driver's license, evidence of automobile insurance and a clear criminal record check.
• * Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment and to problem solve unexpected/unpredictable circumstances calmly.
• * Knowledge of federal, state and local regulations, protocols and/or procedures.
• * Ability to travel to meet client needs
• * Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
• * Ability to use independent judgment and discretion; investigate, analyze and draw professional conclusions.

*Spanish communication skills (oral & verbal) preferred

• Physical/Mental Demands:
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The employee is frequently
• required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• Required to sit for long periods. Infrequent light physical effort required
• Requires driving own vehicle to various sites.
• Mental Demands:
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to problem solve, make decisions, interpret data and organize. Ability to do detailed work with high
• degree of concentration. Ability to work under stress or in a fast-paced environment.