Family Development Specialist

Job Summary

The Family Development Specialist provides recruitment, training, assessment and support of new and existing resource families with a primary focus on creating safe, nurturing and stable families for children in the foster care system. This position demonstrates a commitment to connecting children to families and keeping families connected and provides all services in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Job Responsibilities

RECRUITMENT

· Assist Foster Care management staff in planning and implementing recruitment activities throughout the year including representing the agency in community fairs, informational sessions and festivals.

· Educate potential applicants about the needs of children in foster care and the opportunities to become a foster, adoptive or respite family.

· Respond to inquiries from new families interested in foster care, adoption or respite care and screen families for further development based on the agencies identified needs. Assist families that do not meet the agencies needs by referring them to programs that can meet their needs.

· Gather relevant information from inquiries and process intake paperwork as required.

· Conduct child-specific recruitment as needed. Provide required documentation and maintain appropriate records according to CD policy.

· Receive and respond to requests from internal or external case management staff seeking to access Good Shepherd Children and Family Services resource families.

TRAINING/ASSESSMENT

· Interview and evaluate potential foster, adoptive or respite parent applicants during an initial home visit.

· Enroll families in pre-service or in-services training classes according to their needs.

· Complete home assessments on all applicants who complete STARS training and provide recommendations as to applicants’ ability to meet licensing standards and meet the following competencies:

· Counsel out families that are unable to meet licensing standards or meet the competencies prior to full licensure after all attempts to rectify the situation have been exhausted.

· Complete renewal assessments according to licensing standards.

· Complete quarterly home visits to ensure compliance with licensing standards, ability to meet required competencies and to address any concerns.

· Provide coaching and corrective action plans with families to address any identified needs or deficits.

· Develop and implement in-service training plans for resource families on an on-going basis to ensure families are attending all required trainings.

SUPPORT

· Provide support to resource families throughout the placement process in coordination with case managers.

· Monitor families after placement through regular phone contacts, home visits and other activities.

· Act as a liaison for foster and adoptive parents with the placing agency.

· Provide placement stability services as needed to resource families.

· Attend all required court hearings, adoption staffings, and other case specific meetings.

Job Requirements

Masters degree from an accredited program of Social Work, Counseling or Psychology or a Bachelors degree from an accredited program of Social Work, Counseling or Psychology and two (2) years of related experience. Working knowledge of community resources. Understanding of juvenile court processes and Missouri child welfare laws, practices and licensing standards as well as federal child welfare laws including ICPC, ASFA, ICWA, MEPA and Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008. An understanding of family systems, the impact of abuse and neglect; substance abuse; mental illness; poverty; grief and loss; and trauma on children and their families. Successfully complete STARS TTT and Spaulding TTT as well as SAFE training.