Foster Care Adoption Specialist - Part-time

Requisition #: req9699

Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Hours: Part-time (20-25 hours/week)

Bethany is changing the world through family. We began our work by serving one child more than 75 years ago. Today, Bethany is an international Christian nonprofit partnering with communities in more than 30 states and in several countries around the world. We strengthen and preserve families, support displaced people fleeing danger, and find safe, loving families for children who need them. Bethany is at the forefront of creating and implementing solutions to meet the growing needs of vulnerable children and families in the U.S. and around the world.

As a Foster Care Adoption Specialist, you will be primarily responsible for providing professional adoption services, to include quality family and child assessments, successful adoptive placements, and post-placement supervision in accordance with agency policies, state contract(s) and licensing regulations. The individual serving in the Lead FCA Specialist role will be responsible for mentoring new Foster Care Adoption Case Managers and assisting with programmatic activities as defined by the program supervisor.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide thorough assessments for pre-adoptive children and families;
• Conduct periodic adoptive educational and preparational group meetings for pre-adoptive families to ensure appropriate resources for referred children;
• Process case assignments and complete child and adoptive family assessments in accordance with agency expectations and procedures;
• Participate in adoptive planning for referred children, advocating for the child's best interest through available adoptive family resources;
• Coordinate pre-adoptive planning with foster care workers, foster and adoptive parents and DHS referral sources, including MARE, when necessary;
• Prepare children, foster and adoptive families for adoption, and conduct pre-adoptive visitation of referred children with appropriate families;
• Conduct adoptive placements for referred children with approved families in accordance to contract and agency expectations;
• Ensure quality adoptions services within state licensing requirements;
• Provide a minimum of quarterly post-placement supervision contacts with adoptive families and children;
• Organize and manage time to insure reports and documents are completed in a timely fashion.
• Attend required court hearings;
• Meet regularly with supervisor to consult on case review case plan and direction, and to evaluate progress;
• Participate in OCA adoption events and other meetings as required;
• Attend required training hours per state licensing, DHS, COA, and agency mandates;
• Attend training to apply newly gained knowledge in proving services;
• Promote Bethany's adoption services within the community, including public relations contacts, as requested;
• Demonstrate flexibility with working hours outside of the normal business hours to meet the needs of the role to include some evenings and weekends, as needed;
• Maintain effective communication with community agencies or individuals involved in service provision;
• Participate in program development and planning as requested by supervisor;
• Complete other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or equivalent field of study from an accredited college;
• Master’s degree in Human Services or equivalent field of study from an accredited college, a plus;
• At least two (2) years of adoption experience in a child welfare agency, preferred;
• At least one (1) year of experience supervising others for Lead FCA Specialist, preferred; Revised
• Must possess the ability to engage, develop, and maintain positive community relationships with a diverse group of individuals;
• Must possess excellent interviewing, observation, diagnostic, and family assessment skills;
• Must be highly motivated and able to take initiative;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Work well under pressure and adaptable to change;
• Must have an ability to work flexible work hours to include some evenings and weekends;
• Computer and typing skills sufficient to perform essential job functions;
• Active motor vehicle license and maintain a reliable vehicle with adequate insurance coverage;
• Pass a criminal history screen, including state and local child protection agency registries;
• Subscription to and integration of the agency Statement of Faith, Mission Statement, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commitment.

We value and embrace the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion; our culture is strengthened and our workplace is more dynamic. We are a global organization with multicultural staff, clients and stakeholders, so we strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. More work remains, but we are deeply committed to honestly acknowledging and addressing the impacts of race and racism throughout the organization. This work can be uncomfortable and even painful, but we believe that the greatest challenges bear the greatest rewards.