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 Kinship Support Specialist, you will be primarily responsible for assisting and promoting a “kin first” culture and practices that prioritizes supporting kin caregivers. You will provide kinship caregivers with information, education, and referrals to a wide range of services and supports. Your main goal is to maximize Bethany kinship caregivers’ ability to provide safe, stable placement and, if needed, permanency for children placed in their home. You must have knowledge of the child welfare system, court proceedings and foster care licensing process.

This position is expected to function effectively with moderate supervision while following the guidelines given on procedures, along with agency, federal, and state regulatory requirements.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide all new kinship caregivers with initial orientation to program services and the child welfare system;
• Conduct a strengths and needs assessment for all new kinship caregivers and provide information, referrals, and follow-up services to kinship caregivers based on assessment to connect them to both internal and external supports and benefits needed for themselves or the children in their home;
• Conduct training for agency staff and community providers regarding understanding the unique needs of kinship caregivers and effectively supporting them;
• Promote effective partnerships among public and private agencies, including schools, community-based or faith-based organizations, and relevant government agencies, to ensure kinship caregiver families are well supported and able to access the services they need;
• Facilitate monthly support group and regular relevant training opportunities specifically for kinship caregivers;
• Develop Kinship Advisory Board to provide input and guidance to help the program improve or expand services to better meet identified needs and challenges facing kinship caregivers;
• Assist kinship families with navigating eligibility and enrollment information for federal, state, and local benefits;
• Support outreach to kinship care families by establishing, distributing, and updating a kinship care resource guide, or other relevant guides or outreach materials;
• Proactively connect and engage with kinship caregivers to provide supportive listening and encouragement to kinship caregivers as they parent children through kinship care;
• Carry out active outreach to engage kinship care families, identifying those not involved in support groups and other supportive services and/or in need of additional support;
• Assist kinship caregivers in utilizing identified networks of support (based on Family Finding genogram or 30 Days to Family® Roadmap to Family) to ensure children and caregivers are meaningfully connected to identified sources of support;
• Stay up-to-date on relevant resources, best practices, and research regarding supporting and serving kinship caregivers in child welfare effectively;
• Complete other duties as assigned.