Foster Care/Adoption Specialist - Tribal Family & Youth Services - Juneau

POSITION DESCRIPTION
Foster Care/Adoption Specialist

INFORMATION

Job Class: Specialist

Type of Position: Non-Exempt
Location of Work: Juneau, AK

Salary Grade(s): 8/9

Hours of Work: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Employment Category: Regular Full-Time

PURPOSE
The incumbent will work in all communities served by Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida), Tribal Family and Youth Services Department, to provide direct child welfare support services and, paraprofessional level counseling. Incumbant will focus on foster care and adoptive placement, and will recruit Native and non-Native foster and adoptive homes.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
Reports To: Family Services Administrator
Supervises: Up to two employees
Liaison To: Department and Tribal programs

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
• Responsible for developing, maintaining, and implementing Tlingit & Haida’s foster home recruitment strategy
• Provide clients with information/referrals to assist them in applying for foster care licensing and adoption placements
• Plan, organize, direct, coach, and evaluate work, operations and activities for the Foster Care program and staff.
• Develop and implement a recruitment plan to educate the general public and encourage families to become foster and/or adoptive parents
• Complete licensing applications for emergency, temporary, and long-term foster and adoptive homes using State of Alaska Guidelines and when applicable, the Tribally Licensed Foster Care Standards
• Provide orientation and on-going training for all newly licensed and existing foster care providers
• Provide foster care outreach, education and training in easy non-technical terms to community and potential foster care providers
• Assess the health, medical, criminal, family and home background of prospective foster/adoptive parents
• Prepare written home study based on thorough review of the prospective foster/adoptive parents
• Make permanency recommendations for children preparing for permanent placements
• Supervise up to two full time staff, including but not limited to monitoring, coaching, staff development, evaluations, dispute resolutions, and progressive discipline
• Respond to client complaints
• Ensure record keeping for client cases is entered timely and kept up to date
• Prepare and submit required program reports within established deadlines
• Meet regularly to keep the Family Services Administrator abreast of program activities and plans
• Assist clients to obtain support services and provide para-professional counseling
• Work closely with Tlingit & Haida staff, State Office of Children Services, and other agencies to coordinate child welfare activities
• Compile statistical information
• Maintain client and office records
• Assures confidentiality of client information in accordance with tribal, state, and federal laws.
• Other duties as assigned

DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY
Spending Authority: N/A
Other Authority: N/A

NECESSARY SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
• Sensitivity to Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures
• Working knowledge of foster care/adoption regulations, policies and procedures
• Ability to maintain accurate records
• Follow an established procedure for home studies
• Confidence in ability to use good judgment to make final determinations
• Working knowledge of community needs problems and available resources
• Professional interviewing and assessment skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Speak, write, actively listen and communicate effectively
• Effectively work with the general public
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships
• Exercise good judgment and formulate logical conclusions
• Maintain composure and use diplomacy and tact when dealing with fellow employees and clients
• Successfully incorporate training and other educational opportunities into daily practice
• Excellent public speaking skills
• Ability to work independently and be resourceful
• Working knowledge of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, and regulations and policies in the State of Alaska pertinent to child welfare
• Ability to write clear and concise reports and correspondence
• Ability to function as an effective team member

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (education, experience, skills)
• Associates degree in Social Work or closely related field
• Two years specialized experience in child welfare or closely related field

Substitution:
o High School Diploma and;
o Four years’ experience in Social Work or closely related field

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (education, experience, skills)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or equivalent

UNUSUAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OR RESTRICTIONS
The majority of work is performed in a professional office setting and is generally sedentary, requiring routine walking, standing, bending, and carrying of items weighing less than 40 lbs. Travel on small aircraft or ferry may be required.

CONDITIONS OF HIRE:
• All employment at Tlingit & Haida is “at will”. This means that the employee or Tlingit & Haida may terminate employment at any time and for any reason. Unless specified in writing, no term of employment is expressed or implied for this position.

• Tlingit & Haida is a no tolerance workplace. All regular employees may be required to pass a pre-employment and subsequent random drug and alcohol screening to be eligible for and maintain employment.

• Tlingit & Haida requires a criminal background check be conducted on all employees. All employment offers are conditional until federal criminal background check results verify your eligibility to work for Tlingit & Haida.