Post Adoption Program Specialist

About the Organization:

The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) is a national leader in mental health services for the adoption, foster, and kinship care community. We envision a world where every child and family connected to adoption, foster, and kinship care thrives. Our mission is to improve the well-being and permanence of children and their families by providing adoption-competent mental health services, advancing learning to build a responsive national network of professionals, and transforming policy and practice through research and advocacy.

For over 25 years, C.A.S.E. has combined best practices and innovation to provide specialized individual and family therapy, psychiatric services and support groups, education, and training. We have become a local, national, and international resource for adoptive, kinship, and foster families and the professionals who support them. C.A.S.E. set out in 2021 on a new strategic direction to grow our clinical and training programs into a National Demonstration & Teaching Clinic – now known as the C.A.S.E. Academy, and the National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services. It is an exciting time as we grow our evidence-based adoption-competent clinical model and our accredited, award-winning training programs nationwide.

C.A.S.E has an annual budget of $12.5 million and a staff of 70 employees.

About the Position:

The POST ADOPTION PROGRAM SPECIALIST will work on the C.A.S.E. team that provides services to the National Center for Enhanced Post Adoption Support, a collaboration funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, and the Children’s Bureau in 2023. The POST ADOPTION PROGRAM SPECIALIST will work closely with and report to the Director of the C.A.S.E. Academy for Elevating Clinical Practice in Permanency to contribute to the national team's efforts, which consists of 5 partner agencies, with Spaulding for Children as the lead. The C.A.S.E. role on this national team is to serve as the post-adoption program expert, which includes providing adoption competency training and consultation to select sites as well as contributing to peer groups and focus groups, The primary duty of the POST ADOPTION PROGRAM SPECIALIST is to provide Technical Assistance (TA) to 3-4 assigned states, tribes, and territories around the country per year to support their improvement in the adoption of competent, trauma-informed counseling to children and families.

NOTE: This full-time position requires national travel to assigned sites, with travel expenses reimbursed in accordance with the project grant. Travel may consist of several days in duration (not including COVID restrictions) and is subject to change.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Provides engagement and implementation activities to support TA in assigned states, tribes, and territories (STTs), including:

a. Initiating, compiling, and tracking contacts with STT staff.

b. Establishing and maintaining relationships with STT child welfare and mental health leaders.

c. Assessing/developing an understanding of site post-adoption services and systems.

d. Gauging buy-in to and understanding by system leaders and target users.

e. Working with selected sites to develop intensive TA and sustainability plans.

f. Serving as the C.A.S.E. lead to 3-4 TA sites annually, responsible duties related to each site.

g. Troubleshooting challenges with TA delivery, implementation, and integration; ability to strategically identify and define barriers, seek creative and effective solutions, and inform the team of issues requiring joint planning, decision-making, and/or problem resolution.

h. Working with sites to assess and establish comprehensive adoption competency requirements/policies and/ or services as needed to support implementation and sustainability efforts.

i. Ensures consistent on-the-ground TA support for selected sites, supplemented with virtual support.

B. Collaborates with the C.A.S.E. team in assessing and addressing needs around the nation in obtaining adoption competency

C. Prioritizes incorporating lived expertise – from families and youth – and an adoption competency lens in the development and delivery of TA, including assisting in identifying needs for peer-to-peer supports and forums and disseminating responsive and appropriate post-adoption and guardianship practices.

D. Provides input, as needed, to inform the team’s TA model, TA delivery strategies, and approaches for evaluating TA effectiveness.

E. Assists in identifying potential sites for TA.

F. Provides timely tracking of all project activities for periodic reporting, quality assurance, and evaluation purposes.

G. Participate actively in internal and external team and related meetings (in person and virtual)

H. Exhibits and presents on the work of the team or other C.A.S.E.-related activities at assigned state, regional, and national meetings, conferences, etc., when requested.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Within 90 days of hire, completes and is conversant in NTI for Mental Health

B. Completes TAC and other identified C.A.S.E. training offerings in the first 9-12 months; will possess a working knowledge of the post-adopt center resource library and C.A.S.E. products and how/when to refer assigned sites to them; furthers evidence-informed and evidence-based practices for post-adoption services delivery.

C. Understands and is supportive to grant audiences, project objectives, and relationships involved.

D. Travel must include meeting with and providing TA to sites/states assigned in person, as needed, as assigned or requested.

E. Performs other related duties as may be required.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: None

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: The C.A.S.E. Academy Director supervises the position as the C.A.S.E. Team Lead for the Post Adopt Center. The POST ADOPTION PROGRAM SPECIALIST will participate in regular team meetings as requested and individual supervision sessions (in person or virtual). The position is home-based. The position must be able to work effectively independently, setting meetings and work schedules that best meet the needs of the assigned sites.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the minimum knowledge, skill, and ability required unless otherwise stated.

COMMENTS: Other relevant education and/or experience may be substituted for stated minimum education and experience requirements.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Ideal candidates will possess a master’s degree in social work, Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Human Services.

Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in child welfare, permanency planning, adoption/guardianship, or mental health areas of practice. Experience providing post adoption services with child welfare systems and/or mental health settings is required. Prefer experience with technical assistance, collective impact initiatives, social research implementation, or system change efforts at the community/state level and collaborating with child welfare or mental health leaders. Experience in adoption systems is mandatory and work in or closely with the public sector strongly preferred.

The candidate should understand implementation science and have a strong working knowledge of child welfare, mental health concepts, and language.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

A. A thorough understanding of the need for adoption/guardianship, mental health competency, and support needed for families, and an understanding of child welfare systems and mental health settings in general is required.

B. Knowledge of effective TA strategies, delivery, and pacing, especially when working with complex systems.

C. Skill in tailoring TA work plans to meet the needs of individual sites while ensuring alignment with a TA model.

D. Experience reviewing, using, and sharing data to support project success.

E. Ability to manage and prioritize multiple and changing demands with diplomacy, flexibility, and decorum. Proven success with multi-project work environments.

F. Excellent interpersonal skills, including establishing and maintaining effective, meaningful work relationships with a wide audience of internal and external parties at all levels of employees, management, and stakeholders.

G. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including writing reports and giving oral presentations.

H. Excellent organizational skills, including attention to detail and follow-through.

I. Ability to work independently, setting meetings and work schedules that best meet the needs of the assigned sites.

J. Ability to work in and constructively contribute to a harmonious cross-functional teamwork environment.

K. Ability to strategically identify and define areas of challenge, seek creative and effective solutions and involve and/or apprise the Director as may be appropriate.

L. Ability to maintain confidentiality of information.

M. Ability to facilitate and manage in-person and via Zoom/skype/GoToMeeting meetings.

N. Ability to travel as described in duties.

O. Demonstrated proficiency with Windows-based PC environment and Microsoft Office tools such as Outlook, WORD, Excel, PowerPoint, and project management software is required. Familiarity with a learning management system is highly desirable.

P. Proven success in delivering information virtually through Zoom and/or other platforms.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Ability to pass required state and local background checks.

Salary & Benefits:

Salary: 90-95k

Benefits: Competitive benefits including medical, sick leave and vacation, 403(B) retirement, and flexible hours. Hybrid (virtual/in-person) work schedule. 12 Paid Holidays, including your birthday! Vacation and Sick leave.

Please submit a resume and letter of interest to careers@adoptionsupport.org

C.A.S.E. does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy), age, disability, military or veteran status, or any other category protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Emboldened by the core belief that all children deserve a safe, loving, permanent home and dedicated to providing inclusive, family-focused services, CASE draws on expertise, research, and lived experience to innovate and pay it forward by educating and empowering others. Together, we commit to work both internally and externally with Compassion, Integrity, Excellence, and Innovation. We are committed to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI). We demonstrate and uphold these values by providing an environment that draws on the contributions and strengths of our diverse staff, partners, clients, and communities.

C.A.S.E. maintains a drug and alcohol-free workplace.