Family Specialist

Job Summary

The Family Specialist is responsible for providing ongoing monitoring, support, and case management services to foster/adopt families and clients. The position also assesses child and family needs assuring children placed within the Treatment Family Foster Care program are receiving all identified services from both internal and external providers.

Essential Duties:

Foster/Adopt Family Development and Monitoring:

• Provides assistance and support to foster families so that they remain in compliance with DFPS Minimum Standards and Pathways’ policies and procedures.
• Assists foster/adopt parents in documenting how they are working on Service Plan goals.
• Conducts and documents weekly, monthly and quarterly visits to all assigned foster/adopt homes.
• Provides training during quarterly visits to all assigned foster/adopt homes, and conducts and documents weekly, monthly and quarterly visits to all assigned Treatment Family and Foster Care foster/adopt homes.
• Provides training during weekly and/or regular visits to all assigned foster/adopt homes that supports the provision of evidenced based curriculum such as TBRI and Together Facing the Challenge.
• Creates and ensures compliance with Action/Safety Plans.
• Uploads/completes all documentation within two business days.
• Facilitates and/or participates in monthly foster parent training/resource groups.

Client Placement and Monitoring:

• Responds to all internal referrals for placement.
• Identifies and prepares families and children for placement, including participation in pre-placement staffing.
• Conducts placement and completes all required placement documentation/training when necessary.
• Conducts post-placement visits according to the Treatment and Family Foster Care program standards to ensure the child's wellbeing and safety.
• Conducts 7-Day Follow-Ups (post-placement) to ensure the child’s wellbeing and safety.
• Assesses and ensures the child’s wellbeing and safety on an ongoing basis.
• Schedules and facilitates service plan meetings and the development and implementation of Service Plans.
• Monitors foster/adopt homes and services provided to children through monthly contacts (at minimum).
• Ensures that all educational services are provided to the child and links assessments and plans to meet the child's educational needs in the public school setting (including attending ARD meetings and requesting special services through the school to meet the child's educational needs).
• Ensures that all medical, dental, and other health related appointments are attended within required timeframe.
• Attends court hearings and permanency planning meetings and shares information with the child's legal representative(s) and treatment team.
• Completes monthly documentation on how the child is progressing on Service Plan goals.

• Plans, implements, and reviews behavioral interventions in conjunction with the CPMS, Program Director and Program Manager, and/or Treatment Director.
• Responsible for providing ongoing monitoring, support, crisis response and coordination and case management services to PTFFC children and families.
• Acts as the liaison between the PTFFC program and DFPS and is responsible for scheduling preplacement staffing, pre-placement visits and assisting in developing permanency goals as needed.
• Responsible for the ongoing training of PTFFC parents in the PTFFC model of care and ensuring the development and follow through of family developmental plans.
• Uploads/completes all documentation within two business days.
• Responsible for maintaining one week of on-call crisis readiness on a rotating basis.

Supervisor: Program Coordinator / Program Director

Supervises: N/A

Caseload: Estimated 30 to 35 clients

Work Environment: Primarily community based position with a portion of office-based activities

Work Hours: This is a full-time, minimum 40 hours per week position. Work hours set by the Family Specialist (and approved by the Program Coordinator/Director) with allowances in scheduling to be available to meet with staff, children, and families during times and dates convenient for all parties involved (i.e. evenings and weekends).

Classification: Non-exempt.

Education & Experience

• Option 1 – A Master's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and one year of supervised child-placing experience; the degree must include the following:

• Minimum of 9 credit hours in graduate level courses that focus on family and individual function and interaction; or
• 350 hours of formal, supervised field placement or practicum with a social service or human services agency;

• Option 2 – A Master's degree from an accredited college or university and two years of supervised child-placing experience;
• Option 3 – A Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited college or university and two years of supervised child-placing experience;
• Option 4 – A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and three years of supervised child-placing experience;
• Option 5 – A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and direct supervision from a person meeting one of the above qualifications.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Thorough working knowledge of needs of children placed in substitute care.
• Ability to support the agency's culture, growth, and success through communication, accountability, and positivity.
• Ability to be clear headed and decisive based on the scope of the position.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively both individually and as part of a team.
• Ability to appropriately accept feedback through the supervision process thus displaying the willingness to learn, grow, and improve.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Skilled in approaching care/services from a strengths-based perspective.
• Competent in using Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Go To Meeting, the Internet, and other software applications.
• Effective organizational skills.

Additional Requirements

• Proof of valid Texas Driver's License (Type C) and at least three years of driving experience.
• Access to reliable transportation.
• Proof of valid/current auto insurance.
• Cleared motor vehicle driving record.
• Three employment references.
• Cleared criminal background check and signed statement regarding felony indictments/convictions.
• Cleared TB test results (current within 12 months prior to employment).
• Cleared pre-employment drug test.
• Working cellular telephone.

Physical and Mental Demands

With or without reasonable accommodation, the physical and mental requirements of this job may include the following: frequent seeing, hearing, speaking, and writing clearly. Occasional reaching with hands and arms, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, frequent sitting, standing and walking may be required for long periods of time and may involve climbing stairs, walking up inclines and on uneven terrain. Additional physical requirements may include, frequent lifting and or moving up to 25 pounds. Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.