Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter

Shineforth is a nonprofit organization that provides a comprehensive array of programs to support children, teens, and parents as they work to overcome challenges. We equip families with tools for success so they can achieve their goals. As a national leader in helping young people and families, we also proactively identify unmet social services needs and develop the necessary partnerships to address those needs. 

Summary:

The Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiter will connect youth who wait for permanent homes with families who wish to adopt or support permanency by implementing and coordinating effective recruitment, matching and support services for a caseload of 12-15 youth in active recruitment status. The recruiter will use the evidence-based child-focused recruitment model to identify legally permanent resources for youth in the county’s permanent custody or APPLA status who are over the age of nine, have special needs and/or are part of a sibling group.

What you will do: 

• Work in partnership with LDSS agency staff to identify youth for referrals to the WWK program.
• Review the LDSS case record, interview the youth, caseworker, other agency staff with knowledge of the case, and any available family members and/or other supportive connections to assist in the recruitment process.
• Utilize internet search tools to identify and locate resources within the youth’s network.
• Develop an initial written adoption readiness assessment describing the youth’s understanding and feelings about adoption. 
• Create child-focused recruitment plans for the youth.
• Meet the youth in person, monthly. This includes travel to the youth’s location each month.
• Communicate with the LDSS caseworker monthly to review the progress of the recruitment plan.
• Meet with family members and supportive connections to discuss the progress of locating permanent resources for the youth.
• Once matched, work with the caseworker, youth, and the adoptive/kinship resource to ensure pre-placement visits are implemented.
• Assist with the development and coordination of the transition plan with the youth and matched family. Work with the youth and family during the transition process to assist with placement support.
• Work in conjunction with the LDSS caseworker to ensure that the adoptive family is working towards adoption/kinship finalization.
• Attend educational opportunities provided by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption including, but not limited to: WWK classroom training, online modules, database training, webinars, and the annual Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Summit hosted by the Foundation.
• Submit monthly data in the WWK database.

What you will need:

Qualifications for the WWK recruiter are relevant experience in child welfare including knowledge of issues surrounding foster care, adoption, trauma, medical and developmental needs, and the importance of legal permanency are recommended as well as familiarity with state child welfare rules and procedures and juvenile and/or probate court systems. 

Education and or Experience:

• Bachelor's degree with two years of post graduate direct experience required, MSW preferred
• Expertise in providing family support/excellent customer service.
• Must have a commmitment to work from a strengthe-based and/or youth development perspective.
• Ability and willingness to travel with flexibility to work evenings and occasional weekends.
• Computer literacy and efficiency with MS Office software

Why Work at Shineforth?  

Shineforth has been an unwavering champion for children, teens, and families for more than 125 years. Our main campus is in Richmond, Va., and we offer nearly 20 programs at eight locations throughout Virginia. 

Work-life balance is critical to the health and well-being of our employees, which is why we offer full-time employees generous paid leave, 12 paid holidays, and comprehensive health benefits options that include vision, and optional dental. 

All Shineforth employees (this includes part-time and PRN) are eligible for our Employee Assistance Program, and a 401(k) with employer match. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is at the forefront of all we do at Shineforth, and we maintain a culture of acceptance in which crucial conversations are encouraged. Shineforth doesn’t exclude anyone on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, religion, or economic background. 

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