Family Finder and Parent Engagement Specialist

Position Title: Family Finder and Parent Engagement Specialist
Department: Professional Foster Parenting (PFP)
Reports to: Supervisor of Licensing

Position Objective and Summary:
Works as a part of a professional family support team to assist youth and their families by providing strong location efforts and engagement of biological families. This position will utilize a family-centered, trauma-informed, strength-based approach to engage youth and families. This position will provide administrative support and resource development and support to the casework team. This position is non-case carrying.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Extensive research, investigation, and outreach in locating absentee parents/guardians.
• Identify and locate potential extended family/fictive kinship relationships.
• Assist the family caseworker with facilitating the expansion of resources needed to better service children and their families involved in foster care.
• Attend staff meetings as required and participate in scheduled trainings in order to maintain and upgrade skills.
• Maintain documentation using the Evolv and SACWIS system.

Casework Support

• Assist caseworkers with obtaining vital documents and consents.
• Assist caseworkers with biological parent support and training.
• Facilitation of the expansion of community resources.
• Utilize the Statewide Provider Database (SPYDER) to identify resources for caseworkers and families.

Parent Engagement and Recruitment  

• Possess the ability to identify and engage familial supports and connections including relatives and fictive kin for the purpose of life-long connections and permanency achievement.
• Assist in training potential foster parents and biological parents/relatives as assigned.
• Engage in a variety of techniques to meet and communicate with parents, including attending recruitment events, networking, social media etc.
• Coordinate targeted recruitment events for potential families who may meet a youth’s specific needs.
    

Professionalism and Work Conduct

• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standard, and displays a positive image of UCAN.
• Acts in a professional manner at all times and maintains appropriate boundaries with youth and families.
• Demonstrated accountability for results and keeps commitment to others.
• Reports to work meetings, training, and other job-related activities prepared and as scheduled.
• Demonstrated openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of families and coworkers.
• Understands and support UCAN’s standard of Diversity Equity and Inclusion and strives to meet those standards.
• Understands implicit bias and how to work within a system that impacts decisions for youth and families.
• Perform other related tasks as required or assigned.

Education/Job Experience/Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or Social Work preferred.
• Lived experience and some college would be considered.
• Car, valid Illinois driver’s license and auto insurance required.

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Ability to maintain confidentiality of classified information.
• Experience working with youth in care and foster families.
• Ability to lift up to 25lbs., (carry non-walking children and toy boxes).
• Ability to communicate with children, youth and adults in a courteous and professional manner.
• Has an understanding of trauma-informed practice.
• Has an understanding of Positive Youth Development.
• Ability to work both independently and a part of a high functioning team.
• Experience and ability to use computers for data entry, communication and report writing.
• Working knowledge of the child welfare system.

Work Environment: Requires travel. This position may require work on weekends and evenings (recruitment events).