Family Specialist, Resource Family Approval

At Wayfinder Family Services, we understand the unique challenges facing some of our state’s most vulnerable children, youth and adults. Those with disabilities, those without a home of their own, those who have been abused and many, many more. We answer the call for them. We believe in the amazing potential in, and for, each and every one of them. And, together, we find a way to turn that potential into reality.

Program And Role Summary

Our statewide Foster Care and Adoption programs match children and youth who have been displaced from their homes due to abuse or neglect with families that can provide safe, caring homes. Wayfinder recruits, trains and certifies resource (foster) families, some of whom ultimately adopt the children they foster. We emphasize a child achieving permanency, which can be reunification with birth parents, living with relatives, adoption or guardianship.

The primary focus of the Family Specialist is to provide intensive support, guidance, and coordination to kinship caregivers as they navigate the Resource Family Approval (RFA) pre-approval process. This role focuses on preparing relative and non-relative extended family members to meet licensing regulatory requirements ensuring child safety standards, and promoting stable, nurturing family placements for children involved in the child welfare system.

This position is eligible for a $1/hr bilingual differential.

Primary Responsibilities

• Kinship Engagement & Support
• Build trusting, respectful relationships with kinship caregivers.
• Provide education on the RFA process, timelines, and expectations.
• Support caregivers in understanding their role in promoting child safety, permanency, and well-being.
• RFA Pre-Approval Preparation
• Guide families through all components of the pre-approval process, including fingerprints, applications, paperwork/ documentation, training requirements and any other pre approval requirements .
• Assist caregivers in completing required paperwork accurately and timely.
• Conduct home visits to support and provide coaching on meeting home environment and safety standards.
• Home Environment & Compliance Support
• Educate caregivers on health and safety standards required for approval.
• Provide hands-on assistance to prepare the home for inspection (e.g., sleeping arrangements, emergency plans, medication storage).
• Identify any barriers to approval early on and collaborate with families and social worker to develop solutions.
• Training & Resource Coordination
• Connect caregivers to required pre-service training and community resources.
• Support access to concrete resources (e.g., beds, smoke detectors, car seats) as needed.
• Collaboration & Communication
• Work closely with social workers, RFA staff, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure alignment and timely approvals.
• Maintain consistent communication with county partners and internal teams regarding family progress.
• Participate in case consultations and team meetings.
• Documentation & Compliance
• Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant documentation of all contacts and services provided.
• Track family progress through the approval process and meet program timelines.
• Other duties as outlined in the position description.
  

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work OR 18 units of Psychology, Sociology and/or Communication and a minimum of two years of experience in a case management role.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention and the unique needs of kinship care.
• Bilingual (Spanish), required.
• Valid CA Driver License with a minimum of three (3) years good driving history and must be approved by the agency’s insurance carrier to drive agency vehicles.
  
  

Benefits: Wayfinder is committed to providing our employees with a benefits program that is both comprehensive and competitive which includes:

• Paid Time Off: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, 11 paid holidays, plus five winter holidays
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match up to 4%
• Employee referral program: Encourage your colleagues to join us
• Education tuition assistance program: Invest in your career development
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible
• Flexible spending account (FSA) plans
• Eligibility and other benefits are outlined in plan documents
• $1/hr bilingual differential
  
  

Wayfinder Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We support a drug-free workplace and conduct pre-employment background and drug screenings.