EMPLOYER INFORMATION

Children’s Home Society of Virginia (CHSVA) is a full-service, private, nonprofit, non-sectarian licensed child-placing agency. Our agency’s programs support CHSVA’s mission to build strong, permanent families and lifelong relationships for Virginia’s at-risk children and youth.

Through our post-adoption program, we are committed to providing high-quality, personalized support services for children and families starting at the adoptive placement through finalization and beyond. Throughout the lifetime of adoption, children and their families are impacted by loss, grief, identify, attachment, and trauma. Our well-rounded program is designed to meet the individual needs of each child and family—from advocacy to respite—with the goal of building strong, permanent families.

Full-time benefits include medical/dental/vision insurance, a 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer matching, paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, paid parental leave, life/disability insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Pay commensurate with qualifications. CHSVA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

PRIMARY FUNCTION

The Post Adoption Social Worker will provide trauma-informed and best practice clinical services to adoptive families and their children in the Regional Consortium for Post Adoption Services and surrounding areas to prevent adoption disruptions and dissolutions. This includes increasing their sense of support, increasing knowledge and ability to work through the adoption process and improving family dynamics.

This is a full-time hybrid position. Standard hours are 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday, but the role entails periodic evening and weekend responsibilities to best serve our clients. Work may be performed at our Richmond office (at least three days per week), remotely (i.e. work from home), and at various locations/events in Northern Virginia (a couple of times per month, no overnights). Business travel to Northern Virginia will be in our agency vehicle, or in the social worker's personal vehicle with mileage reimbursement.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES*

Parent Coaching:

• Develop clinical parent coaching service goals to families with adoptive placements or finalized adoptions; to increase the likelihood of successful placements and reduce the child’s emotional and behavioral challenges;
• Implement trauma-informed parenting strategies on a weekly to bi-weekly basis, both in person and on the phone in order to achieve service goals;
• Prepare and maintain records of contacts and services provided to families, and evaluate effectiveness of efforts in order to utilize time and efforts effectively;
• Develop relationships with families allowing for recruitment of new clients and retention of current clients;

Family Engagement:

• Refer families to appropriate services and programs and advocate on behalf of family’s needs;
• Serve as a liaison and guide when dealing with agencies and processes involved in an adoption such as, but not limited to, DSS, CPS, CASA, therapists, schools, doctors, GALs;
• Assist the LDSS worker in the coordination services to minimize fragmentation of care, reduce barriers, and link children and adoptive families with appropriate services to ensure comprehensive, continuous access to needed medical, social, educational, and other services appropriate to the needs of the child;
• Create opportunities for adoptive families to expand their adoptive network of support through peer support activities and other support opportunities;
• Assist with monitoring and maintaining the agency’s on-line support group for adoptive families;

Education & Training:

• Provide opportunities for families and children to increase their knowledge and understanding of issues surrounding adoption by providing trainings and individualized psycho-education;
• Assist with planning and conducting adoptive parent training classes;
• Assist in the development of post adoption resource materials;
• Maintain statistical information for training as well as engaged families in order to assess effectiveness and customer satisfaction;

Respite and Peer Support:

• Implement activities in order to provide respite to adoptive families and age-appropriate therapeutic activities related to adoption for adopted children;
• Participate in the planning and implementation of respite and peer support events as outlined by the grant;

Outreach:

• Provide the public with general information about adoption services and specifically about the post adoption program; accomplished through public outreach events and program orientations;
• Represent the agency in the community and interagency meetings as needed;

Other:

• Submit service activity and client demographic reports to VDSS pursuant to Regional Consortium funding requirements
• Carry the CHS “emergency cell phone” at designated times during the year;
• Other duties as assigned.*

*This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. The employee is expected to perform other duties necessary for the effective operation of the agency.

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of the impact of trauma on the child and youth development
• Knowledge of the adoption process, impact and that it is a lifelong process
• Knowledge of childhood development and the effects of attachment
• Knowledge of the foster care system in Virginia and how it operates
• Knowledge of agency, State and Federal rules and regulations as they relate to adoption and foster care
• Knowledge and understanding of trauma-informed care
• Knowledge of the process for VEMAT, IEP, finalization and subsidy negotiation

SKILLS

• Skills in interviewing, counseling, and communicating in order to facilitate effective interactions with customers
• Skilled in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Powerpoint
• Skilled at collaborating with clients, staff and professionals in the community
• Understanding of other supportive agencies and services in the capture area

ABILITIES

• Ability to work independently but answer to many people
• Ability to tolerate ambiguity
• Ability to communicate and build relationships with a variety of internal and external customers
• Ability to grow as the program and position grow
• Ability to present the program to others in clear and meaningful manner
• Ability to anticipate project needs, determine work priorities and meet deadlines with little supervision
• Ability to respond and provide feedback in a supportive, empathetic and professional manner to the needs of adoptive families
• Ability to assess a family’s needs and plan services to address those needs by direct clinical services or referrals
• Ability to work well with a multidisciplinary team; excellent communication and follow up skills

QUALIFICATIONS

• A master’s degree in social work (MSW) from a college or university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or a master’s degree in any other related discipline.
• Three years of experience providing case work services to children and families.
• An in-depth understanding of trauma-informed care.
• Commitment to the mission, goals and services of Children’s Home Society of Virginia.
• Acceptable driving record and adequate auto insurance.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Application Question(s):

• Do you have valid auto insurance?
• Are you willing to drive to Northern Virginia for meetings/family events, approximately twice per month? (Daytime travel in our agency vehicle or in your personal vehicle with mileage reimbursement; no overnight stay required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Richmond, VA 23230: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Richmond, VA 23230