Family Finding and Engagement Specialist

Description

Position Function: 

Performs highly complex consultative services and technical assistance. Work involves planning, developing, and conducting searches for missing parents or relatives. The role of the Family Finder is also to assist in the facilitation of and conduct Collaborative Family Engagement meetings with CASA as well as other family meetings. This role must ensure documentation is thorough and concise. This position interacts routinely with clients, family members, CASA and attorneys.

Working Conditions: 

Position includes interaction with parents, guardians, relatives and attorneys and other professional stakeholders.

Exposure to Confidential Information:

The Family Finder will have access to confidential records including youth files, foster care and adoption records, and foster parent information. Must maintain confidentiality and follow policies related to personnel records and client records. 

Key Expectations/Responsibilities:

· Maintain high ethical standards which are outlined in the ACH Child and Family Services Code of Ethics.

· A commitment to empowering others to solve their problems.

· Value a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a person.

· A conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.

· The ability to lead and manage staff.

· The ability to develop goals for the program and implement strategies for achieving these goals.

· The ability to establish a respectful relationship with persons served to help them gain skills and confidence.

· The ability to work collaboratively with other personnel and/or service providers and professionals.

· The capacity to maintain a helping role and to intervene appropriately to meet service goals.

· The ability to set appropriate limits.

· Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.

· Promotes, monitors, and ensures that respect is demonstrated for cultural diversity.

· Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.

Planning:

· Participate in meetings with collaborating partners and agencies.

· Participate in ACH Leadership meetings.

· Provide leadership in QCC process and planning meetings as needed to facilitate quality care.

Implementation:

· Review and approve child placement casework decisions, and when requested by the client or others to ensure decisions are appropriate and consistent with policies and procedures.

· Plan, promote, and encourage the professional growth and development of management and service delivery personnel.

· Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.

· Conducts initial and on-going searches for absent parents, maternal and paternal relatives as required.

· Attends initial planning meeting for new referrals.

· Provides support to the family to assist in meeting the needs of the child.

· Plans for and facilitates permanency and assists relative and kinship caregivers in providing a safe and nurturing environment for children in their care.

· Maintains a close working relationship with public and private agencies involved in providing services/support.

· Provides information to the case management team and internal departments on all matters related to the child, as required. 

· Attends case planning conferences at required intervals.

· Conducts home visits at specified intervals, or as required.

· Coordinates community resources for the benefit of children served.

· Coordinates with intake and other appropriate staff on the placement of children.

· Completes documentation and forwards reports containing descriptive, analytical and evaluative content.

· Coordinates with the case management team and staff from external public and private agencies on the delivery of services to children and families.

· Refrains from assuming any duty that is unrelated to and/or interferes with the responsibilities of the position.

Training and Supervision:

· Attend continuing education necessary to expand knowledge and maintain certifications or licenses.

· Communicate regularly with supervisor and seek supervision when appropriate.

· Participate in and sometimes conduct in-service training.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required. 

Experience: 2 years of experience in child and family services field preferred. 

Functional:  Knowledge of program planning and implementation. Knowledge of agency policies, procedures, and regulations. Knowledge of laws and regulations to child care, abuse, and neglect. Skills in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships. Skills in effective verbal and written communication. Ability to articulate an understanding of the intersection between race and poverty and the different outcomes and conditions that exist among specific groups as compared to other groups due to unequal treatment of services. Ability to negotiate available services. Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts. Ability to prepare clear and concise reports. Ability to develop and analyze special projects. Ability to travel locally and within the region. The ability to investigate and research through facts thoroughly. The ability to critically think through situations. The ability to work collaboratively with youth, families, collaborating agencies, community professionals, and OCOK/ACH Child and Family Services staff. Must be willing to increase knowledge in the application of all related standards that govern residential services. Must demonstrate good organization skills as well as the ability to develop systems that support compliance. Must demonstrate an ability to continue learning through supervision, continuing education and experience, and work cooperatively using a team approach. Must be willing to put in practice Trauma-Informed Care principals.