Foster Care Program Specialist

The Foster Care Program Specialist is responsible for ongoing communication and the systematic collection, documentation and processing of foster care licensing paperwork on behalf of foster parent applicants. The processing of these vital licensing documents and the submittal to the NE Department of Health & Human Services for licensure within the contractual timelines is a critical component of this position. This position is also responsible for supporting, equipping and educating both children and families with connecting principles to ensure each home operates in a safe, caring and nurturing environment where youth may flourish.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

CASELOAD MANAGMENT:

·        Supports foster care by carrying a small caseload. Duties include maintaining contact with foster parents and youth placed in their homes, managing youth files, maintaining ongoing professional documentation, and communicating regularly with involved professionals on each case.

·        Acts as a liaison between foster parents or youth, and DHHS or other professional and case management agencies. Handles confidential information and explains policies and procedures as necessary.

·        Attends and participates in court hearings and family team meetings with youth and/or when foster parents cannot be present.

·        Reports incident information immediately and directly to the Foster Care Supervisor (i.e., self-harm/ harm to others statements, sexual harassment, bullying, drug use, runaway, physical aggression, verbal aggression, self-mutilation, refusing medications, etc.). Follows proper documentation procedures for all other incidents.

·        Uses proper assessment tools to measure the diverse needs of at-risk youth in the following areas: physical, social, intellectual, and spiritual, and develops plans to address these needs.

·        Ensures certain medication logs, clothing inventories, safety meetings, and appropriate boundaries are being utilized properly within each foster home, based on procedure and the individual needs of each foster youth.

·        Establishes, develops, and maintains positive relationships with foster families, while providing them with ethical and consistent support. Responsible to provide praise, encouragement, direction, and feedback as necessary to the family and foster youth placed in their home.

·        Maintains regular contact with all consumers (i.e., foster parents, biological parents, guardians ad litem, case workers, court-appointed special advocates, therapists, counselors, parents, school personnel, etc.). Adheres to communication guidelines set forth by contractual obligations.

·        Observes foster parents and youth residing in their home, or youth placed within the agency (i.e., respite care).

·        Provides support to foster/adoptive families until the adoption is finalized.

APPROVALS/LICENSING:

·        Completes all kinship and relative approvals and/or licenses following all state and agency compliance requirements. This includes writing, processing, and submitting the home study as well as submitting background checks and performing fingerprint testing according to Christian Heritage and DHHS standards.

·        Completes initial foster parent licensing, assembling licensing packets with all necessary information according to Christian Heritage and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services requirements.

·        Communicates closely with the Nebraska Health and Human Services Resource Developer to ensure licensing compliance regarding foster families and kinship/relative approved homes, the placement of youth as directed by the Foster Care Supervisor, licensing standards, and other pertinent issues.

·        Schedules and conducts home visits to ensure and continually monitor current licensing and safety compliance (i.e., medication dispensing, lethality issues, crisis intervention, intakes, emergency protocols such as fire, tornado, etc.).

·        Evaluates abilities and limitations of potential foster homes and makes recommendations regarding licensing capacities.

·        Completes all renewals and addendums to current licensed and/or approved foster homes. Addendums may include but are not limited to address change, notice of change, or new license application for current foster parents.

·        Completes an adoption home study when there is a possibility the youth could become legally available for adoption.

TRAINING:

·        Completes at least 24 hours of pre-service training and participates in ongoing annual training for personal and professional development.

·        Provides scheduled consultations and trainings for foster parents.

·        Creates and distributes licensing and training communication to all necessary parties, including dispersing email communication to foster parents and tracking all foster parent training for their service area.

·        Assists with foster parent training as needed. This includes but is not limited to explaining the licensing process to a training class, helping with logistics of the training, and preparing training documents.

DOCUMENTATION:

·        Collects, submits, and files all documentation pertaining to licensed and or kinship/relative approved foster homes, establishing and maintaining an accurate and detailed filing system for each foster family and relative/kinship approved home.

·        Documents necessary information of potential and licensed foster families in data system accurately and within a timely manner, ensuring all tracking documentation in Extended Reach is up to date for foster parents and or kinship/relative homes throughout the licensing and/or approval processes.

·        Completes service planning and reporting by following appropriate reporting processes and timelines for each foster child/youth according to Christian Heritage, HHS, or lead agency reporting and documentation guidelines.

·        Updates and maintains each youth file on a weekly basis as dictated by Health and Human Services’ or the lead agency’s auditing standards. Establishes, develops, and maintains accurate and current records for all foster children in the database system. Enters data regularly, and retrieves files as necessary.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Performs and satisfactorily carries out other duties and tasks as assigned. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Additional Information related to qualifications, required competencies, etc. are available in the complete job description.