Lead Adoption Specialist- Sarasota

Description

SUMMARY 

The Lead Adoption Specialist (LAS) will provide mentorship, guidance, and training to Adoption Specialists. The LAS will have achieved the Florida Certification Board’s Child Welfare Case Manager Certification and will assist staff to become proficient as they work towards their certification; if applicable. The LAS will actively schedule with the staff to attend field events such as home visits, court hearings, school visits, etc. as well as work side by side with staff on Florida Safe Families Network (FSFN) work product and other agency processes. 

The LAS will continue duties of an Adoption Specialist with a primary assignment caseload; to include working directly with children who are legally free for adoption and striving to meet the goal of legal permanency by required timeframe of 24 months from removal. This includes recruiting homes for waiting children, conducting home studies and child assessment studies, determining the strengths and needs of adoptive families and children, matching waiting children with adoptive families, preparing children and families for the adoption process, providing support and guidance through the process, coordinating subsidy, and facilitating legal finalization.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

· Assist Adoption Specialist staff with the following aspects of the currently held AS role: 

· Conduct in-depth home study interviews with adoptive applicants while observing familial interactions and behaviors. General areas for exploration include: motivation to adopt, circumstances of application, social history of each adoptive applicant, interview with children in the home who are old enough to express themselves verbally, marital/relationship history, philosophies on child rearing, expectations of the child, employment, and educational history, complete exploration of local, state, FBI, FAHIS background check and history, finances, health, and areas of special concern. Draft document.

· Draft in-depth child studies including, but not limited to: complete physical description of child, developmental and birth and delivery information on child, complete hereditary and birth family history, reason(s) for coming into out-of-home care, full psychological, medical, and educational history, statement regarding current psychological, medical, and educational needs, chronology of all placements and number of moves, child's preparation for adoption, Information for this document is to come from a complete review of the child's dependency file, interviews/collateral contacts with foster parents, service providers, GAL, and former caregivers, interview with the child (if old enough). Document is to be given to adoptive family and should not include identifying birth family information.

· Place every child on the Adoption Exchange System within 30 days after court order terminating parental rights is signed. Web-authorize children who are in identified homes and place these children on AdoptUSKids and other mandated websites in order to recruit for adoptive homes.

· Upon initial contact, thoroughly discuss adoption process with adoptive applicants, expectations of the Coalition, requirements for adoption, and paperwork. Distribute adoption paperwork to families, explaining the need and purpose for the documents, review all documents that are received, provide support and guidance regarding how the paperwork should be completed, ensure all documents are received before final approval.

· Provide information to families regarding the unique needs of children who are adopted through the child welfare dependency system. Give all families information about the Adoption Reunion Registry.

· Adoption Specialist should obtain necessary verbal and written information to present at court, administrative staffings, permanency staffings, and school staffings.

· Attend and participate in court proceedings, as appropriate and/or when required 

· Attend and participate in Case Review staffings, i.e., Administrative staffings, Permanency staffings, Match Meetings, school staffings, as appropriate, and according to agency policy and procedure.

  A comprehensive benefits program including: 

• 5 weeks of PTO accruals available during the first year of employment
• 12 paid holidays
• Professional development
• Ongoing coaching and feedback
• Employee Assistance Program (“EAP”)

Health Benefits with shared premium costs, including: 

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life
• Short-term disability
• Long-term disability
• 401(k) retirement

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS 

Education and Experience: 

· Bachelor’s degree in human services field from an accredited college or university.  

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations: This position requires the following credentials.

• Florida Certification      Board’s Child Welfare Case Manager Certification
• Valid driver’s license in good standing
• Valid car insurance