Description

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California began in December 1944 when a group of Lutheran 

congregations in San Diego came together to discuss how to better assist families in need. They 

began discussing how to form a Welfare Commission. Their vision expanded when they came together 

with another group of Lutheran congregations in Los Angeles having the very same conversation. 

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California was officially incorporated in 1946 as a 501(c)(3) 

non-profit social service agency. The mission has stayed true to its earliest beginnings, to be a 

servant to those in need. Today LSSSC serves thousands of individuals and families throughout 

Southern California with over 70 different programs/services at nearly 20 different locations. We 

are part of the Lutheran Services in America (LSA) network and strive to serve those in need with 

dignity and respect.

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California’s Mission: Ignited by faith, we live out God’s love 

by embracing, equipping and empowering vulnerable people in Southern California.

Position Summary:

The Family Finder and Engagement Specialist uses a set of resolute practices designed to locate, 

engage, connect, and reconnect youth with family or persons the youth has identified as being 

significantly important to them at one point in their life. They research and connect children with 

their families to develop a sense of belonging and increase positive outcomes for lifelong 

connections.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Effectively utilize search tools and connection strategies to find and engage relative/kin as 

positive connection/permanency resources for clients who have already had a termination of parental 

rights.

2. Identify and contact as many relatives/kin as possible and strategically document so that it 

is easily accessible and understandable to the youth workers that will do the ongoing permanency 

work.

3. Discuss Family Finding Services with the referred client/family at Client Family Team Meetings 

(CFTM).

4. Obtain the legal guardian’s signature on either the Consent to Participate in Family Finding 

form or the Decline to Participate in Family Finding form.

5. Meet with the client/family to identify potential family members with whom the client/family 

would like to reestablish contact.

6. Coordinate the family finding process with the client’s Social Worker (SW), 

Probation Officer (PO), and the team’s facilitator.

7. Collaborate with the SW, PO, and the team facilitator to process the status of efforts to 

contact selected family members with the client/family and give contact information as appropriate.

8. Represent LSS at Team Decision Making Meetings (TDM) hosted by Children and Family Services 

and at other community functions when requested.

9. Travel as needed to meet the contract’s requirements, including out-of-state travel.

10. Participate in CFT meetings in facilitating a team decision regarding contacting, visiting, or 

other communication between client/family and found family members as appropriate and approved by 

the client’s SW/PO.

11. Utilize the Electronic Health Record (EHR) to ensure all required documentation is entered 

accurately and on time. Be able to chart independently by 90 days after hire.

12. Identify placement permanency resources for each case, working alongside the youth’s permanency 

team.

13. Work a flexible schedule, with the ability to offer In-Person Services to clients during the 

evening, weekend, and holiday hours out in the field or at the client’s residence.

14. Use the On-Call schedule for the program, be available to address the regular and emergency 

needs of the clients, including emergency response availability, call back staff, and offer support 

for in- person crisis response during and after normal working hours.

15. Maintain a clean and organized work environment.

16. Meet all requirements and regulations delineated in the Employee Handbook.

17. Provide other services designated by and only with prior approval of the Clinic Director.

18. Advocate for the program by providing outreach to family members and the community.

Competency:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems promptly; Gathers and analyzes information 

skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem-solving situations; Uses 

reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to 

customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Response to requests for service and 

assistance; Meets commitments.

Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens 

and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; 

Participates in meetings.

Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; 

Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret 

written information.

Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes 

approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or 

unexpected events.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; 

Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond

guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.

Requirements

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below represent the required knowledge, skill, and ability. Reasonable accommodations may be arranged to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education/Experience:

High School Diploma or GED diploma at minimum. A valid California driver’s License and 100/300 car 

insurance.

General Qualifications:

• Willingness to be open to learning and growing.

• Maturity of judgment and behavior.

• Maintains high standards for work areas and appearance.

• Attends work and shows up for a scheduled shift on time with satisfactory regularity 

considering LSSSC time and attendance policy and/or client operating hours.

• Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without sponsorship for 

employment visa status (e.g., H1B status)

Skills/Aptitude:

• Ability to present self in a highly professional manner to others and understands that 

honesty and ethics are essential.

• Ability to maintain a positive attitude.

• Ability to communicate with co-workers and other departments with professionalism and 

respect.

• Ability to maintain a professional relationship with all co-workers, vendor 

representatives, directors, specialists, customers, and client representatives.

• Ability to provide clear directions and respond accordingly to employees.

• Must have basic phone and computer skills (email, texting, etc.).

• Good attention to detail.

• Ability to work well under pressure.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Excellent management and organizational skills.

• Ability to work well alone and in a team.

Language Ability:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance 

instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability 

to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of an organization.

Communication:

Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with clients and staff.

Math Ability:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common 

fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and draw and interpret bar 

graphs.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, 

or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized 

situations.

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Microsoft Office software and Excel Spreadsheet software.

Certificates and Licenses:

A valid California driver’s License.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee encounters while 

performing this job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable 

individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The noise level in the work 

environment is usually moderate. Generally, in an indoor setting, however, they may participate in 

outside activities and events. The varying schedule includes evenings, holidays, weekends, and 

extended hours as business dictates.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the 

essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable 

individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The employee must regularly lift and 

move up to 35 pounds and occasionally lift/move 40 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. While performing the duties of 

this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands and fingers to handle or feel; reach with hands

and arms and talk or hear. Additional work conditions may be added specifically to the work 

location.