What are the responsibilities and job description for the Foster Care REtention And Recruitment Specialist position at Bloom?
CAREERS AT BLOOM OUR YOUTH INC
Fayetteville, GA, 30214
(770) 460-6652 |
https://bloomouryouth.org/
Job Title
Foster Care Recruitment and Retention SpecialistResponsible for bringing awareness to the needs of foster children to prospective foster parents, orienting these parents to Bloom, and retaining the families once they become licensed with Bloom.
About Bloom Our Youth Inc
A nationally-recognized and accredited 501(c)3 non-profit located in Fayetteville, GA, Bloom connects the community to evidence-based, outcome-driven programs that support and strengthen the lives of vulnerable children and their families.
There are 11,000 innocent children in Georgia’s foster care system, removed from their homes through no fault of their own.
Separated from the only life they have known, they are scared, confused, and usually empty-handed.
But they are not alone because we are with them.
And we are transforming the path laid out before them.
Bloom is a refuge where foster children can find safe, nurturing foster families with the training and support to help them heal, and free resources like clothing, school supplies, and toys so they can focus on thriving.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Recruitment and Retention Specialist is responsible for bringing awareness to the needs of foster children to prospective foster parents, orienting these parents to Bloom, and retaining the families once they become licensed with Bloom. Under the supervision of the Recruitment and Licensing Manager, this individual will assist in the execution of a comprehensive recruitment and retention plan to enhance the agency’s capacity to identify, recruit, license and retain a variety of types of foster homes licensed with the agency. This individual may also write home studies or foster home re-evaluations, as needed.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
- Increase the number of families expressing an interest in foster parenting through Bloom by working in conjunction with the Licensing and Recruitment Manager to increase foster care awareness.
- Conduct foster parent orientation sessions and train potential foster parents on current referral trends and needs within Georgia’s foster care system.
- Implement a robust retention program for Bloom foster families.
- Increase the number of foster parents retained by Bloom each year.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Foster Parent Recruitment
- Collaborate with the Recruitment and Licensing Manager, Licensing Specialists, and DFCS regional partners on timing of recruitment marketing efforts to coordinate with NTDC training dates.
- Evaluate, track and measure the successes of inquiries to licensing conversion rates and retention outcomes.
- Collaborate with the Recruitment and Licensing Manager and Development team regarding the impact of Child Welfare trends on prospective foster parent interest.
- Conduct all prospective foster parent orientations and upload inquiry data into the GA SCORE and ASI-Ware databases.
- Complete all initial background checks, CPS checks and prior service reference checks for prospective and transfer foster parents.
- Maintain a list of approved NTDC attendees to share with the recruitment and licensing manager & licensing specialists.
- Become a certified NTDC trainer and assist other agency staff in completion of regularly scheduled NTDC classes.
- Implement a calendar of regular foster parent appreciation activities such as support groups, quarterly networking activities, and virtual meet-and-greets for new families.
- Plan and execute annual foster parent special events: Foster Parent Appreciation Picnic (May), Christmas Party (December), & Foster Parent Awards Banquet (January or February).
- Serve as the agency coordinator for various community resource organizations such as Art in the Communities and the Midwest Food Bank.
- Brainstorm and implement innovative ideas to enhance foster family support and opportunities for foster families to network with each other.
- Organize and implement annual Angel tree for Bloom foster families.
- Organize foster parent appreciation projects such as Welcome Basket visits for newly licensed foster parents, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gifts, Foster-Parent-of-month, Easter baskets, etc.
- Assist licensing staff with Preservice Trainings.
- Collaborate with the marketing team on quarterly foster parent newsletters; provide marketing team with updated information, activities and training schedules.
- Assist in the completion of initial home assessments as needed.
- Other duties as assigned.
GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:
This is a full-time position requiring flexibility of schedule. Some weekends and nights are required. Travel within a 50-mile radius of the Bloom Fayetteville office and potential special events near the Rome satellite office.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
BA degree in Human Services, Marketing, Public Relations or related field, Master’s degree preferred. Strong organizational and public speaking skills and two years’ work experience in social services position with youth and families, specifically within the child welfare field. Experience in recruitment preferred. Strong written and verbal communications skills. Excellent time management and ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Ability to type 60 WPM and proficiency in Microsoft Office, Canva, Publisher, PowerPoint, and Excel strongly preferred.
