FFT Resource Family Recruiter

Description

I. PURPOSE/FUNCTION OF THE PROGRAM:

The Functional Family Therapy – Foster Care (FFT-FC) Program is a relationally focused and trauma-informed treatment model for youth in the Foster Care System that increases the likelihood of successful positive adjustment and permanency placement. It provides a comprehensive and systematic approach to help youth and families overcome individual and relational trauma to promote stable foster care and long-term permanency placements. In addition, the FFT- FC Program trains, recruits, and approves resource families.

II. POSITION SUMMARY:

The Recruiter is responsible for the identification, development, and implementation of BGV’s recruitment and retention goals in compliance with contract requirements. Works within the vision, mission, and philosophy of the agency to effectively recruit and determine eligibility based on initial screening, and efficiently approve qualified resource families for the FFT- FC Program within assigned geographic areas.

The Recruiter is also responsible for pre-approval training, post- approval training, and the retention of foster families. This position serves as a liaison between Boys &Girls Village FFT- FC Program, DCF, the media, and other community members. Provides continuous recruitment services throughout Greater New Haven area to raise awareness and develop resources for children and/or youth who require care due to abuse, neglect, or other at risk factors.

III. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Recruit and retain resource families to meet contractual capacity for the Greater New Haven DCF area office.
• Develop and implement a written child-specific recruitment plan, with monthly updates provided to the CPS team, for each child in the FFT FC program who does not have a permanency resource;
• Ensure cultural, linguistic, racial and ethnic diversity in recruited families to mirror the identity of the children served;
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings with both birth and foster families;
• Conduct intensive search and engagement activities and application of extreme recruitment tools to identify potential resources (e.g., case mining, record reviews, family finding tools, Lexis Nexis as permitted by The Department)
• Actively recruit permanent resources for assigned children including individuals connected to the child, biological relatives, families seeking to adopt, and any other resources that may lead to permanency for the child
• Facilitate public relations efforts to recruit and match potential families and children; inclusive of the BGV’s existing network of licensed families
• Monitor successful recruitment efforts as well as stay up to date on recruitment campaigns locally and nationally including Wendy's Wonderful Kids
• Provide pre and post-licensing training to prospective foster and adoptive parents
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with a variety of community organizations, groups and entities (e.g., faith-based organizations, civic groups, grassroots organizations, hospitals and the community at large) to aid with the recruitment of a sufficient number of qualified and licensed homes to achieve the minimum annual contract capacity
• Conduct all required licensing and reapproval processes for new and existing families
• Coordinates with Supervisor and Director to ensure timely training, approval, matching and pre-placement of referrals
• Attends and participates in regional and statewide recruitment collaborative Meetings (e.g. Network and Systems of Care)
• Disseminates, monitors, and records all activities related to recruitment/ retention on a weekly basis and provides written documentation to management weekly.
• Completes Home Study Assessments and Family Profiles as assigned

IV. OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Completes and submits recruitment and tracking inquires to Manager and Program Director
• Establishes volunteers to aid in recruitment through community grass roots organizations, religious entities, educational settings, youth programs, businesses, media contacts, etc.
• Provides and implements retention strategies
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned in order to deliver seamless services throughout the agency.

V. ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS:

• Knowledge of the foster care system
• Strong knowledge of community
• Experience in recruitment/ marketing

VI. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree in Social Work or related field
• Bi-lingual preferred
• Public relations experience

VII. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• N/A

VIII. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must be able to climb several flights of stairs
• Must be able to work with clients in a variety of settings
• Must be able to lift up to 35 lbs.

IX. WORKING CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENT:

• Evening and occasional weekends are required
• Must have access to reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license and be willing to travel throughout the state
• Must be willing to work a flexible work schedule