What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Permanency position at DePelchin Children’s Center?
Classification: Full-time, Exempt
Reports to: Sr. Vice President/COO
Location: Houston, TX
Benefits: Robust benefits package, generous PTO, matching retirement
Position Description:
The Director of Permanency is responsible for leading and overseeing placement, permanency planning, and services for children in the foster care system and their families. This leadership role focuses on developing and implementing strategies to achieve timely, stable, and permanent living arrangements for children in foster care. The Director will ensure that these strategies are oriented toward family wellbeing. The Director ensures that our Community Based Care operations not only align with federal and state regulations, agency policies, and evidence-based best practices in child welfare, but exceed contracted outcome goals.
Primary responsibilities:
- Direct and oversee all permanency programs including adoption, guardianship, kinship care, and family reunification services.
- Develop, implement, and monitor strategic plans to improve permanency outcomes and reduce time children spend in temporary care.
- Establish program goals, metrics, and quality standards aligned with the organization's mission and regulatory requirements.
- Manage program budgets and allocate resources effectively to support permanency initiatives.
- Supervise and mentor supervisory staff who oversee caseworkers and specialists.
- Ensure compliance with federal legislation including the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA), Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), and Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA).
- Lead the adaptation and implementation of evidence-based permanency practices.
- Develop trauma-informed approaches to permanency planning.
- Monitor key performance indicators related to permanency outcomes.
- Analyze permanency data to identify trends, barriers, and areas for improvement.
- Prepare reports on permanency outcomes for agency leadership, board members, and external stakeholders.
- Establish and maintain effective relationships with the court system, including judges, attorneys, and court-appointed advocates.
- Collaborate with community partners, contracted service providers, and other child welfare agencies.
- Represent the agency in multi-disciplinary teams, task forces, and coalitions focused on improving permanency outcomes.
- Partner with youth, birth families, foster families, and adoptive families to inform program development
- Promote a culture that values family wellbeing.
- Bachelor’s degree required. Child welfare or Child Protective Services experience may be substituted for preferred education qualifications.
- Ten (10) years of professional experience in child welfare.
- Five (5) years in management/supervisory roles.
- Demonstrated experience with permanency planning, foster care, and adoption services.
- Experience developing and implementing policies and procedures in a social service setting.
- Demonstrated experience in using data to drive decision making.
- Experience working in complex, high-risk, and/or high profile situations.
- Master’s degree.
- Experience managing multiple programs or units.
- Progressive management experience.
- Knowledge of federal and state child welfare laws, regulations, and court procedures.
- Knowledge of Community Based Care and Texas Child Centered Care.
- Ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
- Knowledge of Department of Family and Protective Services Region 6 child welfare system preferred.
- Environment: Hybrid
- Range of Schedule: Mon – Fri, 7:00 am to 8:00 pm
- Travel: Occasional
DePelchin is Proud to be an Equal Opportunity Workplace.
DePelchin is committed to selecting and employing the best and most qualified person available for each job opening without unlawful discrimination of any kind. Additionally, DePelchin is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), marital or parental status, veteran status, religion, national origin, age, disability, family medical history, genetic information, or political affiliation.
DePelchin Children’s Center supports and sustains children and the families who care for them. We provide comprehensive services focused on ensuring all children are part of safe, caring homes. We deploy evidence-based practices and strategies to prevent maltreatment, preserve healthy families, and bring healing to children who have experienced trauma by enhancing their physical health and mental well-being.
