Vestal Foster Care Homefinder

The Homefinder is responsible for carrying out recruitment, initial certification, and yearly recertification of foster families. The Homefinder will provide initial and ongoing training and assessments of perspective foster families’ abilities to meet the needs of certification. This person works closely in partnership with foster families, County workers and other community partners. Overall, the Homefinder contributes to the Glove House high performance culture by exhibiting our values and providing quality results that keep Glove House as the premier provider of child, family, and behavioral health solutions.

Primary Job Functions

• Provide foster parent recruitment and retention services and overall support of foster parents meeting training and licensure/re-licensure requirements.
• Provide assessment and coordinate and implement the services identified for the foster home or program guidelines while upholding the Glove House Standard of Care.
• Demonstrates understanding of the four dimensions of safety and can identify gaps.
• Assures that job-related activities are following Glove House policies and procedures, OCFS, State and Federal regulations, and relevant professional association, ethical standards, accreditation standards, and the law.
• Assists and completes extensive recruitment activities, including community events, agency awareness, and advertisement efforts.
• Performs initial certifications by completing OCFS and Glove House required documents, obtaining additional documents, providing approved training curriculum while assessing their abilities and running background checks for the prospective foster parents.
• Completes annual recertifications by completing OCFS and Glove House required documents, obtaining additional documents, and reviewing an assessment of the previous year.
• Facilitate foster parent training, and area presentations quarterly.
• Assists in facilitating foster parent support group monthly.
• Assists in the placement process of youth into foster homes by reviewing referrals from county contracts and determining an appropriate match.
• Supports the Foster Care team and may be requested to provide other duties as requested by the Program Manager, including potential Case Work duties
• Knowledge of community resources, casework counseling, NYS Foster Care regulations

Schedule Expectations

The incumbent will work an agreed upon standard scheduled week, which may include weekends, holidays, or evenings. The ability to work flexible hours is required, as is the ability to provide on-call support when scheduled or to meet business needs. Travel will be as needed, to conduct Glove House business-related activities. Generally, duties of this position require at least 80% time at work/face-to-face time with clients, co-workers, and supervisor. Up to 20% may be approved to work from home as approved by supervisor.

Don't forget to ask about our tuition reimbursement opportunities!

Bachelor’s degree required. (All degrees must be from an accredited university.)

Must have a valid driver’s license and driving record in accordance with agency standards.

Minimum 3 years’ experience working with children and families in residential, group, or counseling child welfare capacity.