Alabama Foster Care & Adoption Specialist (Huntsville)

Location: Huntsville, AL

Position Status: Full Time

Position Summary: Provides ongoing education and advocacy for foster families. Counsels clients concerning options surrounding foster care and how their family should serve, walks a family through the licensure process, and prepares them for partnership with the state’s Department of Human Resources/ Child Protective Services (DHR/ CPS). This position also entails teaching foster parent training classes, outreach and advocacy with DHR and area churches, creating and presenting CEU opportunities for families and staff, and assisting in planning events for foster care. Establishes initial contact with prospective foster and/or adoptive families for any of Lifeline’s programs. Works with prospective families in processing the home assessments needed for a placement. 

Primary Duties:

• To be a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ to co-workers, clients and ministry partners
• Actively participates on the team in a manner aligned with scripture including, but not limited to, praying for and with other team members, sharing scripture in daily activities and leadership, modeling the character of Jesus Christ in interactions with team and any external clients, partners, vendors, etc.
• Disciples’ ministry partners and clients.
• Aligns team dynamics, internal & external processes, and final product of team’s work with Biblical principles and with Lifeline’s Core Values
  
  
  

Foster Care Specialist

• Assists the agency to recruit, enroll, maintain, and work with prospective foster parents in processing a foster placement
• Adheres to excellent social service standards and practice in compliance with Lifeline’s Core Values and Ministry Goals through consistent support, training and development
• Conducting home studies for families seeking foster care licensure through DHR/ CPS and creating the portfolio needed for licensure by DHR/ CPS
• Building relationships with DHR/ CPS workers & supervisors
• Seeking supervision and backup on decisions in accordance with agency policy
• Providing ongoing support, counseling and advocacy for foster families
• Providing support for the foster family by communicating with the social worker at DHR/ CPS, the county DHR/ CPS office and various resources as needed
• Helping to provide state mandated family licensing training classes for interested foster families
• Attending foster parent support groups and foster parent gatherings/events hosted by Lifeline
• Training churches in how to provide support systems in their church for foster families.
• Recruiting families and churches to pursue foster care.
• Writing and leading continuing education for foster families and social workers.
• Must be willing to work in a “team” atmosphere with other workers in the foster care department
  
  
  

Adoption Specialist

• Assists the agency to recruit, enroll, maintain, and work with prospective adoptive parents in processing an adoptive placement
• Adheres to excellent social service standards and practice in compliance with Lifeline’s Core Values and Ministry Goals through consistent support, training and development
• Provides professional assessment of interpersonal relationships, family dynamics and environment stresses and support, and mental health status to conduct home studies for available programs that may or may not include any of the following: domestic adoption, international adoption, foster care, foster care adoption, or Harbor Families
• Assures all paperwork and documentation complies with appropriate state and/or international country’s standards
• Ensures that all information needed to complete the placement or adoption record is well-documented, completed and on file
• Schedules/completes post-adoption/placement visits after placement of child and provides direct client evaluation and intervention
• Implementing quality case management, works with clients until they receive placement, helping individuals solve and manage challenges in their adoption process, including fielding questions, following up with phone calls, and completing all applicable paperwork and communication necessary
• Provides consultation and education for clients/families on the nature of domestic adoption, international adoption, foster care adoption or foster care placement
• Practice casework with social work ethical standards as established by the agency, through regular attendance at training and meetings.
• Assisting the appropriate program directors, supervisors, managers and coordinators with various tasks assigned in process of any above described programs.
• Helps with informational meetings with the goals of family recruitment or church partnerships
• Completing home assessments for contract couples as assigned and needed using the same standards of assessment and client-centered consultation mentioned above
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor or executive team representative
  
  
  

Minimum Requirements:

Education:  Bachelor’s degree in social work (preferred) or a related human services field (whichever is required by State)  Experience:  No experience needed except where required by State  Licensure:  Not required unless required by State; Social Work licensure, strongly preferred  Other:  Must lift at least 25lbs, must have reliable transportation 

Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a professional office environment
• May require local travel from time to time
  
  
  

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Posted 12/2/22