Foster Care Admissions Coordinator

Join Our Team as a Foster Care Admissions Coordinator and help make a difference in the lives of children, youth, and families!

Are you passionate about supporting the healthy development of children, youth, and families for a brighter future?
Look no further! At Northern Children’s Services (Northern), every role in the organization contributes to helping us achieve our mission and vision.

We believe that every child and youth has the potential to transform themselves – no matter their background or life situation.
We work to “walk the talk” when it comes to our organizational values: Excellence, Respect, Resilience, Cultural Humility & Justice, Healing, and Wellness.

Why Choose Us? As a Life Skills Coordinator, you’ll embark on a fulfilling journey!

• Leadership Opportunity
• Supportive Environment
• Empowerment and Progress
• Effective Communication
• Empowerment Through Planning
• Continuous Monitoring and Progress
• Documentation Excellence
• Networking and Collaboration

Top Work Place Certified 2024 For more information, visit https://northernchildren.org/

Benefits: 

• We offer comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance for full-time employees.
• Life Insurance/AD&D and LTD: We provide full-time employees with a $20,000 life insurance policy through Mutual of Omaha Company at no cost. Additionally, Mutual of Omaha LTD coverage and AD&D insurance offer financial security to our employees and their families.
• Our partner insurance company offers a range of self-funded insurance plans, including accident insurance, cancer insurance, life insurance, critical illness coverage, and short-term disability insurance, providing additional financial protection to our employees.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan: We offer a 401(k)-savings plan with a generous matching contribution after one year of employment.
• Paid Leave: Employees have access to generous paid time off or sick leave, allowing them to prioritize their health and well-being.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Our EAP offers confidential referral and counseling services to help employees and their families manage life's challenges, including stress management, legal and financial concerns, depression, and substance abuse.
• Legal Services: Self-funded legal services provide valuable support and resources for various legal matters.

Qualifications You Bring: 

• Expertise
• Physical Capabilities
• Trauma-Informed Approach

At Northern Children’s Services, Inc., we value diversity, inclusion, and the well-being of every individual. Join us in our mission to empower children and families, one meaningful interaction at a time. Apply today and be a part of something truly extraordinary!

Northern Children's Services supports the healthy development of children and youth, while stabilizing their families to build stronger communities. Everything we do at Northern Children's Services is designed to create a better future for our families.

Job Summary

The Admissions Coordinator – Under the Direction of the Director of Foster Care is responsible for performing intake and admissions and Discharge functions following regulatory, funding source and agency guidelines and criteria.  The Admissions Coordinator will monitor the effectiveness of intake functions in regards to appropriateness of referrals, timeliness, and matching the resource home assigned to provide service. The Admissions Coordinator will work in conjunction with the Department of Human Service Central Referral Unit to place children in our Foster homes during the weekday ---the goal is to place at least 3 children per week. This employee will ensure that referrals are responded to promptly and assessed in a timely manner to implement services as soon as possible. The Admissions Coordinator will work with the Resource parents to arrange respite placements and changes of placement according to procedure.   

• The Admissions Coordinator will respond to all CRU placemat request daily via email and phone.  

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THIS POSITION 

Leadership 

• Assures that the Admission and Discharge are carried out in accordance with all applicable regulations and Agency Criteria. 
• Will be a leader within the department to ensure a smooth transition upon the receipt of a referral, etc. 
• Attend the weekly admission meetings with all programs related (when scheduled).  

Monitoring 

• Assures that all activities including logs and paperwork related to the function of Admission are performed according to the standards set by the Agency.   
• Monitors cases to determine upcoming closures to project cases openings.   
• Monitors cases for length of time in a program in regard to the program expectations.
• Monitor admission tracking documents. 
• Monitors foster and kinship placements for stability and quality in conjunction with the foster parent recruiters and resource parent support workers (RPSW)   
• Monitor census of programs to anticipate staffing needs. 

Communication 

• Creates, promotes, and assures effective communication among the staff from various departments that interacts with the Admission Office. 
• Prepares and submits reports as required in a timely manner.
• Update Resource parent list weekly and email to the teams every Friday 
• DHS connect updates –capacity and 30/90 days notices 
• Maintain respite request and work with our RP’s and the authorizing agency to ensure the respite takes place 
• Utilize our admission questionnaire
• Update and send open home list weekly to direct supervisor and FC supervisor and team 
• Maintains all D/C , admission request for memos, transfer and respites memos  

Networking 

• Maintains consistent contact with the Department of Human Services’ Central Referral Unit, billing department,
• Develops relationships with various admissions units of provider agencies i.e., attending the intake and referral meetings 

Direct Care 

• Completes intake assessments/interviews to determine if referrals are appropriate in regards to agency criteria, referral needs, and match potential with foster homes  
• Completes assessments Foster Care candidates for admission to the programs. 
• Collects sufficient referral information by which to make appropriate recommendations. The Admissions Coordinator collects and follow-up regarding the gathering of information for all referrals to Foster Care to be certain that sufficient information is available to make a determination regarding admission.   
• Assures that the required admission paperwork is completed, up to date, and presented to the appropriate division within five working days of admission.  
• Assesses and Responds to Home Safety Issues  
• Begins the process of establishing benchmarks for discharge. 
• HCSIS updates 
• Megan’s Law updates  
• Filing all new Resource parents paperwork –review and gather pertain information for placements  

Performs other duties as assigned. 

III. BASIC SKILL SETS 

• Ability to communicate and interact with all staff.
• Ability to communicate with and assess potential clients for the programs.
• Ability to accurately calculate numbers, as in addition, subtraction and percentages.
• Ability to give clear and concise oral and written instructions.
• Working knowledge of the Child Welfare System.  Knowledge and ability to navigate other systems.
• Excellent written communication 
• Working knowledge of the use of computers and pertinent software programs. 

 QUALIFICATIONS 

• Education: Minimum Requirement: Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, Sociology, Liberal arts or related field
• 3 years of experience working in Social Service field  

  PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES AND WORK REQUIREMENTS 

•  Ability to walk up and down stairs. 
• Ability to operate a calculator and computer.       
• Current valid driver’s license. 
• Travel is required through the five county areas and beyond. 
• Ability to lift 20 lbs.  

Trauma-Informed Behavior 

Ability to exhibit: 

• Willingness to learn and maintain the value of a trauma-informed culture. 
• Commit to the maintenance of a therapeutic environment and community that promotes safety, nonviolence, and resilience as the basis for all we do with clients and staff. 
• Knowledge and utilization of trauma-informed practices: 
• Emotional intelligence 
• Effective communication 
• Understanding of the impact of trauma on human development 
• Use of person-first and strengths-based language 

Americans with Disabilities: As with all positions at Northern Children’s Services, Inc. we recognize the importance of accommodations individuals with disabilities. In that, we are committed to every extent possible accommodating disabled individual. We recognize the American with Disabilities Act of 1991 and understand the need to reasonably accommodate employees. All accommodation will be evaluated case by case, evaluating the essential functions of the positions.   

DISCRIMINATION IS PROHIBITED IN EMPLOYMENT, PROMOTION, ASSIGNMENT OR DISMISSAL, ON THE BASIS OF RACE, RELIGION, COLOR, AGE, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, and HANDICAP, OR RECEIPT OF SERVICES FOR MENTAL DISABILITY. 

Salary : $20,000