Foster Care Resource Parent Support worker

Join Our Team as an Foster Care Resource Parent Support worker and help make a difference in the lives of children, youth, and families!

Job Summary

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 an Foster Care Resource Parent Support worker, 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

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.
• A 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.

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

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!

I.SUMMARY

Under the supervision of the Foster Care Director, The Resource Parent Support Worker (RPSW); works directly Resource Parent to help them achieve and support the well-being, stability and permanency of the child or youth in care. This includes working directly with the resource caregiver to help them successfully meet the needs of the child or youth. 

The RPSW must provide face-to-face support to the resource caregiver a minimum of one time per month, with more frequent and intense contacts for new placements and during periods of need. When a child or youth is first placed in the home, the RPSW must provide initial, in-person contact with the Resource Caregiver within three business days if they were not present at the actual placement. This cannot be a phone contact.

Specific responsibilities of the RPSW include providing direct, in-home support to Resource Caregiver focused on:

•  Ensuring the safety and well-being of the child or youth.
•  As needed, by supporting the Resource Caregiver to stabilize the child or youth in the
  home and school setting by helping the Resource Caregiver understand from a
  developmental perspective child or youth behaviors as they may relate to their trauma
  history.
•  Supporting Resource Caregivers to effectively communicate with any education, medical,
  dental or other service providers working with the child or youth.
•  Ensuring Resource Caregivers are in compliance with medication administration and
  documentation.

II. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THIS POSITION:
Communication:

• Maintains appropriate monthly visitation with Resource Families.
• Advocates for the needs of the consumer to obtain needed resources and supports.
•  Clearly and effectively, communicates all pertinent information to involved parties.
•  Participates in regular weekly supervision with the Foster care Supervisor
•  Communicate with the child’s CUA worker, Child Advocate Social Worker and Attorney
  when legal attention is warranted;
•  Promoting and teaching transferable self- advocacy skills to Resource Parents
•  The RPSW must communicate all safety concerns to the Foster care Supervisor within
  immediately.
•  The RPSW is responsible for supporting and bridging communication barriers between
  Resource Parents and Community Umbrella Agency (CUA)/Department of Human
  Services (DHS) staff.
•  Timely communication between the CUA, Provider and caregiver is essential to promoting
  the safety; permanency and wellbeing of children and youth. All parties share a mutual
  responsibility to proactively communicate with one another and respond to emergencies,
  incidents, requests for information and to schedule meetings.
• If the subcontractor or the RPSW are not receiving the information they need to
  appropriately care for children and youth in their care, the chain of command at the CUA is
  to be utilized.
• The RPSW communicates with the CUA as well as supports communication between the
  Caregiver and the CUA by: (HOWEVER NOT A CUA WORKER)
•  Attending CUA case manager Quality visits occurring in the Resource Home, as invited
  by the CUA or as requested by the RPSW.
•  Attending teaming meetings, as invited.
•  Attending Family Court, as invited and not in lieu of the CUA’s appearance.
•  Attending JPO facilitated Teamings or meetings prior to Court and Court proceedings as
  needed.
•  Initiating communication with the CUA when the current array of services a child or
  youth is receiving needs to re-evaluate by the CUA Case Manager based on the child or
  youth’s functioning and status in the placement setting.
• Obtaining documents from the CUA that may be needed by the Resource Caregiver and
  providing them to the caregiver, such as consents for medical, dental, or behavioral health
  care; school documents etc.
•  Obtaining results of medical, dental or treatment appointments the child receives
  while in the Resource Home and providing them to the CUA.

Documentation:

•  Maintain documentation of supports and interventions provided to the resource
  Caregivers.
• Adheres to the 3700 Foster family regulations
•  Ensures the home is a safe environment for children placed
•  Within 48 hours of placing a child –RPSW must meet Face to face with the resource
  parents to review all medical/dental information
•  RPSW-must develop a Transportation Plan
•  Within five days the worker must develop and implement an Individual Crisis plan in collaboration with the resource parent and the CUA case manager in order to meet the needs of the child
• Within 30 days of placement, develop and implement a Resource Parent Support Plan
  specific to each child placed in the home.
•  Within five days the RSPW must develop and implement Respite Plan
•  Review medication logs with Resource parents
•  Review ANSEL CASEY with Resource parent
•  Maintain case record for the resource parents
•  Complete bi-weekly home visit/home safety documentation
•  RPSW is responsible for ensuring respites are planned in advance,, RPSW will work with
  our Admission Coordinator to schedule respites

Planning:

• Attends all required training and pursues other training for professional development.
•  Manages time effectively in order to complete direct service requirements and required
  documentation.
•  Works collaboratively with each CUA and resources parents to ensure agency policies and
  procedures are adhered.

Monitoring:

•  Maintains the appropriate number of training hours as required by local, state and federal
  regulations.
•  Monitor safety plans
•  Megan’s law safety plans if needed

Direct Service:

• Coaches the resource parent on home based strategies to address mental health, Physical
  health needs of the child.
•  To maintain a high continuity of care between Northern’s Resource Families and the
  children they care for, this individual is responsible for coordinating with CUA
  providers, in order to obtain outstanding records, documentation and case management
  supports needed for children placed in their homes.
•  Linkage to Resources for youth
•  Many of these tasks include, but are not limited to: obtaining medical, educational, and
  legal consents; retrieving behavioral health provider treatment consents for children in
  need of psychological evaluation and treatment; obtaining immunization shot records;
  solidifying and obtaining accurate medical insurance coverage information; obtaining
  placement agreement letters from CUA staff; mediating transportation arrangements
  between CUA providers and Resource Parents;
• Conduct re-certification process
•  Create & remedy any corrective action plans or safety plans needed in homes of crisis.
•  Conduct in- home inspection visits, face-to-face meetings with Resource Parents and
  CUA staff, phone conferences, and Foster care team meetings.
•  Participate in monthly support groups
•  Participate in Pre-service training (held one Saturday of each month.)
•  Host Monthly focus groups with Resource parents

Networking:

•  Maintains contacts with level resource parents, Community Umbrella Agencies and the
  Department of Human Services.
•  Maintains contacts with other community resources and agencies.
•  Coordinates communications between Resource Parents and CUA staff.
•  Attends CUA meetings, relating to child welfare changes and regulatory updates.
•  Consults and collaborates with agency personnel, referral sources, county agencies and
  other groups and individuals external to the program.

III. BASIC SKILL SETS:

• Ability to communicate and interact with staff within and outside the agency.
• Ability to assess and define needs and problems, collect data, develop factual
  information and draw valid professional conclusions.
•  Ability to effectively present and respond to questions from various sources.
•  Ability to accurately calculate numbers.
•  Ability to work with a computer in performing duties.
•  Ability to give clear, concise and professional oral and written instructions.
•  Excellent working knowledge of child welfare system and family
  dynamics/childhood mental health issues and needs as well as the systems that
  impact on children and youth.
• Strong knowledge of case management practices and requirements.
•  Ability to assess training needs and develop training programs for resource parents.
•  Ability to assess applicants to determine their capabilities to become resource
  parents.

IV. QUALIFICATIONS:
The RPSW must hold a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related field, and have a minimum of three year experience providing services to children, youth and families in a behavioral health setting. Staff members currently employed without a bachelor’s degree can be grand parented in and continues working in the position. New hires require a bachelor’s degree. Staffs that are grand parented require a minimum of weekly supervision by a Masters’ level supervisor. Those with a bachelor’s degree require a minimum of bi-weekly supervision.

IV. PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES AND WORK REQUIREMENT:

• Ability to walk up & down stairs, climb, reach and bend
•  Ability to lift 20 lbs.
•  Ability to operate a laptop computer and smartphone
•  Current valid driver’s license, car registration and vehicle insurance
•  Ability to adjust to flexible work schedule, often working on weekend days and
  evenings

• Use emotional intelligence: Respond with empathy and awareness, even in difficult situations.
• Communicate effectively: Listen actively, ask clarifying questions, and avoid judgmental language.
• Understand trauma’s impact: Be aware that clients or colleagues may react based on past experiences, not just the present moment.
• Apply person-first, strengths-based language: Focus on people’s strengths and abilities rather than defining them by their challenges (e.g., saying "a person experiencing homelessness" instead of "a homeless person").

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