Hybrid Kinship Specialist bei ABBOTT HOUSE

Description

The Kinship Specialist is mainly responsible for finding Kinship resources for children placed in non-kinship homes and for supporting the agency kinship resources In addition, the Kinship Specialist is significantly instrumental in the agency’s increase in kin placements. 

1. Review connections progress notes, genograms, interview children (if age appropriate), birth parents, other family members, foster parents, case planners, supervisors, child protective specialists (CPS), CPS supervisors, teachers, guidance counselors, therapists and any other know person the child and family might be connected to.
2. Review Case Planner and CPS hard copy case records
3. Interview identified resources with the goal of securing a safe placement with a resource that will be in the child best interest.
4. Use social media and search engines such as Face Book, Google Search, Spokeo, LexisNexis and Family Tree Now to obtain contact information as well as to identify additional potential kinship resources.
5. Facilitate meetings between the identified Kin Resource and Case Planning Team.
6. Contact each kinship foster parent within 24 hours of the child’s placement in the foster home.
7. Welcome each kinship foster parent to Abbott House, provide contact information for all stakeholder
8. Address challenges and support Kinship Foster Parents to overcome these challenges.
9. Assist kinship foster parent to navigate the foster care system and community resources.
10. Provided all necessary foster care documents to the kinship foster parents
11. Support kinship parent as needed in Family Team Conferences, administrative meetings etc.
12. Support kinship foster parents after hours.
13. Arrange and facilitate Kinship Support Groups and training opportunities for kinship foster parents utilizing different days and time to meet needs of clients served.
14. Remind foster parent of support group meetings in advance via email and postal mail.
15. Plan, Schedule and facilitate Kinship Family Events
16. Demonstrate leadership role as necessary or indicated (i.e. identifying challenges or issues within the program; participation on project and/or team/peer committees as directed; acts as a positive representative for the program)
17. Meet with Program Director on a weekly basis for supervision to review work with families, training and professional development and program development.
18. Work within the philosophy and mission of Abbott House.
19. Participate in quality assurance reviews of the program services, outcomes and records
20. Perform all necessary activities assigned to further the agency’s mission

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. An employee in this position is regularly required to stand; walk, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; talk and listen, and taste or smell. The employee frequently is required to walk.  The employee is occasionally required to keep balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Computer – The Kinship Specialist must be able to use a computer and able to learn software programs
• Office Equipment- The Kinship Specialist is required to operate a fax, copier, scan, and other office equipment.
• Communication - The Kinship Specialist needs to be able to speak, read and write fluently in the English language
• Writing - The Kinship Specialist must be able to write in the English language using correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.
• Lifting - The Kinship Specialist may frequently lift 0-25 lbs., occasionally lift 25-50 lbs., and rarely lift over 50 lbs.
• Push/Pull - The Kinship Specialist may frequently push/pull 0-25 lbs. of force, occasionally push/pull 26-45 lbs. force, and rarely push/pull over 45 lbs.
• Sitting - The Kinship Specialist may sit 50-60% of the working day.
• Standing - The Kinship Specialist may stand 10-20% of the working day.
• Walking - The Kinship Specialist may walk 10-20% of the working day.
• Stooping -The Kinship Specialist may occasionally stoop.  This is defined as bending body downward by bending spine at the waist.
• Kneeling -The Kinship Specialist may occasionally kneel.  This is defined as bending legs at knees to come to rest on knee(s).
• Crouching - The Kinship Specialist may occasionally crouch.  This is defined as bending body downward and forward by bending spine and legs.
• Work environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in an office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate due to talk and movement of the program participants and other co- workers.  The noise level can increase on occasion due to yelling or screaming by the participants of the programs.

Qualifications

1. (3) years’ experience working with children and families in foster care.
2. Bilingual (Spanish) preferred 
3. Solution Base Casework Certification
4. Trained in Motivational Interviewing
5. Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
6. Ability to establish effective working relationships with families, coworkers, supervisors, and other individuals.
7. Possess effective interpersonal skills. Knowledge of agency’s organizational structure, standard operating procedures, and policies.
8. Knowledge of child abuse or neglect reporting procedures and methods.
9. Knowledge of quality documentation as required by agency standards, rules, and regulations.
10. Ability to work as a multi-disciplinary team member in a positive productive manner.
11. Knowledge of agency's organizational structure, standard operating procedures, and policies.
12. Effective computer and writing skills, knowledge of connections, experience with ACS and  family court and the ability to negative NYC foster care system.
13. High level of emotional discussions, requiring self-awareness and understanding of professional boundaries.

• The Kinship Specialist is contracted for 35 hours a week Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Flexibility of schedule is a requirement of the position