Foster Care Specialist

*$2,000 Hiring Bonus (paid $500 at 90 days; $500 at 9 months; $1,000 at one year. *Bonus based on full-time hours worked)

The Foster Care Specialist provides direct services to Foster Parents and Foster Care children. This includes the training of Foster Parents; assessing potential children and adolescents for placement; case management, advocacy and crisis intervention; providing transportation as necessary; attending and participating in home visits, team meetings and court dates pertaining to each case; and providing support and information to the foster children, foster families and biological families.

Work from home availability.

Major Responsibilities

• Assist in the recruitment and training of new and on-going foster parents.
• Supervise a caseload of Foster Care youth as assigned, including offering on-going support, community resources and consultation to the foster parents.

• Meet with foster children one to two times a month face to face, depending on their level of care; at least one of those times being in the home with the foster parent(s).

• Advocate for foster child’s best interest.

• Maintain weekly phone contact with the foster parent.

• Maintain monthly contact with other professionals related to child’s case (therapist, Child and Family Services Specialist, Family Permanency Specialist, etc.).

• Assist foster children who are 12 years of age and older with independent living skills training.

• Complete and maintain a clinical record on each foster youth that includes a service/care plan, treatment plan, and on-going documentation, in accordance with Federal Confidentiality Regulations and HIPAA.

• Provide case management activities to maintain continuity of care including meeting with professionals, biological parents and others involved, brokering of services and advocating for foster youth/parent.

• Provide Family Centered driven service to children and their biological families by the active inclusion of the youth’s parents to include inclusion of them in team meetings and decisions affecting their child. Also active facilitation of the relationship between the foster parent and the biological parent is important.

• Provide crisis intervention by being available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Occasionally supervise visits with biological parents and provide transportation for foster children when either a Supervised Visitation Specialist or Foster Parent is not available.

• Occasionally provide transportation to court, doctor appointments, and therapy appointments, etc. for foster children when the foster parents are not available.

• Participate in on-going in-service training and employee meetings as scheduled by the Child Welfare Services Director.

• Assist with coverage of Emergency Foster Care phone and placement, on a rotating basis.

• Assist in conducting assessments when the agency is required to follow up on concerns regarding foster homes.

• Review referrals for possible placements.

• Attend court with or without foster children, as determined by DHHS Child and Family Services Specialist.

• Attend related external conferences and in-services related to families and children NOVA TC works with.

• Attend PS MAPP Foster Parent training.

• Participate in internal committees and trainings, working with co-workers to monitor and ensure continued integrity of the Foster Care program.

• Be available for evening and weekend appointments, including trainings.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 - $22.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• On call

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Child welfare: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Omaha, NE 68152