Adoptions Specialist

Since opening our doors in 1902, CHS became a part of Florida's history. 

CHS has been committed to growing and evolving to provide the right services and solutions to address the needs of children and families throughout the changing times.  Every day, our team works with parents and kids to empower them and encourage them. With innovative technology solutions and a dedicated, experienced team throughout the state, we’re changing the face of foster care and positively impacting children and families’ lives for generations to come.

Join our team to continue to do good and create history serving Florida's children and families!

The Adoptions Specialist provides specialized adoption support services to dependency staff and children and families in care. Overall, the Adoptions Specialist contributes to the CHS high performance culture by exhibiting our values and providing quality results that position CHS as the leader in delivering proactive behavioral health, case management, community and early childhood solutions for children and families.

WHY JOIN CHS?

• Uplifting mission-driven work culture
• Make an impact in your community and become a part of Florida's history!
• Growth and professional development opportunities
• Great benefits package, including generous paid time off and holidays

Primary Job Functions

1. Provide specialized adoption support services to dependency team and children and families in care.

• Assist in the development of policies and procedures for the Adoption program.
• Prepare documentation for, attend, and testify in court proceedings.
• Work with child welfare legal staff on required documentation.
• Keep staff informed of procedural changes, and collect/track client exit interviews.
• Coordinate and complete permanency plans and visitation agreements for cases where siblings are separated.
• Track judicial requirements and timeframes, and manage legal performance including JR timelines, filings, petitions, communication and reports.
• Review appropriateness of all AAPLA cases and document justification.
• Prepare Independent Living documents for aftercare planning, and participate in Independent Living staffings.
• Gather and interpret data on permanency performance measures, and recommend finalization of adoption.
• Conduct process management workgroups and monitor contract measure targets and convene supervisors to deliver feedback on performance by units.
• Monitor performance for permanency and contract measures; prepare and submit required contract performance reports.
• Participate in CBC quality management activities and meetings; participate in peer CIRT and CFSR file reviews.
• May perform the same essential functions as an Adoptions Recruiter that include:
• Develop recruitment strategies and initiatives for Adoption Program, perform recruitment planning based on community demographics, and prepare recruitment materials for promotion adoption within the community.
• Conduct adoption orientation training and cofacilitate or lead (if MAPP/PRIDE certified) MAPP/PRIDE training.
• Collect and interpret all required documents for licensure or home approval (i.e. background screening, inspections, references, life stories, etc.), and prepare adoptive home approval packets for CBC or DCF.
• Assist in the assessment client’s behaviors and emotional needs to determine the best possible home match
• Provide on-call support after hours and onsite support to prevent placement disruption.
• Facilitate placement needs of children including Medicaid/SSN card, Blue Book, and medical information.
• Receive and review referrals, and assist with approvals for placement in CHS homes.
• Act as a liaison with the case manager, school and other parties relevant to a child placed in a CHS home.
• Conduct diligent searches and home studies, and track approval process of adoptive homes.
• Attend placement staffings (step down staffings, MDT, CBC placement meetings, etc.), as needed.
• Review and follow up on incident reports pertaining to incidents in CHS foster or adoptive homes.
• Secure required approvals prior to finalizing placement arrangements.
• Complete required placement information forms and distribute for timely, accurate completion of data input and payment.
• Assist staff with physical placement of child.
• Attend related meetings and inform necessary parties of procedural problems and placement issues.
• Counsel and prepare children, foster parents, adoptive families and others for the adoptive process.
• Arrange for medical, psychological, dental exams, etc. to ready child for adoption.
• Plan and arrange pre-placement visits and placement.
• Recruit adoptive homes for special needs children; including foster parents and relatives.
• Maintain case records that are up to date and contain all necessary forms to document services and finalize the adoption.
• Enter adoption placement information into database and create initial subsidy file.
• Attend and lead adoption matching events/activities.
• Review and update files via communication with adoptive families.
• Register new adoption clients on AES and CHS website and arrange for Heart Gallery photos.
• Obtain additional info not provided at time of transfer.
• Complete ICPC/OTI packets, paperwork, finalizations, and updates.
• Obtain Iv-E eligibility and appropriate notifications.
• Manage revenue, billing, marketing, counseling, and coordination of foreign adoption services.
• Teach Positive Parenting to birth parents.
• Provide transportation when needed.
• Work with biological family to help determine if an adoption plan is right for them.
• Provide supportive counseling to birth family and adoptive family, before, during and after the adoption.
• Coordinate Adoption Review Committees for families who have a criminal charge in their past.
• Develop Adoption Newsletter.
• May carry case load

2. Contribute to a positive, engaging work environment.

• Develop a strong knowledge base and stay current on job-related issues and trends.
• Participate actively in departmental meetings, training and education, as well as the quality process.
• Comply with CHS’s code of conduct, policies, procedures and other obligations.
• Assist with training other team members and providing back up when necessary.
• Pick up projects on the fly; perform other duties as assigned from time to time.
• Demonstrate the CHS Common Bond values in the performance of all job duties.

Job Qualifications
Education, Licenses & Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, required.
• Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services related field from an accredited university, preferred.
• Master’s degree in Social Work or related field, preferred.
• Child Welfare Case Management certification, required.
• MAPP or PRIDE certification, preferred.
• Florida Driver’s License within 30 days from hire, along with daily access to a reliable and insured vehicle

Experience:

• Two years of professionally related experience, required.
• Experience training or supervising foster parents, preferred.
• Experience working with children with special needs, preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Administration

Skills & proficiency in:

• Planning, organization and time management
• Oral and written communication
• Interpersonal relationship building, collaboration and teamwork
• Computer systems and MS Office, including Word, Excel and Outlook

Ability to:

• Teach and train adults.
• Commit to providing high customer satisfaction with positive service delivery results
• Be energetic, passionate and adaptable with a deep commitment to social service, empathy for children and families and a positive approach to embracing and managing change.
• Perform at a high level of autonomy, with general supervision.
• Perform under strong demands in fast-paced, diverse, sometimes ambiguous environments.
• Handle highly stressful, sensitive situations; maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Meet critical deadlines, while maintaining attention to detail, accuracy and quality
• Demonstrate the behaviors of our CHS Common Bond Values.

Together, good can be done.