PURPOSE:

The Family Recruitment & Matching Specialist will have primary responsibility of recruiting and cultivating foster and adoptive families for the Little City Foster Care & Adoption Program and then matching referred youth to Little City’s foster families. The position will also provide training to foster families to prepare them for the youth who will be entering their homes, specifically youth who are transitioning from residential treatment settings. The position will also be responsible for supervising interns or volunteers related to foster family recruitment, family matching, and support efforts.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The list of essential duties and responsibilities, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the task to be performed. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.

 

Recruitment:

Primary staff responsible for the development and implementation of recruiting foster and adoptive parents including documenting efforts and reporting on outcomes monthly. Will take the lead in engaging in both proactive general and targeted foster family recruitment efforts for youth in the foster care system. Targeted recruitment efforts will include specifically reaching out to potential families who are most likely to meet the needs of specific youth, including but not limited to, attending and participating in community events throughout the Chicago area. Manage and/or engage in recruitment activities as outlined in Annual Recruitment Plan. Develops an annual recruitment plan and ensures the implementation of that plan by the licensing department. Develops and manages a recruitment database to tracking successful/unsuccessful implementations. Cultivation and ongoing engagement of Little City’s current and prospective foster parent population to bolster program satisfaction and referrals. Will coordinate with Little City’s marketing team in messaging general and targeted recruitment efforts. Will coordinate and host foster family orientations including orientations in various community settings throughout the Chicago area.

Youth Intake & Family Matching

Conduct in-person visits with prospective youth referred by DCFS within 5 business days of referral; completion of youth and family assessments and intake paperwork before intake date. Engages in intake activities by liaising with DCFS and other referral sources; tracks all intake activities and prepares intake reports and monitors the matching process of prospective intakes. Makes sound clinical decisions regarding the acceptance or denial of a youth referred based upon the agency’s assessment; staffs all intakes with supervisor and/or intake committee. Serves as the lead coordinator of the process of youth transitioning from residential care to foster homes by working closely with the assigned case manager. In conjunction with a youth’s treatment team assists with the development of foster family behavioral support plans to be tailored to the family home. Participates in clinical staffing’s as it relates to youth transitioning from residential programs. Complete required paperwork related to youth transitioning from residential programs and completion of all intake-related tasks; submit all billing to DCFS within required timeframes. Identifies and coordinates needed placements for children in consultation with the child’s case manager.

Licensing and Training:

Is fully certified and serves as expert regarding rules, regulations, and standards relating to licensing of Foster/Adoptive families as outlined in Procedures 402 and 383, and the Child Care Act. Consults and trains staff on licensing issues. Completes licensing documentation that includes home study assessments, supporting documentation, case notes, 402 compliance per indication on the CFS 590, and the likes to make licensing recommendations to supervisor and DCFS within a timely manner (typically 90 days - 180) and/or as outlined per DCFS policy and procedure. Trains foster parents as part of pre-service and refresher trainings as it relates to families’ needs and trains foster families on individual youths’ strengths and needs

Other Responsibilities:

Conducts and participates in staff meetings, supervision meetings and training as required. Will lead and coordinate Little City recruitment meetings. Works collaboratively with supervisor towards program development and strategic planning. Responsible for all safety activities in your workplace and immediately report all accidents and safety hazards to your supervisor. Will be responsible for hiring, training, and evaluating interns or volunteers related to recruitment and family matching efforts. Protects the confidentiality of all those served by Little City. Responsible for other duties as assigned by supervisor. Maintains a current American Heart Association certification in First Aid and CPR. Successfully completes Little City Foundation required training, re-training, and any additional training as required by Little City Foundation policies and practices, or as assigned by his or her immediate supervisor.