Adoption Expeditor

MercyFirst; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

403B retirement plan

Life insurance

Long-term disability insurance

Paid time off

Employee assistance program

Insurance discounts for staff

Training & development

Wellness program

Employee recognition

Job summary

MercyFirst in Brooklyn, NY, seeks an Adoption Specialist to prepare and finalize adoption packets, coordinate home studies, and support permanency planning for children and families.

You will collaborate with foster parents, caseworkers, medical and clinical teams, and legal partners to ensure timely adoptions and strong family placements. A BA in social work and a valid driver's license are required, with 1+ years' relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field required.
• Valid Driver's License with satisfactory driving record.
• 1+ years of work experience with children and families including child development and family dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Prepare adoption status updates for caseworkers for permanency hearings and court appearances.
• Meet with pre-adoptive foster parents to gather information for home study and adoption finalization.
• Complete adoptive home studies, home study addenda, and documentation for finalization packets.
• Attend ACS Adoption and KinGAP Exchange Meetings and report to EFFC staff.
• Attend monthly permanency status meetings with agency leadership.
• Collaborate with casework, medical/clinical, homefinding, and support staff.
• Attend legal proceedings and adoption finalizations as needed.
• Train staff and foster parents about adoption processes.
• Develop procedures related to adoption and monitor ASFA milestones.

Skills

Driver's license

Experience with children & families

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field

Job description

LOCATION: Brooklyn, NY

REPORTS TO: VP of EFFC & Permanency Services

DEPARTMENT: Enhanced Family Foster Care (EFFC)

SCHEDULE: Full Time / Hybrid

$1,000 HIRING INCENTIVE

AGENCY BACKGROUND:

MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human and social service agency that has been serving children and families in need since we were founded by the Sisters of Mercy/Hermanas de las Misericordia in 1894. Today our agency continues to address the emotional and physical needs of children and families in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and across Long Island through innovative treatments and life-changing interventions. We provide community-based prevention and family foster care services, group homes in the community for struggling children and families within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and short-term residential services for unaccompanied migrant children. Each year, MercyFirst serves more than 3,000 children, teenagers and families overcome enormous obstacles, re-imagine their futures, and develop their full potential.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND:

Enhanced Family Foster Care (EFFC) combines and replaces the previous separately contracted Family Foster Care (FFC) and Treatment Family Foster Care (TFFC) programs. EFFC recognizes that all children in care have experienced some level of trauma, that their needs may change over time, and that their strengths must be supported so they can reach their full potential. As a blended model, EFFC:

• Responds to the needs of the child and family - Allows children, parents, and families to receive therapeutic services and support, accessing a full menu of options with less separation into different programs. Families in EFFC placements receive enhanced case management as well as a full array of services, treatment, and supports to help them thrive.
• Increases placement stability for the child: By allowing for the flexibility to increase and decrease services and supports based on the child’s behavioral and treatment needs. EFFC supports the formation of a trusting and secure attachment relationship between the child and foster parent. Placement stability provides the opportunity for the foster parent and birth parent/family to build relationships with a shared goal of meeting the child’s needs.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Prepares and completes all adoption packets for finalization.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Demonstrates age-related competency in understanding the range of treatment required for infants, children, and adolescents as it relates to determining qualification of potential foster parents.
• Meet with the pre-adoptive foster parents to gather information and documents needed for the home study and adoption finalization process.
• Completes adoptive home studies, home study addendums, and necessary documentation to prepare and submit finalization packets to the Adoptive Family’s Attorney.
• Attends ACS Adoption and KinGAP Exchange Meetings and reports information back to the EFFC staff.
• Attend and participate in monthly permanency status meetings with agency leadership
• Work collaboratively with the casework, medical and clinical, homefinding, and support staff
• Prepare adoption status updates for caseworkers for permanency hearings and other court appearances
• Prepares and completes adoption subsidy requests for submission to the NYC Children’s Services.
• Develops and maintain a tracking system to monitor compliance with ASFA milestones for changes in goal and timely compliance with regulation time frames for TPR (Termination of Parental Rights) filing through finalization.
• Attend legal proceedings on cases as needed and attend adoption finalizations.
• Actively participate in staff training and weekly supervision meetings.
• Participate in OCFS quarterly reviews and complete OCFS monitoring logs. Participates in OCFS Annual Adoption Review.
• Train and educate staff and foster parents about adoption processes
• Assist in developing and implementing procedures related to adoption
• Respond to emergencies as needed and/or directed.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field.
• Must maintain a valid Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record.
• 1+ years work-related experience with the knowledge and training in working with children and families including child development stages and family dynamics.

BENEFITS/PERKS:

• A comprehensive health insurance package including medical, dental and vision plans for you and your family.
• 403B retirement benefits
• Employer-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Generous paid time off (vacation, personal, sick, 12 paid holidays)
• Free employee assistance program through National EAP
• Insurance discounts for our staff and their families
• Training to support professional and personal development.
• Employee wellness program
• Employee recognition activities

Salary Range:
$55,000 - 57,000 per year (35 hours/week)
Hiring bonus of $1,000 after 500 worked hours

MercyFirst is an inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer who welcomes prospective employees from diverse backgrounds for all levels at the agency. We strive for a workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve, and do not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, religion or creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, age (18 and over), military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, marital status, partnership status, care giver status, pregnancy, genetic information or predisposition or genetic characteristic, unemployment status, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, consumer credit history, or any other status protected by federal, state, and/or city law. This includes, but is not limited to, employment actions against and treatment of employees and applicants for employment.