Area Director of Family Services

Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc. dba Upbring; Harlingen (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive PTO & paid holidays

Health, dental, vision insurance &

403(b) Plan

Employee Assistance Program

Discounted Gym Memberships

Job summary

Upbring, the Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc. dba Upbring, is seeking an Area Director of Family Services to lead a branch within the Foster in Texas program.

The role emphasizes strategic leadership, regulatory compliance, and high-quality care for foster children and families across the Harlingen area. The candidate will manage staff, oversee placement and licensing processes, build partnerships, and drive continuous improvement while ensuring alignment with Upbring's mission and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or closely related field.
• CPMS credential.
• 3 years in foster care, child welfare, or adoption.
• 2 years supervisory/management experience.
• Valid TX driver's license and auto insurance.
• At least 21 years of age.
• Preferred: Master's degree and licenses (LMSW/LCSW/LMFT/LPC) and bilingual (English/Spanish).

Responsibilities

• Monitor and evaluate program services for licensing compliance.
• Oversee placement intake, eligibility, verification, assessment and referrals.
• Recruit and verify in-process families.
• Ensure foster homes meet licensing requirements.
• Lead quality audits, case reviews and improvement initiatives.
• Provide leadership and support to branch staff.
• Drive operational efficiency and streamlined workflows.
• Prepare monthly program reports; timely submission of reports.
• Review and sign monthly/annual status reports and discharge summaries.
• Manage budget within limits; identify funding opportunities.

Skills

Staff supervision

Leadership

Budget oversight

Regulatory compliance

Education

CPMS

Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related

Master's degree in Social Work or related

Job description

Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc. dba Upbring

Equal Employment Opportunity/M/F/disability/protected veteran status.

Area Director of Family Services

US-TX-Harlingen

Job ID: 2026-7182

# of Openings: 1

Category: Foster Care & Adoption

Upbring

Overview

At Upbring, our team is united by a shared mission: to break the cycle of child abuse and advance the wellbeing of children, families and communities, empowering them to thrive. As servant-leaders, we lead by example, working passionately to create a brighter future for those we serve. Every day, we strive to embody our core values:

• We are Warriors: Fierce, resilient, and courageous, we face challenges head-on with unwavering loyalty and passion.
• We are Servants: We dedicate ourselves to serving others, empowering those around us to thrive.
• We are Family: We work together as a supportive, caring community, creating a sense of belonging and strength.

Joining Upbring means becoming part of a family of passionate individuals who are fearless in their pursuit of lasting change. Together, we are making a difference, one life at a time.

Your Mission in Action

The Area Director provides management and oversight of a branch office within the agency's Foster in Texas (FIT) program. The Area Director is an experienced leader who can manage staff both directly and indirectly. The Area Director provides strategic leadership, operational oversight and compliance management of a branch office within the agency's FIT program. The Area Director ensures the highest standards of child wellbeing are met by supervising staff, maintaining regulatory compliance, fostering positive relationships with stakeholders, and driving continuous improvement in service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and evaluate program services and quality of care to ensure they are always being provided in compliance with all licensing standards and regulatory requirements
• Oversee and manage the placement process, which includes intake and eligibility, verification, assessment, and referral services
• Oversee and manage the recruitment and verification of in-process families
• Ensure all foster care homes meet full licensing requirements
• Oversees quality audits, case reviews, and quality assurance initiatives to maintain high standards of care
• Provide servant leadership, direction, and support to the branch office staff
• Ensure operational efficiency by implementing best practices and streamlining meetings and workflows
• Prepare monthly reports on program services and activities; submit all reporting requirements in a timely manner
• Review, approve, and sign off on all monthly and annual status reports, discharge summaries, and incident reports
• Demonstrate efforts to manage a budget within budget limits and constraints
• Identify funding opportunities, grants, and partnerships to support program growth
• Serve as an advocate for program services by recommending program improvements and enhancements to meet the needs of the foster care children and their families
• Maintain a caseload, as needed
• Travel as needed to perform home visits to ensure licensing standards are being met along with the well-being and safety of the children
• Provide emergency and on-call services when needed
• Lead collaborative efforts and activities with the interdisciplinary and treatment teams, staff, and medical and non-medical providers to ensure all foster care children are receiving the quality of services needed to meet their individual treatment and behavior plans
• Build and maintain strong relationships with foster families, child wellbeing agencies, and community partners
• Represent Upbring at meetings, conferences, and community events
• Foster a positive and collaborative work environment that aligns with Upbring's Mission and Values
• Coach and support staff to ensure they have the necessary tools and resources needed to optimize performance, ensure established program goals, and achieve operational excellence
• Communicate with direct reports in periodic one-on-one meetings
• Organize and deliver regularly scheduled staff meetings to communicate present, on-going, and future updates of pertinent information, projects, and initiatives
• Work closely with management team to interview, hire, and onboard new employees who are strong cultural fits for Upbring
• Work in collaboration with leadership and the People and Culture Team to arrange training; when needed, coordinate and/or provide in-service training for staff development
• Regularly review employee performance, including goals and progress, to provide developmental feedback: use applicable agency development tools to facilitate growth and development in staff
• Draft and issue the 90-day and annual evaluations, along with supporting documentation, as per established procedures; work in collaboration with staff to set goals during evaluation period

Qualifications

Area Director of Family Services Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or closely related field
• Child Placement Management Staff (CPMS)
• Three (3) years relevant experience in foster care, child welfare, or adoption
• Two (2) years supervisory or management experience
• Valid TX driver's license and auto insurance coverage
• At least 21 years of age

Area Director of Family Services Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or closely related field
• LCPAA, LMSW, LCSW, LMFT, or LPC
• Three (3) years supervisory or management experience
• Bilingual (English and Spanish based on service area and service population)

Travel

• This position may be required to travel up to 10%

Perks at Upbring

• Competitive PTO & paid holidays
• Health, dental, vision insurance & more
• 403(b) Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discounted Gym Memberships

Physical Demands & Work Conditions

• This position requires sitting and looking and using a computer for long periods of time
• Position has constant exposure to children
• Position requires frequent standing and walking
• Lift, push, pull, move up to 25 lbs.

Upbring is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.