Family Outreach Specialist

Arrow-Child-; Tyler (TX); On-site; USD 46,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

HSA matching

Parental leave

Retirement plan with company match

Paid time off

Mileage reimbursement

Tuition reimbursement

Learning and development

Job summary

Arrow Child & Family Services is seeking a Family Outreach Specialist to locate kin and kinship options, engage families and communities, and support permanency planning for children and youth in care.

You will conduct interviews, use research tools, and collaborate with permanency teams to promote stable, family-driven outcomes and lifelong connections.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, or a related field.
• Experience with kinship/fictive kin placements and foster youth preferred.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and best practices in child welfare.
• State licensure or certification may be required.

Responsibilities

• Enable continuity of relationships between family/community members and the child/youth.
• Maintain connections to aboriginal and other cultural groups.
• Engage extended family/community in permanency planning.
• Explore life-long connections for older youth in need of support.
• Review case files to identify kin and placement opportunities.
• Interview caregivers, relatives, and community members to identify kin.
• Support foster youth in developing meaningful connections across lifespan.
• Locate kinship options using research techniques and resources.
• Collaborate with permanency, care coordination, and kinship teams.

Skills

Kinship placements experience

Cultural competency

Communication skills

Child welfare knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field

Job description

Overview

The 4Kids4Families Family Outreach Specialist will use technology, file research, genograms, family research tools and interviews, to seek out relatives or family friends in order to build-on existing relationships, promote stability for children and youth, and provide viable placement to the Permanency team. This position requires the ability to utilize time management skills, prioritize tasks, resolve conflicts/problems/issues, and model exceptional behaviors as they relate to the organization’s core values.

Benefits Include

• Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance options, including HSA match for qualifying contributions.


• Parental Paid Leave


• Retirement savings plan with company match.


• Paid time off and holiday pay.


• Mileage reimbursement.


• Tuition reimbursement available.


• Company sponsored learning and development

Min

USD $46,000.00/Yr.

Max

USD $52,000.00/Yr.

Responsibilities

Other duties may be assigned as necessary.

• Enable continuity of relationships between family/community members and the child/youth.


• Maintain the integrity of children and youth’s connections to aboriginal and other relevant cultural groups.


• Engage the extended family and/or community in the permanency planning earlier in the process.


• Explore opportunities for life-long connections for older youth in need of support.


• Conduct reviews of relevant case files to assist in identifying family members or other key people in the child/youth’s natural network who may be options for placement, permanency planning and/or supporting life-long connections.


• Conduct interviews with a child/youth’s caregiver, relatives, community members or the child/youth themselves to assist in identifying kin.


• Support foster youth in developing meaningful and enduring connections with adults who will support them across their lifespan.


• Attempt to locate/identify kinship options using available technology and various research techniques and resources.


• Collaborate with permanency, care coordination, kinship, and the intake teams to ensure that all relevant information relating to the search for kinship is shared and explored.


• Help maintain connections that are healthy, safe and permanent relationships between children, youth, families and supportive adults regardless of what circumstances they may find themselves in.


• For individuals with lifetime care needs, increase connectedness, decrease dependence on the foster care system, and enhance family-driven decision making.


• Focus efforts to achieve the anticipated outcomes that include increase in reunification rates, improve well-being, and placement stability, transition out of the child welfare system, decrease re-entry rates, and stronger sense of belonging for children.


• Participate in case conferences, family support meetings, and placement planning.


• Enter documentation and information into agencies databases per contract and protocol.


• Ability to be on call on a rotating basis and work irregular hours when necessary.


• Demonstrate cultural competency and sensitivity in working with children and families from diverse backgrounds.


• Maintain and encourage a healthy staff environment and culture that aligns with Arrow’s culture and values.


• Responsible for the supervision of SSCC youth if required.


• Perform all duties within contract, state and federal regulations, company policy, and regulatory agency standards.


• May be required to drive vehicles, be insurable with our auto insurance provider, and complete company vehicle training

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, or a related field required. Experience working with kinship/fictive kin placements and foster youth, preferred. Previous experience in child welfare, foster care, or kinship services is also preferred. Knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, and best practices in child welfare. State licensure or certification may be required.