Foster Care Licensing Specialist

Wellspring Lutheran Services; Kentwood (MI); On-site; USD 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off and paid holidays

403(b) retirement plan with employer-m

Employee Assistance Program (SupportL‑

Job summary

Wellspring Lutheran Services in Kentwood, MI seeks a Foster Care Licensing Worker to help create safe, nurturing homes for children. This full-time, on-site role guides families through licensing, home studies, training, and ongoing support to ensure stable placements.

You'll collaborate with foster care teams, licensing agencies, and community partners, meeting families where they are and helping them build the skills and confidence to foster with care and dedication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related human services field required.
• Experience working with children and families.
• Valid driver’s license with good driving record and auto insurance required.
• Strong assessment, communication, and documentation skills.
• Ability to evaluate family strengths, needs, and readiness for foster care.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with individuals and families considering foster care.
• Guide families through licensing process, paperwork, and home assessments.
• Meet with biological caregivers and family members to ensure safe environments.
• Conduct comprehensive home studies to assess readiness and strengths.
• Support licensed foster homes with ongoing guidance and resources.
• Collaborate with foster care teams and external agencies to match needs.

Skills

Empathy

Relationship building

Organizational skills

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work or related human services field

Job description

Description

Foster Care Licensing Worker | Creating Safe Homes and Brighter Futures

Wellspring Lutheran Services – Kentwood | Serving Kent & Kalamazoo counties | Full-time, on-site | Salary $41,500 + | Accepting applications until August 28, 2026.

You chose social work and child welfare because you believe every child deserves a safe place to belong.

You understand that behind every successful foster care placement is a family that was prepared, supported, and equipped to meet the needs of a child. You know that foster care is about more than finding an available bed. It's about finding the right environment, the right support, and the right people to help a child feel safe, valued, and cared for.

You entered this field because you wanted to make a difference in the lives of children and families.

What Your Impact Will Look Like

You’ll build relationships with individuals and families who are considering foster care, helping them understand the difference they can make in a child's life.

You’ll guide families through the licensing process, helping them navigate paperwork, training requirements, home assessments, and important decisions about fostering.

You’ll meet with biological caregivers and family members ensuring they can provide a safe place for our foster children.

You’ll conduct comprehensive home studies that help identify each family's strengths, readiness, and ability to provide safe, nurturing care for children.

You’ll support licensed foster homes by providing ongoing guidance, monitoring compliance requirements, and helping families access resources and training opportunities.

You’ll play an important role in foster parent retention efforts, helping create a strong network of foster families within the communities we serve.

You’ll collaborate with foster care teams, community partners, and licensing agencies to help ensure children are matched with families who can best meet their needs.

Some days you’ll be conducting home visits or completing home studies. Other days you’ll be supporting licensed foster parents, helping coordinate placements or celebrating as a family reaches an important milestone in their fostering journey.

Every day, your work helps create opportunities for children to experience safety, belonging, and hope.

Why This Role Matters

Children in foster care need more than temporary housing.

They need families who are prepared to meet their needs, support their growth, and provide stability during difficult transitions.

The work of a Foster Care Licensing Worker helps ensure those families are equipped, supported, and ready for the responsibility of caring for vulnerable children. Through thoughtful assessment, training, guidance, and relationship-building, you help create the foundation that allows foster care placements to succeed.

The impact of your work reaches every child who enters one of those homes.

The Professional We’re Looking For

• You believe every child deserves a safe, supportive family environment.
• You are passionate about strengthening families and helping foster parents succeed.
• You approach people with empathy, respect, and a strength-based perspective.
• You enjoy building relationships and guiding others through important life decisions.
• You are organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable balancing multiple priorities.
• You value collaboration and teamwork.
• You are committed to ensuring quality care for children and families.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related human services field, required.
• Experience working with children and families.
• Valid driver’s license, good driving record, and auto insurance, required.
• Strong assessment, communication, and documentation skills.
• Ability to evaluate family strengths, needs, and readiness for foster care.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Commitment to strength-based, family-centered practice.
• Ability to work independently and together as a team.

Why Wellspring Lutheran Services?

At Wellspring Lutheran Services, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a safe, stable, and caring environment.

Our foster families make that possible, and our Foster Care Licensing Workers help make those families successful. Through recruitment, assessment, training, support, and advocacy, you’ll help ensure children have access to the nurturing homes they need.

This is more than a licensing role. It’s an opportunity to help build the homes where children can heal, belong, and build brighter futures.

We Offer

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching
• Employee Assistance Program (SupportLinc)
• Mileage reimbursement for travel
• Professional development and training opportunities
• A collaborative, mission-driven team environment
• Meaningful work that impacts children and families every day

Schedule

• Full-time, Monday - Friday, 40 hours per week.
• Business hours with occasional evening visits to accommodate foster parent home visits.
• Office-based with occasional travel to foster care families within the surrounding counties.
• On-call: For providing foster care guardian support. Rotation within team, approx. every 7 weeks. Paid.