Foster Care Navigator

Judson Center; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 21,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

Judson Center in Ann Arbor, MI is seeking a Foster Care Navigator to support current and prospective foster families through in-person, phone, or email contact under the AFPRR program. The role focuses on assisting families through licensing processes and coordinating with licensing workers and agencies.

The position is part-time, non-exempt, requiring flexibility, reliable communication, and ability to travel statewide as needed within Michigan. Evening/weekend hours may be required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills are essential.
• Ability to relate to foster/adoptive/kinship families and travel statewide.

Responsibilities

• Assist prospective foster families through licensing processes.
• Serve as liaison between licensing workers/agencies and foster families.
• Provide direct support via in-person, phone, and email communications.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Time management

Flexibility

Travel statewide

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Excel

Job description

Position:Foster Care Navigator

Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Job Id:1683

# of Openings:1

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Foster Care Navigator, AFPRR Program

Program: Adoptive and Foster Parent Recruitment and Retention Services (AFPRR, also known as the RRT)

Reports To: Regional Resource Team Supervisor

Status: Part-Time

Location: Ann Arbor or Farmington Hills

FLSA: Non-Exempt/Hourly

Our Mission: To provide expert, comprehensive services that strengthen children, adults and families impacted by abuse and neglect, autism, developmental, behavioral and physical health challenges so they can achieve whole health, well-being and maximum potential.

General Acknowledgement:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and /or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job Summary:

The Foster Care Navigator is responsible for providing direct support and guidance to current and prospective foster parents through in-person contact, telephone contact, and/or email, depending on the needs of the foster parents.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Must be available to prospective foster families and assist them in navigating through the licensing process.
• Serve as liaison between the licensing worker or child placing agency, and the current or prospective foster family when need for clarification.
• Ability to work independently and meet job requirements
• Provide quality customer service primarily via phone and email
• Sensitive to the concerns of potential foster parents
• Ability to establish rapport quickly and effectively with families
• Ability to identify resources available to adoptive families statewide
• Ability to share personal experiences with foster care in a professional manner with the public
• Ability to maintain contract compliance
• Participates in required trainings.
• Attend all scheduled team meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Job Qualifications:

• Personal experience with the child welfare system as a foster, adoptive, relative or kinship caregiver
• Knowledge of child welfare policies and procedures
• Involvement in the local foster family community and foster family groups
• Ability to related to current and prospective adoptive, foster and kinship families
• Ability to relate to local DHS and private agency personnel
• Ability to work a flexible schedule to accommodate families with whom the Foster Care Navigator works
• Ability to travel/work statewide as necessary
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to provide culturally competent services that shows sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

Core Competencies:

• Customer Service – regularly respond to customers in a courteous and timely manner with focus on providing quality services.
• Job Knowledge – demonstrate mastery of basic principles, techniques, and skills related to job, consistently applying technical and procedural competence.
• Professionalism – consistently present a positive image of self and the agency, operating with integrity and credibility.
• Planning & Organization of Work – reliably demonstrate time management skills through advance planning in order to deliver high quality work product within deadlines.
• Relationship / Leadership – exhibit ability to develop cooperative relationships based on mutual respect and trust, treating others fairly, consistently listening, openly and actively encouraging others to express candid and differing views.
• Judgement & Problem Solving – show ability to review facts and information using sound judgment to arrive at the most effective solution and when appropriate seek supervisory assistance.
• Quality & Accuracy – consistently present work product that is thorough, accurate, and effective in accomplishing intended purpose of assignments.
• Initiative & Independence – demonstrate ability to effectively complete work tasks with minimal direction from supervisor and take initiative to increase effectiveness of work and that of the department.
• Reliability / Dependability – exhibit consistency in performance and reliably follows through on tasks and assigned responsibilities.
• Temperament – maintain emotional control, a positive perspective, and effectively respond to stress on the job.

Education, Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Valid Michigan Driver’s License, appropriate insurance and use of own vehicle.

Working Conditions:

• Works in an office environment and in the community as needed.
• Position may require evening and weekend hours.
• Possible stressful environment working with families and court system.
• Fast paced, enthusiastic and team oriented workplace.

Physical requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit, communicate verbally and in writing, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard. Close vision requirements due to computer work. Regular, predictable attendance is required.

Direct reports:

None

This description is intended to describe the type and level of work being performed by a person assigned to this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of a person so classified. The employee is expected to adhere to all company policies and perform other duties as assigned for the good of the consumers, the program, the department and the agency.

Program: Adoptive and Foster Parent Recruitment and Retention Services (AFPRR, also known as the RRT)

Reports To: Regional Resource Team Supervisor

Status: Part-Time

Location: Ann Arbor or Farmington Hills

FLSA: Non-Exempt/Hourly

Our Mission: To provide expert, comprehensive services that strengthen children, adults and families impacted by abuse and neglect, autism, developmental, behavioral and physical health challenges so they can achieve whole health, well-being and maximum potential.

General Acknowledgement:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and /or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job Summary:

The Foster Care Navigator is responsible for providing direct support and guidance to current and prospective foster parents through in-person contact, telephone contact, and/or email, depending on the needs of the foster parents.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Must be available to prospective foster families and assist them in navigating through the licensing process.
• Serve as liaison between the licensing worker or child placing agency, and the current or prospective foster family when need for clarification.
• Ability to work independently and meet job requirements
• Provide quality customer service primarily via phone and email
• Sensitive to the concerns of potential foster parents
• Ability to establish rapport quickly and effectively with families
• Ability to identify resources available to adoptive families statewide
• Ability to share personal experiences with foster care in a professional manner with the public
• Ability to maintain contract compliance
• Participates in required trainings.
• Attend all scheduled team meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Job Qualifications:

• Personal experience with the child welfare system as a foster, adoptive, relative or kinship caregiver
• Knowledge of child welfare policies and procedures
• Involvement in the local foster family community and foster family groups
• Ability to related to current and prospective adoptive, foster and kinship families
• Ability to relate to local DHS and private agency personnel
• Ability to work a flexible schedule to accommodate families with whom the Foster Care Navigator works
• Ability to travel/work statewide as necessary
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to provide culturally competent services that shows sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

Core Competencies:

• Customer Service – regularly respond to customers in a courteous and timely manner with focus on providing quality services.
• Job Knowledge – demonstrate mastery of basic principles, techniques, and skills related to job, consistently applying technical and procedural competence.
• Professionalism – consistently present a positive image of self and the agency, operating with integrity and credibility.
• Planning & Organization of Work – reliably demonstrate time management skills through advance planning in order to deliver high quality work product within deadlines.
• Relationship / Leadership – exhibit ability to develop cooperative relationships based on mutual respect and trust, treating others fairly, consistently listening, openly and actively encouraging others to express candid and differing views.
• Judgement & Problem Solving – show ability to review facts and information using sound judgment to arrive at the most effective solution and when appropriate seek supervisory assistance.
• Quality & Accuracy – consistently present work product that is thorough, accurate, and effective in accomplishing intended purpose of assignments.
• Initiative & Independence – demonstrate ability to effectively complete work tasks with minimal direction from supervisor and take initiative to increase effectiveness of work and that of the department.
• Reliability / Dependability – exhibit consistency in performance and reliably follows through on tasks and assigned responsibilities.
• Temperament – maintain emotional control, a positive perspective, and effectively respond to stress on the job.

Education, Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Valid Michigan Driver’s License, appropriate insurance and use of own vehicle.

Working Conditions:

• Works in an office environment and in the community as needed.
• Position may require evening and weekend hours.
• Possible stressful environment working with families and court system.
• Fast paced, enthusiastic and team oriented workplace.

Physical requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit, communicate verbally and in writing, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard. Close vision requirements due to computer work. Regular, predictable attendance is required.

Direct reports:

None

This description is intended to describe the type and level of work being performed by a person assigned to this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of a person so classified. The employee is expected to adhere to all company policies and perform other duties as assigned for the good of the consumers, the program, the department and the agency.