Foster Care Plus Coordinator (CYFD/PSD #10118874)

New Mexico Department of Justice; Hobbs (NM); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) seeks a dedicated professional to lead Foster Care Plus program activities, training, and coordination with resource foster parents and service providers across the state.

The ideal candidate will have a background in children’s behavioral health, training adults, and strong case management. This role involves field work, team collaboration, and development of needs assessments and care plans to support vulnerable youth and families.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, education, counseling, psychology, sociology, criminal justice or family studies.
• Two years of related health or social service experience, or six years total with related work.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and pass background check.

Responsibilities

• Provide intensive care coordination for the Foster Care Plus program.
• Train and certify staff in the Pressley Ridge Treatment Foster Care Pre-Service model.
• Assess needs and strengths using CANS and develop Action Plans of Care.
• Coordinate care with Behavioral Health providers, CYFD staff, and foster parents.
• Attend and facilitate Foster Care Plus meetings and Plan of Care sessions.
• Conduct field visits and participate in treatment team and multi-disciplinary meetings.

Skills

Behavioral health

Training adults

Group facilitation

Case management

Needs assessments

Case planning

Referrals to services

Program development

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or related field

Job description

At the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), every role is an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of children, youth, and families across our state. We are committed to building a compassionate, skilled, and dedicated workforce that works collaboratively to ensure safety, promote well-being, and strengthen families. Whether you are in the field supporting families face-to-face, working behind the scenes to improve systems, or helping to shape the agency from a leadership level, your work here has purpose and long‑lasting impact. Join a team that values integrity, resilience, and service and be part of meaningful change for New Mexico's future.

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED WITHOUT WORK EXPERIENCE OR A RESUME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. IF ATTACHING A RESUME, RESUME MUST INCLUDE DATES OF EMPLOYMENT FOR EACH JOB (MONTH & YEAR) AND DETAILS OF WORK EXPERIENCE/JOB DUTIES

THIS POSTING MAY BE USED FOR ONGOING RECRUITMENT AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME. APPLICANTS LISTS MAY BE SCREENED MORE THAN ONCE.

Why does the job exist?

Foster Care Plus will provide intensive care coordination to change these outcomes and keep these children from needing higher and restrictive levels of care. There is a gap of specialized training and support to Resource Foster Parents and to Treatment Foster Care (TFC) behavioral health providers. Foster Care Plus will be the primary trainers of the Pressley Ridge model to support Resource Foster Parents and TFC providers. Also, there is a lack of infrastructure to implement evidence‑based models, to fidelity, to address systemic needs. The Foster Care Plus program will coordinate the implementation of the model. Finally, the department requires additional resource foster parent homes which this position will also help to recruit new Resource Foster Parents, retain current Resource Foster Parents, and promote to Foster Care Plus.

How does it get done?

Attend the Pressley Ridge‑Treatment Foster Care Pre Service training and obtain certification to train the model. This position must also meet all the requirements to retain certification to train the Pressley Ridge‑Treatment Foster Care Pre Service 10%

Train the Pressley Ridge‑Treatment Foster Care Pre Service model to Resource Foster Parents, Treatment Foster Care providers, tribal communities and system stakeholders. This position must also obtain Pressley Ridge Master Level Trainer certification, and maintain it, to offer train the trainer sessions to stakeholders through out the state. 10%

Implement to fidelity the Pressley Ridge‑Treatment Foster Care Pre Service model. This includes learning and understanding tocompetency the following areas: Foster Care roles; Child development and the impacts of trauma on physical and cognitive development; Children's mental health including neuro‑developmental disorders and psychiatric diagnosis; Attachment and the development of healthy relationships for children; Therapeutic communication and engagement; Understanding and changing behavior for children with trauma; Skill teaching; Conflict Resolution; and Managing Crisis events. 10%

Obtain and maintain the Children and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment certification. 10%

Use the CANS, clinical assessments, collateral, engagements and other sources to assess the needs and strengths of children, youth and families to aid in the development of an Action Plan of Care 10%

Implement the Foster Care plus program. Implementation activities include, but are not limited, to: 20%

• Follow and support the Foster Care Plus Program Manual and Implementation guide.
• Develop Foster Care Plus Action Plans of Care that matches the intensity of the status; that is strengths and team based; That is led by a common Vision; That addresses concrete, safety and stability and underlying needs, and is outcome based.
• Conduct community engagements and homes visitations to assess needs and strengths and evaluate progress of the Action Plan of Care.
• Facilitate Foster Care Plus‑Action Plan of Care meetings with children/youth, resource foster care parents, families, CYFD staff, behavioral health professionals and other stakeholders. This position will also attend meetings related to the care and well being of the CISC and the Resource Foster Parent.
• Coordinate care to meet the needs of children/youth and families enrolled in Foster Care Plus, including the roles and responsibilities of Behavioral Health providers, CYFD Staff, community resources, natural and informal supports and other stake‑ holders in the participation and fulfillment of the Action Plan of Care.
• Develop a Foster Care Plus Safety and Stability Plan (Crisis Plan) in collaboration with those involved with the child/youth and Resource Foster Care family.
• This position will also have duties to address Safety and Stability (Crisis) events after hours or weekends and if needed respond to manage crisis events in person.
• Meet and work with all contracted entities that support the Foster Care Plus Program.
• Collaborate and coordinate with system stakeholders

Participate in Field work coming home visits 2-3 times a month to ensure safety and support.10%

Participate in Treatment team meetings and other Multi‑Disciplinary Teams within community.10%

Provide case management, to include referrals and coordination of services. Plan, coordinate and attend Resource Foster Parent recruiting and retention events and activities. This will be accomplished, but not limited, through the following activities: 10%

• Communication and coordination with other teams within the department.
• Planning and building of Resource Foster Care peer communities.
• Participating in efforts to equip Resource Foster Parents.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have experience with children's behavioral health and is knowledgeable of available services in the service area. The ideal candidate will have experience with training adults and leading group activities during trainings. The ideal candidate will have experience with case management services and understanding case planning. Ideal candidate will be able to complete needs and strengths assessments, develop case plans, locate and refer clients to services. Ideal candidate will be able to manage and help build a new program.

Bachelor's degree in social work, education, counseling, psychology, sociology, criminal justice or family studies from an accredited college/university and two (2) years of any combination of experience including working with communities on health or social service‑related matters, social work/case management experience, behavioral health, and/or health care. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling six (6) years may substitute for the required education and experience.

Employment Requirements

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License. Pre‑employment background investigation is required and is conditional pending results.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in an office setting: late hours, weekends, on‑call and callback work may be required. Will be exposed to regular periods of video display terminal and keyboard usage and stressful situations. Travel may be required. Possible exposure to irate clientele. Incumbent will work under stress and frequent time constraints.

Supplemental Information

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Bargaining Unit Position

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement and all terms/conditions of that agreement apply and must be adhered to.