Foster Care Program Manager

StepStone Family & Youth Services; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

StepStone Family & Youth Services in Nashville, TN is seeking a compassionate Foster Care Program Manager to lead daily operations, supervise staff and foster families, and ensure high-quality services that promote safety, stability, permanency and positive outcomes for youth and families.

This role emphasizes trauma‑informed, strengths‑based and family‑centered practices, with accountability, collaboration, staff development and operational excellence across the program.

Qualifications

• Experience providing direct casework with children and families.
• Administrative and clinical skills for working with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to recruit, supervise, and support staff.
• Understanding of child welfare and juvenile justice contexts.
• Innovative and flexible in changing circumstances.
• Collaborative and professional demeanor.

Responsibilities

• Develops treatment interventions with the Executive Director.
• Evaluates programs and makes recommendations.
• Develops and administers standards for treatment staff.
• Assists in recruitment and training of staff.
• Oversees training, supervision, and discipline of staff.
• Keeps the Executive Director and partner agencies informed of programs and policies.
• Maintains a caseload and provides quality service to clients.
• Represents and interprets the agency's programs to the public and custodial agencies.
• Maintains working relationships with local, state, and national agencies.

Skills

Administrative skills

Clinical skills

Staff management

Communication

Flexibility

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

Job description

Our Company

StepStone Family & Youth Services

Overview

StepStone Family & Youth Services provides trauma informed, youth centered services to children and families involved in foster care. The Foster Care Program Manager plays a vital leadership role in overseeing daily program operations, supporting staff and foster families, and ensuring the delivery of high quality services that promote safety, stability, permanency, and positive outcomes for youth and families.

We are seeking a compassionate and experienced Foster Care Program Manager who is passionate about supporting children and families through trauma informed, strengths based, and family centered practices. This role is ideal for a leader who values accountability, collaboration, staff development, and operational excellence while fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for employees, foster parents, and the youth we serve.

The Foster Care Program Manager is responsible for overseeing daily program operations, supervising and mentoring staff, monitoring service delivery and case management practices, supporting foster parent recruitment and retention, and ensuring compliance with agency policies, licensing requirements, and applicable state regulations. This position collaborates closely with foster families, referral agencies, treatment teams, community partners, and leadership to strengthen placement stability, maintain program quality, and ensure individualized services meet the needs of children and families.

The ideal candidate is a compassionate, organized, adaptable, and solutions focused leader with strong communication and decision making skills. They are committed to developing high performing teams, maintaining operational excellence, and promoting trauma informed practices that empower youth and families while supporting safety, permanency, stability, and long term success.

Responsibilities

• Works with the Executive Director in developing effective treatment interventions for children and families involved with the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems
• Evaluates treatment programs and makes recommendations to the Executive Director
• Develops and administers standards and procedures for all treatment staff
• Assists in the recruitment and hiring of qualified treatment staff and oversees training, supervision, promotion, and discipline
• Oversees training promotion and discipline of treatment staff and provides ongoing supervision
• Keeps the Executive Director and client agencies informed of agency's programs and policies
• Maintains a caseload and provide quality service to clientsRepresents and interprets the agency's programs and policies to the public custodial agencies, the courts, and the community
• Maintains good working relationships with local, state, and national agencies, including schools, courts, welfare departments, probation departments, and other social service agencies

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree accredited college or university, plus a minimum of two years of full-time employment experience providing direct casework services to children and families that includes providing services to families that need assistance in the protection and care of their children
• Administrative and clinical skills and be capable of working effectively with children, adults, staff, parents, referral sources, and the community
• Capable of selecting qualified personnel, delegating responsibility, giving support and recognition, and commanding respect and confidence
• Ability to understand the special needs of children and families involved with the child welfare and/or juvenile justice system
• Innovative and flexible enough to cope with interruptions, demands, and changing circumstances
• Positive, effective, productive, as well as cooperative between staff, families, referral sources, and the community

About our Line of Business

StepStone Family and Youth Services, an affiliate of BrightSpring Health Services, provides the full spectrum of support to children in need of alternative, safer, and more positive living environments with residential and family services. StepStone connects children and youth who need homes with foster families, as well as foster care training, respite care and support services. For young adults transitioning from foster care to independent living, StepStone provides personalized guidance and training on basic life skills, including money management and education. For more information, please visit www.stepstoneyouth.com. Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.