Foster Care Specialist – Clarksville

Youth Villages; Opelika (AL); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

401(k)

Paid time off

Mileage reimbursement

Tuition reimbursement

Licensure supervision

Career growth

Job summary

Youth Villages in Opelika, AL seeks a Foster Care Specialist to support youth in foster care and their families. You will carry a caseload of 8–10 families, provide family-centered services, attend weekly meetings, and help with crisis support while maintaining accurate EMR documentation.

Candidates should have a degree in social work or related field, experience with foster care or counseling, and strong organizational and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or related field.
• Experience with Foster Care or counseling preferred.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Carries a caseload of 8 to 10 families.
• Provides services to the entire family to support treatment.
• Attends weekly meetings for professional development and booster training.
• Provides on-call crisis support to youth and family.
• Completes accurate EMR documentation and records.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Caseload management

Documentation

Crisis support

Communication skills

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or related field

Tools

EMR systems

Job description

For over 35 years, Youth Villages has transformed the lives of children and families nationwide through innovative, research-based programs focused on preserving and restoring families.

As a national leader in children’s mental and behavioral health, we serve more than 47,000 youth, young people, and their families annually across 29 states and Washington, D.C. Our proven treatment models drive long-term success in child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health systems. At Youth Villages, we do what works — partnering with others to expand our impact and advocate for meaningful, lasting change.

We’re seeking purpose-driven individuals who are passionate about making a difference. With a dedicated team of more than 5,000 staff, Youth Villages is committed to investing in and supporting our employees by offering opportunities to build a fulfilling career through professional growth, personal development, and a mission that matters— helping children and families live successfully.

Youth Villages’ Treatment Foster Care program provides evidence-based, intensive in-home treatment for youth in foster care while supporting foster parents and advocating for the best interests of each youth. The program serves children and adolescents (ages 0 to18) who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect, and may have behavioral and mental health needs.

Our parent-centered treatment model promotes positive change across home, school, community, and peer environments – all while working diligently to achieve family reunification whenever possible or finding permanency through adoption. Foster families and youth receive comprehensive support through weekly in-person sessions and access to 24/7 on-call support from highly trained, trauma-informed Foster Care Specialists.

Job Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Foster Care Specialist:

• Carries a caseload of 8 to 10 families
• Provides services to the entire family—not just the identified youth—to build trust and support treatment alignment
• Attends 3 weekly meetings (individual, team, and clinical consultation) for professional development and quarterly booster training sessions to enhance clinical skills
• Provides on-call crisis support to the youth and family (schedules vary by location)
• Completes accurate and timely documentation in an electronic medical record system (EMR)
• Performs other duties as assigned

Additional Information:

• Schedule is flexible and non-traditional as it is based around the availability of youth and families served.
• Applicants must possess a current, valid driver’s license, an automobile for work purposes, and proof of auto insurance.
• Community-based staff will be reimbursed for applicable mileage.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Degrees that can be considered include: social work, drug and alcohol education or counseling, psychology, criminal justice, guidance counseling, or marriage and family therapy (others subject to review)
• Experience with the Foster Care System (preferred)
• Experience with counseling adolescents in a clinical setting (preferred)
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent written, verbal, and oral skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Basic computer knowledge
• Ability to maintain a flexible schedule

Additional Information

• Medical, Dental, Prescription Drug Coverage and Vision
• 401(k)
• Time off:
• 2 week paid vacation (full-time) / 1 week paid vacation (part‑time)
• 12 paid sick days per year
• 11 paid holidays
• Mileage & Cell Phone Reimbursement (when applicable)
• Tuition reimbursement and licensure supervision
• Growth & development through continuous training
• Clinical and administrative advancement opportunities