PAL Specialist (Preparation for Adult Living)

Our Community Our Kids; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 36,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Our Community Our Kids is seeking a PAL Specialist to support youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood. The role involves assessing placement needs, planning for permanency, and coordinating with public and private agencies to provide independent living services.

Responsibilities include maintaining youth case records, facilitating transition planning, and working closely with foster parents and kinship caregivers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is preferred but not required.
• Two years in the child and family services field is required; experience with older youth in Foster Care preferred.
• Must be able to read, analyze and interpret complex documents and data.

Responsibilities

• Assess needs for placement, safety, and resources for the youth.
• Plan for permanency and assist caregivers in providing a safe, nurturing environment.
• Coordinate with public and private agencies to provide independent living services.
• Maintain accurate case records and documentation; coordinate with external agencies.

Education

Bachelor’s degree (preferred)

Job description

Description

Position Function

The PAL (Preparation for Adult Living) Specialist is responsible for providing support to youth who are transitioning to adulthood from Foster Care.

Working Conditions

Position may interact with parents, guardians, and conservators as well as to youth with behavioral problems, including possible physical aggression. A personal vehicle is required for travel. Must possess a valid driver's license. Must meet agency underwriting standards while driving agency vehicles and/or transporting clients.

Exposure to Confidential Information

The Preparation for Adult Living Specialist will have access to confidential records including youth files, foster care and adoption records, and foster parent information. Must maintain confidentiality and follow policies related to personnel records and client records.

Key Expectations/Responsibilities

• Maintain high ethical standards which are outlined in the ACH Child and Family Services Code of Ethics.
• A commitment to empowering others to solve their problems.
• Value a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a person.
• A conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.
• The ability to establish a respectful relationship with persons served to help them gain skills and confidence.
• The ability to work collaboratively with other personnel and/or service providers and professionals.
• The capacity to maintain a helping role and to intervene appropriately to meet service goals.
• The ability to set appropriate limits.
• Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
• Promotes, monitors, and ensures that respect is demonstrated for cultural diversity.
• Attends work regularly in accordance with the agency leave policy.

Implementation:

• Assess the need for placement, safety, family strengths and needs, and placement resources for the youth.
• Plans for and facilitates permanency and assists caregivers in providing a safe, nurturing environment for youth in their care.
• Maintains a close working relationship with public and private agencies involved in providing independent living services/support.
• Conducts and coordinates assessments.
• Plans and coordinates events for youth in care.
• Assists and coordinates transition planning for youth moving from foster care to adulthood.
• Ensures the accuracy, content and completeness of youth/family case records.
• Utilizing best practices standards, coordinates independent living services and requirements with public and private agencies.
• Provides crisis intervention, when required.
• Supports the After-Care Specialist in ensuring follow-up support services are accomplished when permanency is achieved.
• Compiles monthly statistical data and reports and forwards to appropriate agencies.
• Completes documentation and forwards reports containing descriptive, analytical and evaluative content.
• Coordinates with staff from external public and private agencies, on the delivery of services to youth and families.
• The ability to understand and assist with the role changes that occur in foster and kinship care.
• The ability to counsel regarding issues of separation and loss for the youth, family, and caregiver.
• A commitment to a youth’s right to belong to a family.
• A commitment to preserving, whenever possible, a youth’s connection to the family of origin.
• A commitment to reunifying a youth with his/her biological family.

Training and Supervision

• Attend continuing education necessary to expand knowledge and maintain certifications or licenses.
• Communicate regularly with supervisor and seek supervision when appropriate.
• Participate in and sometimes conduct in-service training.

Requirements

Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is preferred but not required.

Experience: At least two years in the child and family services field is required. Experience working with older youth in Foster Care is preferred.

Functional: Must have knowledge, skills, and experience to assess the need for placement, assess safety, assess family strengths and needs, assess placement resources for the youth, plan for and facilitate permanency, and assist foster parents and kinship caregivers in providing a safe, nurturing environment for children in their care. Must demonstrate skills in separation and loss issues for the child in care, family systems, conflict resolution, and mediation, understanding loyalty issues a youth and caregiver may face, and reunifying a youth with his/her family. Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from clients, care providers or regulatory agencies. Ability to effectively present information to management and public groups. Must be able to work occasional weekends, evenings, and overnights for conferences and events. Travel in and out of region required.