Specialist, Foster Care

OneLFS; Omaha (NE); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Lutheran Family Services in Omaha, NE seeks a Foster Care Specialist to provide case management and supportive services for children and families in the Specialized Foster Care Program. You will develop plans, coordinate placements, and collaborate with lead agencies, schools, and legal parties to support each child's progress.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree in a human services field and 1 year of relevant experience (3+ preferred).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work, sociology, psychology, or related human services field.
• One year of experience in delivering human services; three+ years preferred.
• Experience in child welfare is preferred (home-based, foster care, or residential).
• Knowledge of attachment, grief and loss, abuse, and neglect as it relates to foster care.
• Must have a valid driver's license and ability to travel for organization business.

Responsibilities

• Assess, match, coordinate, and facilitate placement of children.
• Develop treatment plans for children.
• Advocate for the child to ensure all physical and emotional needs are met.
• Provide supervision for visits between a child and their biological family when required.
• Transport children to medical and/or dental appointments as needed.
• Guide foster parents in addressing behavioral or other home issues.
• Conduct foster parent training and monitor ongoing training (PS-MAPP).
• Conduct home studies and oversee license processes for new foster homes.
• Coordinate, oversee, and approve respite care for foster parents.
• Support foster parents to carry out treatment plans and interventions.
• Ensure therapeutic environments and appropriate child-family relationships.
• Conduct assessments of foster families when there are allegations of neglect or maltreatment.
• Participate in quarterly foster parent support meetings.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Organization

Time management

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Conflict resolution

Integrity & confidentiality

Empathy

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or related field

Job description

Our employees are at the very heart of all we do.

For over 130 years, the people of Lutheran Family Services have changed lives. Our professional staff has created homes through adoption and foster care, guided families struggling with abuse or addiction, and compassionately helped refugees from war-torn countries discover new lives in Nebraska and Iowa. And those are just a handful of our programs.

Do you have a calling to make a difference? A passion to help others? If so, then check out the amazing career opportunities we offer.

Our mission is to provide safety, hope and well-being to all people -- including our employees.

In addition to having what may be the hardest but most satisfying job you’ve ever had, you’ll enjoy excellent benefits, including generous time off and highly-competitive salaries.

See where we are hiring below, but stay in touch if you don’t see the perfect position yet. We are always looking for the right people.

Hiring For The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team

Lutheran Family Services is forming a new team in Fremont, Nebraska. The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team utilizes a multidisciplinary, team-based service delivery model that offers continuous, community-based support to individuals with serious mental illness, particularly those with concurrent substance use issues, frequent hospitalizations, risk of homelessness, involvement with the criminal justice system, and psychiatric crises.

ACT is where care meets the community. Team members engage with individuals in various settings, including the office, homes, streets, shelters, and community spaces. This approach fosters genuine relationships while providing accessible, consistent, compassionate, and deep human support.

Position:Specialist, Foster Care

Location: 7929 W Center Rd

Omaha, NE

Job Id:907

# of Openings:1

Specialist, Foster Care

Job Type

Full-Time

Position Summary:

• A Foster Care Specialist provides case management and support services to children and families in the Specialized Foster Care Program. This individual also establishes and maintains relationships with lead agencies, service providers, schools, and legal parties regarding the status, needs, and progress of the children in foster care.

Job Duties:

• Assess, match, coordinate, and facilitate placement of children.
• Develop treatment plans for children.
• Advocate for the child ensuring all physical and emotional needs are met.
• Provide supervision for visits between a child and their biological family members when required.
• Transport children to medical and/or dental appointments as needed.
• Guide and instruct foster parents in addressing behavioral or other problems within the home.
• Conduct foster parent training in alignment with PS-MAPP and monitor ongoing training.
• Conduct home studies and initiate/oversee the license process new foster homes.
• Coordinate, oversee, and approve respite care for the foster parents.
• Support foster parent efforts to carry out the treatment plan and intervention strategies.
• Ensure foster parents maintain therapeutic environments and establish appropriate relationships for children in their home.
• Conduct assessments of foster families where allegations of neglect or maltreatment of children have occurred.
• Participate in planning and presentation of quarterly support meetings for foster parents.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to provide on-call emergency intervention to foster families in crisis situations, including assessing safety and making immediate recommendations regarding appropriate interventions.
• Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Awareness and sensitivity of the constituents and populations served by the agency.
• Regular and predictable attendance, and promptness for work.
• Commitment to uphold the mission, vision, values of Lutheran Family Services.
• Support Lutheran Family Services in the organization’s objective to be a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace.
• Verbal Communication
• Empathy
• Critical Thinking
• Organizational Skills

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in social work, sociology, psychology, or another human services field.
• One year of experience in the delivery of human services to individuals and/or families required. Three or more years of experience is preferred.
• Experience in child welfare preferred, specifically home-based, foster care, or residential programming.
• Knowledge and understanding of attachment, grief and loss, abuse, and neglect as it relates to children in foster care.
• Knowledge of community resources available to children and families.
• Valid driver’s license, proof of liability automotive insurance, and ability to drive for organization business.
• Bilingual in English and another language preferred (desired languages mirror the languages spoken by our client populations, including but not limited to Spanish, Arabic, etc.).

Physical Requirements:

• Hybrid work environment (field, in-office, and remote).
• Must have reliable transportation and be able to travel beyond 50 miles in a personal vehicle to attend trainings, supervise foster homes, and maintain face-to-face contact with clients depending on level of care required.
• Share in rotation to provide 24-hour on-call coverage and supervision to foster parents including evenings and/or weekends to meet client needs (as directed).

Lutheran Family Services is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of age, race, religion, color, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.