WWK Adoptions Care Coordinator

Allies For Every Child; Culver City (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Health and dental insurance

401k with employer match

Paid holidays and vacation

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Allies for Every Child in Culver City, CA is seeking a WWK Care Coordinator to recruit, match, and support families for children in foster care and transitioning to adulthood. You will coordinate recruitment plans, interview youth and potential caregivers, and work with DCFS to identify permanency options.

The role requires flexibility, including evenings and weekends. Candidates should have a Bachelor’s Degree with two years’ post-graduate experience and be able to travel across Los Angeles

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with two years’ post-graduate experience.
• Fingerprint background clearance (DOJ, FBI & Child Abuse Clearance Index).
• Valid driver's license and access to reliable transportation.
• Knowledge of foster care, adoption, trauma, and child welfare system.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Review case records and interview children/youth, caseworkers, and families.
• Identify potential adoptive caregivers using internet/search tools.
• Develop recruitment plans and meet children/youth monthly.
• Coordinate transition planning and placement support with families.
• Attend trainings and contribute to quality improvement efforts.
• Evening and weekend work as required.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish (preferred)

Interpersonal skills

Organization & time management

Field-based services

Travel throughout Los Angeles County

Education

Bachelor’s Degree with two years’ post-graduate experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Under the supervision of the Foster Care Supervisor, the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (WWK) Care Coordinator works in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. The Care Coordinator connects children and youth in need of permanency with families who wish to adopt or provide guardianship by implementing and coordinating effective recruitment, matching, and support services for a caseload of 12-15 children/youth. The Care Coordinator will use the WWK evidence-based, child-focused recruitment model to identify potential families for children/youth in LA County’s foster care system and referred to Allies by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). These children/youth are typically over the age of 9, have special needs, and/or are part of a sibling group.

Agency Overview

Every child needs a childhood. Allies for Every Child (Allies) exists to give at-risk children and children living in poverty the foundation they need to increase their life choices and lead fulfilling lives. For nearly 40 years, Allies has been providing thousands of at-risk children and their families with critical, high-quality child development and family wellness programs (including comprehensive early education and Early Head Start services), family strengthening interventions, foster care and adoption services, and a range of vital, integrated services, including mental health services, educational assessments, trauma and disabilities screenings/advocacy, nutrition services, dental and vision screenings, and pediatric health consultations. In 2024, Allies expanded its reach, serving even more children and youth in foster care and those transitioning to adulthood through Extraordinary Families, a program of Allies for Every Child.

To successfully perform this job, an individual must believe in and act in accordance with the Agency’s mission/vision statements, adopted theoretical frameworks, and philosophy, and adequately carry out each essential duty. The requirements below outline the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to assist individuals with disabilities in performing the essential functions. In accordance with our “team” philosophy, the person in this position may occasionally be required to perform or assist with tasks beyond the duties listed in this job description.

Direct Services:

• Review case records, interview children/youth, caseworkers, other agency staff with knowledge of the case, and any available family members and/or other supportive connections to assist in the recruitment process.
• Utilize internet search and other tools to identify and locate contacts within the child’s/youth’s network to explore potential adoptive caregivers.
• Create child-focused recruitment plans for the child/youth and meet with the child/youth in person monthly.
• Develop an initial written adoption readiness assessment describing the youth’s understanding and feelings about adoption.
• Meet with the DCFS caseworker monthly to review the progress of the recruitment plan and locating possible permanent caregivers for the child/youth.
• Serve as an advocate for WWK participants in achieving permanency.
• Meet with family members and adult supportive connections to explore possible caregivers.
• Engage in cold calling people identified as leads/connections to the child/youth and potential permanency.
• Once matched, work with the caseworker, child/youth, and the prospective adoptive caregiver(s) to ensure preplacement visits are implemented. Work in conjunction with the caseworker to ensure that the adoptive family is working towards adoption finalization.
• Assist with the development and coordination of transition planning with the child/youth and matched family and provide placement support throughout the process.
• Other duties as
• Evening and weekend work required.

Quality and Performance Improvement:

• Manage, maintain, and update participant files, complete and update case records, and perform other administrative duties as required.
• Ensure timely, accurate completion of monthly data entry in the WWK database and agency workbooks and other required documentation.
• Attend and participate in all mandated trainings, work groups, UP4Youth activities, focus groups, and staff development/training activities to enhance skills and develop professional knowledge.
• Attend educational opportunities provided by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption including, but not limited to: WWK classroom training, online modules, database training, webinars, and the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Summit hosted by the Foundation.
• Support audits, reporting, and quality improvement efforts.

Interagency and Cross-Departmental Collaboration:

• Work in collaboration with the foster care and adoption programs.
• Attend monthly foster care and adoption team meetings and other relevant program and agency meetings, including quarterly Allies Huddles.
• Work in collaboration across programs to support agency events (e.g., Arts Fest, Summer Picnic, etc.).
• Collaborate with the UP4Youth Program to support in connecting WWK participants to UP4Youth mentors. Refer eligible and interested youth to the UP4Youth Program for support with transition-age-youth services.
• Understand system of care issues as they relate to child welfare services.
• Be dedicated to creating and supporting culturally responsive services provided by a culturally diverse workforce.
• Know of or have experience working with children and youth in foster care and have familiarity with issues of particular relevance to them.
• Be bilingual in English and Spanish (preferred but not required).

The candidate must have:

• Bachelor’s Degree with two (2) years’ post-graduate experience
• Fingerprint background clearance (DOJ, FBI & Child Abuse Clearance Index), or approved exemption
• Successful completion of pre-employment physical, PPD test/risk assessment, proof of immunizations for pertussis (Tdap) within the past 10 years, measles (MMR), and influenza (can decline).
• Valid driver’s license, proof of automobile insurance, and access to reliable transportation. Personal transportation is required.
• Alignment with Allies’ mission and philosophy.
• Excellent Knowledge of:
  • Issues surrounding foster care, adoption, trauma, and the child welfare system.
  • Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Experience with/Ability to:
• Promote and safeguard the rights and well‐being of children and youth in foster care, including LGBTQ+ clients, through actions such as education, advocacy, and community support.
• Provide field-based services. Travel throughout Los Angeles County is required.
• Seek and synthesize information and produce detail‑oriented work.
• Organize workload and prioritize responsibilities.
• Be dynamic and outgoing and communicate effectively with diverse audiences, verbally and in writing.
• Develop productive relationships with colleagues and clients. Exceptional interpersonal skills required.
• Work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, and welcome opportunities to work across diverse cultures.
• Handle and manage confidential information in compliance with HIPAA standards and agency policies.
• Serve as a role model for children/youth, TAY, and families served by Allies.

Full Benefits Package offered including:

• Competitive Pay
• 12 Holidays per calendar year
• 10 Sick Leave Days per year
• 10 Vacation Days per year (increases with tenure)
• 2 Personal Days – birthday and anniversary of employment
• 10 Jury Duty Days
• 100% Employer Contribution to: Health – Kaiser or Anthem, Dental, Vision
• Pet Insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan with 50% employer match – 100% vested
• 100% Employer Paid Life and Accidental Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – for team members and dependents
• Discounts for movie tickets, amusement parks, travel, hotels, sporting events, shows,
• Initial and ongoing training and professional development opportunities
• Opportunities for growth and advancement
• Employee referral incentive pay – $1500
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Credit Union Membership
• Credit Union Membership

$25.00 – $29.00 per hour (In accordance with California law, the expected salary range for this California position. The actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors permitted by law.)

BECOME AN ALLY TODAY!

Allies for Every Child actively seeks candidates who reflect the rich diversity of the communities that we serve. We are committed to a work environment that embraces and promotes individuality and inclusion. We believe that diversity and inclusion of varied perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences are essential to our organization’s effectiveness, and allows us to serve our clients in the respectful, responsive, and understanding way that they deserve. We define diversity in broad terms to include race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, geography, socio-economic status and other unique attributes that make us who we are.

Allies for Every Child has achieved accreditation through the Council on Accreditation (COA). This means our programs, services, administration, and management have been rigorously evaluated and meet best practice standards. Visit www.COAnet.org to learn more about COA Accreditation.