Family Developer - Yakima Field Office

Casey Family Programs an Equal Opportunity Employer is the nations largest operating foundation focused on safely reducing the need for foster care and building Communities of Hope for children and families across America. Founded in 1966 we work in 50 states the District of Columbia and two territories and with more than a dozen tribal nations to influence long-lasting improvements to the safety and success of children families and the communities where they live. Casey Family Programs values diversity equity inclusion anti-racism anti-discrimination and respect for individuals in the workplace. We encourage candidates with diverse lived experience and perspectives to apply.

Child and Family Services (CFS) of Casey Family Programs provides direct services and tribal consultation in pursuit of Caseys mission to provide improve and ultimately prevent the need for foster care. CFS operates nine field offices in five states and an Indian Child Welfare Programs office that demonstrate direct service and ICW improvement models. We share our experiences and lessons learned with jurisdictions tribes providers and communities in the spirit of mutual continuous learning. Our work is community and family centered relationship-based participatory and culturally responsive. We recognize the dignity and strength of every individual family community and culture.

Job Summary:

Utilizing a collaborative innovative evidence-informed trauma and healing approach to practice we engage families and community partners in the urgent relentless pursuit of legal and relational permanency and well-being for all children and families so that no youth ages out of foster care. Our clinical case management and support activities primarily occur within homes and in the community with virtual options available as necessary. The Family Developer in partnership with Social Workers is responsible for recruiting maintaining supporting coaching educating and retaining a culturally diverse complement of quality caregivers (e.g. licensed kinship fictive kin and court ordered placements) who are available as permanency resources. In compliance with CFS practice standards and state licensing requirements the Family Developer completes family assessments and home studies. The Family Developer also helps families provide quality family care and identifies specific needs that will achieve the outcomes of legal and relational permanency and enhanced youth and family well-being. The Family Developer applies these same skills with birth families to prevent entry or re-entry into the child welfare system. This position requires a strong and flexible teaming approach both internally and externally to meet the needs of families served.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Develops in collaboration with other field office and headquarters staff permanency family resources recruitment and retention strategies. Screens and processes inquiries using clinical skills in alignment with the CFS Practice Model. Builds quality relationships with caregivers in order to prepare comprehensive family assessments and home studies of prospective resource parents. Educates coaches and supports potential families on the need for legal and relational permanency and on various permanency options. Networks and forms relationships with local community resources and child placement agencies to develop and maintain a culturally diverse array of families that mirrors the field office community and jurisdiction.
• Maintains regular contact and proper documentation with families adhering to agency practice standards jurisdictional court and licensing requirements. Includes oversight and tracking of licensing documentation necessary for licensure re-licensure and documentation required for court ordered placements. Manages re-licensing of Field Office as Child Placing Agency (CPA) and licensing reviews. Develops working knowledge of all state and county foster care licensing and/or certification regulations as well as QCR and COA requirements. In collaboration with local community and child placement agencies develops and implements pre-service orientation and training opportunities.
• Networks with community resources and provides presentations to promote the critical role families provide in meeting the legal and relational permanency needs of youth. Includes outreach and community education about prevention legal and relational permanency foster care kinship care fictive kin legal guardianship and adoptions including adult adoptions.
• Participates in Demonstration and Spread opportunities locally across CFS and nationally in partnership with Systems Improvement.
• Provides supports and maintains relationships with resource parents with emphasis on those families who have placements pending or who are experiencing crisis disruptions investigations grief and loss etc. Utilizing a trauma- and healing-informed approach maintains close relationship with families and social work staff while transitioning youth into a permanent home and assists Casey staff in monitoring the dynamics of the placement process.
• Plans and coordinates local state and/or national activities and recognition functions for resource families in conjunction with other staff as needed.
• Develops and maintains an array of resource families able to provide respite interim and ongoing care for youth in out-of-home and in-home care. Oversees the development coordination and delivery of on-going resource parent education and licensing/training requirements that meets parents and youth needs. Consults frequently with field office staff responsible for screening and assigning child intakes to plan for permanency placement needs. Works conjointly with field office staff on planned clinical interventions as well as unplanned emergencies with families and youth.
• Provides input into annual budget process and works within budget from Family Developers domain to include: parent training support and development recruitment retention licensing/certification expenditures and planning for expenses related to the Field Offices family recognition/appreciation functions.
• Performs other duties as assigned and may include temporary Social Worker assignments.

All of these essential responsibilities necessitate the ability to work and communicate effectively across differences with diverse services populations staff and stakeholders to advance diversity equity and inclusion; to work effectively in a team environment as well as work autonomously and exercise independent judgement as required; to demonstrate effective organizational analytical critical thinking and problem solving skills; to collaborate with management and staff to ensure alignment with organizational values goals and directives in all work performed.

Qualifications:

• Masters Degree in Social Work or related field from an accredited institution and a minimum of five years clinical experience in child welfare or other child and family service-related practice is required.
• Expertise in the areas of permanency improved well-being outcomes for youth in care and family engagement community supports and evidenced based and promising practices aimed at strengthening families well-being and ensuring child safety required.
• Clinical expertise in the area of family systems trauma- and healing-informed care and knowledge in the areas of substance abuse mental health and domestic violence necessary. Experience and skill in parent training and coaching desired.
• Experience in successful community engagement/networking recruitment and retention of resource families is preferred. Broad knowledge of social work practice and clinical theory including clinical skills assessment and interventions in family systems approaches is essential.
• Knowledge of local state and national laws policies and procedures governing reunification foster family licensure kinship guardianship and adoption is preferred.
• This position requires an ability to relate well to children and families of varied cultures sexual orientations gender identities and socioeconomic status. Requires the ability to educate and coach families around diversity equity and inclusion principles.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity respect for tribal sovereignty and respect for cultural racial and gender difference is required. Personal qualities demonstrating adaptability curiosity collaboration and a capacity for self-reflection and commitment to lifelong learning are a must. Ability to contribute effectively with and across teams and with external partners necessary.
• Ability to protect the confidentiality of sensitive information by learning and following all relevant policies and protocols and using sound judgment in the handling and sharing of that information.
• Strong organizational skills and effective written and verbal communication skillsare critical for this position.
• Basic computer knowledge and experience with MS Office (Word Excel and Outlook) is necessary as well as ability to master technological applications including navigation of electronic case management systems.
• Physical requirements include the ability to lift and reach for light objects; close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data text and figures; ability to type utilizing a computer keyboard; ability to travel to outside locations; and the ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time as a primary job function. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Local travel required for home visits meetings with families and otherrequired meetings. Driving on Casey business may require use of personal vehicle; adherence to vehicle safety guidelines and qualification for insurance is out of town travel for professional development or Demonstration and Spread projects may occur.
• Bilingual skills in English and another language(s) preferred.

The typical hiring range for this position in Yakima WA is $71910 to $84600. The full salary range for the role is $71910 to $97290. As a mission-driven organization Casey strives to balance competitive pay with our mission. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidates job-related skills experience and expertise as evaluated during the interview process.

Casey Family Programs offers comprehensive benefits including medical dental and vision coverage accrual of 12 days of annual leave 12 days of sick leave10 paid holidays per year and each employee receives one personal holiday to use each calendar year. Employees that meet certain tenure qualifiers are eligible for up to eight weeks of parental leave for the birth or placement of a child for adoption or foster care. After the completion of 10 years of continuous full-time regular employment employees in good standing are permitted for a three-month sabbatical with pay. CFP also offers many opportunities for continued learning training and development.