Adoptions Specialist

Childrens Home Society of Florida

Since opening our doors in 1902 CHS became a part of Floridas history.

CHS has been committed to growing and evolving to provide the right services and solutions to address the needs of children and families throughout the changing times. Every day our team works with parents and kids to empower them and encourage them. With innovative technology solutions and a dedicated experienced team throughout the state were changing the face of foster care and positively impacting children and families lives for generations to come.

Join our team to continue to do good and create history serving Floridas children and families!

The Adoptions Specialistis accountable for providing specialized adoption support services to dependency staff and children and families in care. Overall the Adoptions Specialist contributes to CHSs strategic objective of reimagining what HOME means by creating spaces where every child and family is supported and has access to the opportunities they need to pursue their dreams.

WHY JOIN CHS

• Uplifting mission-driven work culture
• Make an impact in your community and become a part of Floridas history!
• Growth and professional development opportunities
• Great benefits package including generous paid time off and holidays

Primary Job Functions

1. Provide specialized adoption support services to the dependency team and children and families in care.

Adoption Process & Case Management

• Facilitate adoptions from referral through finalization including case management documentation court testimony and compliance with judicial requirements.
• Conduct in-person and virtual child studies home studies (including second-level reviews) diligent searches and Family Match assessments.
• Coordinate and complete permanency plans sibling visitation agreements and aftercare planning including Independent Living services.
• Manage case records databases and subsidy files; ensure accuracy and compliance with performance measures.

Family & Child Support

• Conduct initial and ongoing check-ins with children and families pre- and post-placement to identify support needs.
• Counsel and prepare children foster parents adoptive families and birth parents for adoption; provide resources training and guidance.
• Facilitate get to know the child meetings disclosure meetings and supervised visits between children and matched families.
• Complete required post-adoption visits ongoing follow-up and collaboration with youth team members to ensure stability.

Collaboration & Compliance

• Maintain updated contact lists of children available for adoption and share child studies with partners (e.g. Selfless Love).
• Coordinate with legal staff case managers schools and community partners to support child well-being.
• Attend staffings multidisciplinary meetings and court hearings; ensure all required documentation and disclosures are completed.

2. Contribute to a positive engaging work environment.

• Develop a strong knowledge base and stay current on job-related issues best practices and trends.
• Participate actively in departmental meetings training and education as well as the quality process.
• Comply with CHSs code of conduct policies procedures and other obligations.
• Assist with training other team members and providing back-up when necessary.
• Pick up projects on the fly; perform other duties as assigned from time to time.

Job Qualifications
Education Licenses & Certifications:

• Bachelors degree from an accredited university required.
• Bachelors degree in the Human Sciences field preferred.
• Child Welfare Case Management certification required.
• Florida Drivers License within 30 days from hire with daily access to a reliable and insured vehicle required.

Experience:

• Two years of professionally related experience required.
• Experience training or supervising foster parents preferred.
• Experience working with children with special needs preferred

Competencies

Knowledge/ Awareness of:

• Community resources and networks to enhance client experiences and results.
• Child and Family Wellbeing general principles practices and performance standards.
• General confidentiality requirements and ethical standards in handling sensitive client-related and other data and information.

Skills/ Ability to Demonstrate CHS Core Behaviors:

• Caring Demonstrate active empathy kindness and compassion in every interaction while setting healthy limits and boundaries with clients.
• Client-Focused - Provide a high level of customer service exercising discretion and diplomacy while acting to protect clients when necessary.
• Curious Exhibit a willingness to explore and reframe problems as opportunities using good judgement to solve practical problems.
• Committed Manage multiple priorities while taking initiative to achieve to desired results and outcomes.
• Accountable Meet critical deadlines while maintaining high attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficient Undertake job duties with minimal supervision using general office productivity tools including MS Office Suite and Teams.
• Resourceful Accomplish tasks with available resources stewarding CHS resources appropriately.
• Team Player Collaborate and work well with colleagues contributing to positive morale and spirit within the team.
• Coalition Builder Establish internal and external connections to collaborate on shared goals.
• Inclusive Interact effectively with others being sensitive to differences in attitudes styles cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Excellence-Driven Is present and prepared delivering high quality work.
• Leader - Exhibit a professional presence demonstrating strong interpersonal and communication skills with unwavering Respect Integrity and Dedication to the CHS mission.

All applicants are subject to background screening through the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). For more information visit

Together good can be done.

Required Experience:

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