Company Overview
UMCF is a comprehensive mental health and child welfare agency dedicated to helping families stay together, reunify, or establish new permanent families. We serve thousands of children and parents across the region through Foster Care, Outpatient Mental Health Services, Adoption, and other vital programs that promote stability and well-being. Job Summary
We are seeking a motivated Licensing Specialist - Foster Care to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring foster care homes meet all licensing standards and regulatory requirements. Your work will directly impact the safety and quality of care provided to children in foster placements. This position offers an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families by maintaining high standards for foster care licensing.
Job Summary
The Licensing Specialist is responsible for the licensing of new foster homes and the continuous certification and retention of existing homes. The Licensing Specialist is responsible for the development, coordination and facilitation of foster parent educational training. The Licensing Specialist is responsible for oversight of UMCF foster homes to ensure compliance with ODJFS regulations and UMCF policies and procedures.
This Licensing Specialist will maintain a supportive role with adoptive parents with interest and purpose to retain Foster to Adopt and Adoptive families with services are complete. The Licensing Specialist will assist in the identification and matching of waiting children in the permanent custody of a county agency with the waiting adoptive family. The Licensing Specialist is responsible for the supervision of the placement prior to finalization of the adoption as well as any post finalization support and referral for the family and child.
Duties and Responsibilities
Certification of Adoptive Homes and Matching Activities:
1. Track and provides support to adopt-only homes through the phases of adoption: Phase I Inquiry; Phase II Homestudy; Phase III Search; Phase IV Placement; Phase V Pre-Finalization (concludes with Finalization)
2. Develop the necessary relations with the custodial agencies and attorneys in and outside the State of Ohio to assist in the identification of waiting children. Contact custodial agencies of identified children to inquire about possible matches for waiting children
3. Responsible for the identification and assistance in matching waiting children with the waiting adoptive family. Provides the following matching duties once a child has been identified for a family - submit the home assessment, present the family at the county matching conference, contact the family and present the information about the waiting child, assist in the scheduling of visitation, and placement of the child into the family
4. Responsible for the supervision of the placement prior to finalization of the adoption as well as any post-finalization support and referral for the family and child at least monthly; provide written documentation through ICPC
Education, Support and Consultation to Adoptive Parents:
1. Respond to adoption-related inquiry calls and assist families in understanding the adoption process
2. Provide regular support to adoptive parents as needed. Assists adoptive parents to meet or maintain compliance with all ODJFS Regulations
3. Provide pre-finalization support and referral to the adoptive family as needed
4. Provide education on adoption to community groups and professionals (e.g., counselors, attorneys) to increase understanding and interest in adoption
Support Direct Services to Children & Families:
1. Provide case supervision to the adoptive placement of a child in an UMCF adoptive family with the 7 day visit and a visit with the child and family every 30 days until finalization
2. Complete and send documentation of Post Placement Supervision to the custodial county or county probate court of the child in placement
3. Complete all required court paperwork and reports and assist the family and attorney in finalizing the adoption
Certification of Foster & Adoptive Homes:
1. Prepare all necessary documents and submit for certification or recertification of foster or adoptive homes. Conducts re-certification activities per ODJFS regulations and UMCF Policies. Prepares all necessary documents for denial or revocation of a foster home or adoptive home per ODJFS regulations and UMCF policies.
2. Assist foster families in completing the individual training needs assessment and ensure compliance
3. Facilitate pre-service trainings, including CPR/First Aid; Assists with ongoing training facilitation
4. Maintain Foster Parent files as assigned in various platforms including SORC biographies
5. Track foster parent compliance with ODJFS and UMCF policies
Support/Consultation to Foster Parents:
1. Provide regular support to foster or adoptive parents as needed.
2. Assist foster parents in maintaining compliance with all ODJFS Regulations;
3. Conducts investigations of alleged rules violations, and completes corrective action plans as necessary
4. Provide at least one training per quarter for the agency training program
Retention Activities:
1. Participate in retention activities and support groups for foster parents and children as assigned
Other Related Duties:
1. Participate in the agency meetings as necessary
2. Participate in Agency QA activities as assigned
3. Demonstrate cultural competency and sensitivity, including knowledge of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients served and ability to assess and work with diverse populations.
4. Complete other duties as assigned.
Qualifications An example of acceptable qualifications (at least one of the following):
Must possess a bachelor’s degree in social work or a similar field. Must be a certified adoption assessor as outlined in ODJFS regulations. Experience and familiarity with ODJFS regulations relative to certification of foster homes and adoptive homes is preferred.
Or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Ability to pass a Federal and State Fingerprinting Background Check both prior to employment and per the schedule outlined by HR thereafter.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
· Ability to handle multiple deadlines.
· Ability to work with diverse populations (ages, genders, sexual orientation, treatment issues, cultural or religious practices.
· Ability for critical thinking, independent judgment, and the ability to adequately cope with crisis/stress.
· Ability to assess the need for placement, safety, family strengths and needs and placement resources for the child and adoptive parents.
· Evaluate the impact of services provided for the child and adoptive family
· Ability to recruit adoptive parents and evaluate their suitability as caregivers
· Ability to help adoptive parents become empowered to effectively parent children who are not their own and work cooperatively using a team approach.
· Ability to understand and assist with the role change that occur in foster to adopt placements, an ability to counsel regarding issues or separation and loss for the child, family; and a commitment to a child’s right to belong to a family.
· Ability to administer private, nonprofit service organizations, including an understanding of the legal responsibilities and constraints of such organizations.
· Ability to obtain and manage external grants and contracts.
· Ability to communicate effectively.
· Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with federal, state, regional, and local agencies, community leaders, and the general public.
· Ability to express oneself clearly and effectively in oral and written form.
Join Us
Join a supportive collaborative team of peers and supervisors providing a highly successful rate of mental health improvement among our clients! We provide excellent supervision and competitive benefits including continuing education opportunities. We are an equal-opportunity employer.
Benefits include:
- Competitive salary
- Health insurance with HRA & FSA, or HSA, with agency contribution.
- Dental insurance
- Paid vision insurance
- Paid life, short- and long-term disability insurance
- Retirement plan with company match after 1 year of service
- Employee assistance program
- Generous PTO & Holiday Pay
- Moving expenses considered for individuals who would relocate for qualifying positions
- Sign on bonus for qualifying positions
- We are an equal opportunity employer
Become a part of a great team!
Conditions of Employment:
· Ability to pass a Federal and State Fingerprinting Background Check both prior to employment and per the schedule outlined by HR thereafter.
CORE VALUES
Embody our core values and have the same expectations for others.
· Compassion We believe in meeting individuals in their current reality with understanding.
· Trust We believe honesty is essential to our culture. Our transparent and ethical actions build trust with youth, families and the community.
· Commitment We believe in consistently delivering on expectations and go the extra mile to get the job done.
· Teamwork We believe great ideas and best outcomes happen in inclusive environments.
· Innovation We believe in developing new and creative ways to serve people. We listen to all ideas.
Pay: From $46,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- 403(b) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Loan forgiveness
- Mileage reimbursement
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
