Summary of Position
The Extreme Recruiter is responsible for spearheading and expediting the adoption recruitment activities of the child welfare team. Extreme Recruitment® works exclusively with the hardest-to-place children: ages 10-18, sibling groups, and youth with emotional, developmental, or behavioral concerns. The position requires the recruiter to carry out all aspects of multi-faceted, child-specific adoption recruitment. The Extreme Recruiter will facilitate 12-20 weeks of team meetings with the goals of ensuring a system of supportive adults for at least 85% of youth, and identifying a permanent resource committed to adoption or guardianship for at least 70% of youth. Prior to the active recruitment phase of 12-20 weeks, the Extreme Recruiter will complete pre-work. Pre-work may include beginning the recruiter’s familiarization to the case history, building a relationship with youth(s) and placement provider, making recommendations regarding services that may be beneficial during active recruitment, as well as other activities. Once a permanency option is identified, the Extreme Recruiter holds monthly team meetings until an adoption or guardianship is finalized. If an identified permanency resource disrupts, the Extreme Recruiter may remain involved in the case doing monthly meetings to secure and support a second permanency option.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities
Demonstrate their commitment to the following core program philosophies:
o Foster care is intended to be a temporary living arrangement.
o Every child is adoptable and deserves a permanent, loving home.
o Relative/kinship placements are generally preferred, however non-relative placements are also explored.
o Having multiple options for permanency is not a problem.
o Every person in a child’s life can offer assistance, especially by providing information.
o Youth do not need to be “stable” to be worthy of a permanent home. Many youth need permanency before their behavior truly stabilizes.
Case Coordination & Team Collaboration
o Assist case managers and court officials with compliance related to the Fostering Connections to Success Act, applicable Missouri statutes, and Missouri Children’s Division policies regarding relative/kin notification and placement.
o Participate in court hearings, internal and external team meetings, agency meetings, and professional consultations; majority of meetings should be attended in person.
o Schedule, facilitate, and participate in meetings with youths’ teams including ER supervisors, case managers, supervisors, GALs, DJOs, therapists, placement providers, and other stakeholders.
o Facilitate communication with referring agencies and team members regarding case updates and family information. Respond to supervision, coaching, and feedback in a professional manner.
o Work effectively within a team setting and participate in ongoing training and professional development opportunities.
Documentation, Records & Data Management
o Complete thorough, accurate, and timely documentation including intake forms, activity notes, billing documentation, progress notes, maintenance plans, assessments, profiles, and closing summaries.
o Maintain accurate client files, records, billing sheets, and daily activity logs in accordance with funding and program requirements.
o Request, review, and analyze relevant documentation including psychological evaluations, IEPs, therapy reports, birth records, and related records.
o Conduct case record reviews utilizing Children’s Division, contracted case management, and court files to identify relatives/kin and gather relevant case information.
o Complete trauma and loss histories using gathered records and documentation.
o Complete assessments at referral, throughout service delivery, and at case closure to evaluate progress and outcomes.
o Utilize software and databases such as Salesforce and Genopro to track program outcomes and maintain records.
Family Finding & Permanency Support
o Assist in conducting diligent searches to identify a minimum of 40 family members and other supportive connections for youth.
o Explore permanency planning options with family members, including development of formalized natural support networks.
o Ensure all child-specific, targeted, and general recruitment strategies are completed in accordance with program guidelines.
o Ensure adoption readiness assessments are completed initially and updated throughout the case, including ongoing review of placement stability, mental and physical health needs, relationships, and educational needs.
Family & Placement Support Services
o Assist families in preparing for licensure by explaining the licensing process and supporting home licensing requirements.
o Conduct visits with children and families in the home or community to support placement stability and foster/adoptive families.
o Complete internal referrals to agency services such as Family Works, Little Wishes, support groups, and training opportunities.
o Complete external referrals to community resources and services including therapy, evaluations, trainings, and other supportive services.
o Provides community resources and support services to relative resource providers to promote placement stability.
Key Responsibilities:
- Maintains professionalism in all interactions with families and professionals.
- Respects and effectively engages with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Responds to communication in a respectful and timely manner.
- Meets all outcome expectations for Extreme Recruitment®.
- Willing to learn and use relevant software tools (Genopro, Salesforce).
- Travels within the designated service area: St. Louis City, St. Louis, Jefferson, St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren, and Franklin counties.
Agency Accountability:
- Completes daily activity log.
- Maintains an up-to-date Outlook calendar. Adheres to the Coalition’s Shared Values, Employee Code of Conduct, and Employee Code of Ethics.
- Adheres to the Coalition’s Shared Values, Employee Code of Conduct, and Employee Code of Ethics.
Non-Essential Functions:
- Assists with administrative tasks and volunteer responsibilities as needed.
- Supports other agency programs to achieve organizational goals.
- Performs other duties as assigned, with or without accommodation.
Qualifications & Requirements
Education:
Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field.
Experience:
- Demonstrated experience working with interdisciplinary teams utilizing innovative strategies to overcome obstacles.
- Direct experience in the child welfare field with knowledge of foster care and adoption and experience in family interview, engagement, and assessment.
- Experience in resource parent licensing strongly preferred.
Preferred Skills & Qualifications:
- Sense of urgency and understanding the importance of the fidelity principles as outlined through the 30 Days to Family® program guidelines.
- Ability to work outside of a “business as usual” model, including:
o a “relentless” search for family
o vigorous search for and engagement of fathers a strength-based approach to engaging family members in a problem-solving process to identify and organize their collective resources to support relative placement
- Excellent written and verbal communication.
- Strong organizational skills and superior time management.
- Professional maturity to work independently, while also engaging with peers and supervisory staff.
- Superior advocacy skills.
- Experience in team facilitation, including conflict resolution and negotiation.
- Adaptability and flexibility.
Additional Skills/Competencies necessary to carry out services to the service population's culture and socioeconomic characteristics
- This position requires an understanding of diversity (ethnic, religious, socio-economic, etc.) as well as sensitivity to the situations of the children and families the organization serves.
- This position requires respect for the confidentiality of the children and families the organization serves.
- This position requires passing background checks (references, Family Care Safety Registry, Form 1-9, etc.).
- This position requires a clean criminal history.
- Must fulfill the responsibility as a mandated reporter in the State of Missouri.
- Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition.
- Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitment to others.
- Must fulfill the responsibility as a mandated reporter in the State of Missouri.
- Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition.
- Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitment to others.
Organizational Relationships/Scope
This position reports to the Director of Family Search and Engagement. Collaborative consultation will be sought from all program teams.
Working Conditions
- The physical requirements of this job include sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs, lifting to 25 lbs., pulling and/or pushing on occasion.
- This position entails work in the community and office.
- Use of automobiles for local travel to multiple sites including client homes and other community organizations is required.
- The Coalition office is considered home-base with primary office hours Monday-Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.
- This position requires flexibility to meet the needs of the family and the agency training schedule. Evening and weekend hours may be required to meet the expectations of this position.
Agency Shared Values
Employees of the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition agree to hold themselves and their colleagues to the following:
- We insist on fairness and respect. We are deliberate in ensuring everyone has safety, opportunity, access, and support to be heard.
- We are family. We are connected and support one another in meeting the needs of our own families and the families we serve. We assume the best and are committed to each other.
- We celebrate differences and harness the power that diversity brings. Every viewpoint is heard and honored. We are stronger because of our differences.
- We are intentional about knowing better and doing better, using innovation and solution-focus approaches with courageous passion and excellence.
- We respect, leverage, and engage everyone's unique strengths and talents so each individual can contribute to their full potential.
- We are an agency built on integrity, maintaining a culture of trust, respect, transparency, and honesty. We walk in our truth and uphold ethical standards.
- We stand up for each other and what is right for our clients and stakeholders with truth, vulnerability, and accountability.
- We develop and maintain authentic relationships by being flexible and open-minded and maximizing the strengths of each individual in the team to accomplish the best outcome for our children and families. Everyone contributes to leadership.
Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees assigned to this position.
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Loan forgiveness
- Mileage reimbursement
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Vision insurance
Education:
Work Location: In person
