Permanency Specialist

Permanency Specialist

Facilitates permanency outcomes for children while ensuring compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). They conduct culturally sensitive assessments, engage with Tribal communities, and prioritize kinship placements. Collaboration with Tribal courts, advocacy for culturally appropriate services, and trauma-informed practice are key aspects of their role. They provide family support, manage data, and engage in continuous education to uphold the rights and well-being of Indigenous children and families, promoting stability and connection to their cultural heritage.

Essential duties and/or responsibilities include the following:

• Manage a caseload of children in foster care, ensuring timely and appropriate services are provided.
• Conduct thorough assessments of children and families to determine needs and strengths.
• Develop individualized case plans in collaboration with families, caseworkers, and other stakeholders.
• Monitor progress and compliance with case plans, making adjustments as necessary.
• Facilitate permanency planning meetings with families, foster parents, and other relevant parties.
• Identify and assess potential permanent placement options for children, including reunification, adoption, and kinship care.
• Advocate for the best interests of children to achieve timely permanency outcomes.
• Collaborate with legal professionals to ensure legal requirements for permanency are met.
• Provide support and resources to birth families to address issues contributing to child welfare involvement.
• Facilitate visitation between children and their birth families, ensuring safety and appropriate supervision.
• Offer counseling, guidance, and referrals to families to strengthen parenting skills and address barriers to reunification.
• Ensure all aspects of case management and permanency planning adhere to the requirements outlined in the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and any applicable Tribal laws.
• Identify and verify the Tribal affiliation of children and families involved in child welfare proceedings.
• Notify and involve the child's Tribe or Tribes in all stages of the case, including placement decisions, case planning, and court hearings.
• Demonstrate respect for the cultural heritage, traditions, and values of Tribal communities served.
• Collaborate with Tribal elders, leaders, and cultural advisors to incorporate traditional practices and cultural resources into case planning and service delivery.
• Advocate for culturally appropriate placements and services that support the preservation of the child's Tribal identity and connection to their community.
• Engage with extended family members, Tribal relatives, and other kinship caregivers to identify potential placement options for children.
• Prioritize placement with relatives and Tribal members whenever possible, in accordance with ICWA preferences for kinship placements.
• Provide support and resources to kinship caregivers to ensure the safety, stability, and well-being of children placed in their care.
• Collaborate with Tribal courts and legal authorities to ensure compliance with Tribal jurisdiction and legal processes.
• Attend Tribal court hearings and actively participate in case proceedings, including providing relevant information and recommendations to the court.
• Work closely with Tribal court-appointed advocates, attorneys, and guardians ad litem to advocate for the best interests of children in accordance with Tribal law and ICWA.
• Conduct outreach activities within Tribal communities to raise awareness about child welfare issues, rights under ICWA, and available services and resources.
• Provide culturally relevant education and training to Tribal families, caregivers, and community members about the child welfare system and their rights within it.
• Foster partnerships with Tribal programs, organizations, and service providers to enhance support for children and families involved in the child welfare system.
• Recognize and respond to the historical trauma and intergenerational effects experienced by many Indigenous families and communities.
• Implement trauma-informed practices in case management, service delivery, and support for children and families, emphasizing healing, resilience, and cultural strengths.
• Collaborate with mental health professionals, traditional healers, and other trauma-informed resources to address the complex needs of children and families involved in child welfare.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive case records, ensuring documentation of Tribal affiliation, ICWA compliance efforts, and cultural considerations.
• Generate reports and data summaries to track outcomes, trends, and areas for improvement related to ICWA compliance and Tribal child welfare services.
• Provide timely and thorough reports to Tribal leadership, funding agencies, and other stakeholders as required.
• Advocate for the rights and interests of Indigenous children and families within the child welfare system, including participation in policy development and reform efforts.
• Collaborate with Tribal leadership, advocacy organizations, and government agencies to address systemic barriers and disparities affecting Tribal communities.
• Advocate for adequate resources and funding to support culturally responsive and effective child welfare services on Tribal reservations.
• Stay informed about updates and changes to ICWA regulations, Tribal laws, and best practices in Tribal child welfare.
• Participate in ongoing training, workshops, and professional development opportunities to enhance cultural competence, trauma-informed practice, and advocacy skills.
• Seek opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange with other professionals working in Tribal child welfare and related fields.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualification requirements: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the duties.

Education and/or experience:

• Associates' of Arts Degree in Social or Human services, Counseling, and/or two years minimum experience in related field.
• Preferred Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Human Services, Counseling; and/or two years minimum experience in related field, or AA in Social Work or related field.

Certificates, licenses, and/or registrations:

• Must pass background check and pre-employment drug screen.
• Must pass Nebraska Child Abuse/Registry and Nebraska Adult Protection Service Central Registry.
• Must have valid Driver's License and must be Insurable
• Must be free of any conviction by any State or the United States for a crime punishable by imprisonment in a penitentiary for a term of one (1) year, or more, or by any foreign government for a crime which would be punishable by imprisonment for a term of one year, or more, if committed in Nebraska, or must have been pardoned for such offense, or have had a conviction for offense overturned, or reversed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Knowledge, skills, and/or abilities:

• Working knowledge of NFOCUS system.
• Working knowledge of Children and Family Services and Community Resources.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, diagnostic and assessment.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills to develop and conduct training opportunities for CFS staff.
• Knowledge of Tribal, State and Federal Law as it pertains to Child Welfare.

Must pass background check and pre-employment drug screen.