Adoption Specialist

SUMMARY

The Adoption Specialist (AS) works directly with children in care to provide them a forever family for the Manatee County (office location in the Lakewood Ranch area). This includes conducting home visits, ensuring the child’s needs are met, recruiting homes for waiting children, conducting home studies and child assessment studies, matching waiting children with adoptive families, preparing children and families for the adoption process, providing support and guidance through the process, coordinating subsidy, and facilitating legal finalization.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Visit the child in the home setting at least every 25 days (or more if directed by supervisor) to assess the child’s adjustment and readiness for adoption. Maintain general knowledge about the child and family, and have sufficient information to present at court, administrative staffing, permanency staffing, and school staffing. Develop individualized recruitment plans for children waiting for adoptive homes. Facilitate placing children on various exchanges and databases to aid in recruitment efforts. Conduct an in-depth home study process with adoptive applicants. Conduct an in-depth child study process. Provide ongoing supervision and support to the adoptive placement, ensuring the family provides a safe and secure home environment, including immediate referral for crisis intervention and supportive counseling to the primary caregiver when needed. Thoroughly discuss and explain the adoption process with adoptive applicants and guide them through all adoption paperwork, including the adoption subsidy process and other benefits, and all paperwork needed for adoption finalization. Provide post-adoption planning, informing families of available local resources in the future.

REQUIREMENTS

Education and Training Requirements Bachelor’s degree in a human services field from an accredited university or college with one-year related post‑bachelor’s experience, or a bachelor’s degree in human services and two years post‑bachelor’s experience. Must obtain Florida Child Welfare Certification within 12 months from successful completion of the Pre‑Service Post Test, including completion of state‑certified training and exam, structured observation, and ongoing re‑certification every two years and annual trainings mandated by the agency. Complete a minimum of 40 hours of in‑service training each full year of employment, covering topics such as indicators of child abuse, neglect and abandonment, substance abuse, community resources, independent living, and other child welfare related topics. Complete agency web‑based orientation courses. Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations Preferred: Child Welfare experience and/or Child Welfare Case Manager Certification. Benefits A Comprehensive Benefits Program 5 weeks of PTO accruals available during the first year of employment. 12 paid holidays. Professional development. Ongoing coaching and feedback. Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Health Benefits With Shared Premium Costs Medical Dental Vision Life Short‑term disability Long‑term disability 401(k) retirement Pay range: $50,000 - $55,000 #J-18808-Ljbffr Safe Children Coalition