Social Worker, Adoption Assistance Program - LCSW, LMSW

Family & Children's Agency (FCA)

FCA is a nonprofit human service organization committed to increasing the social and emotional well-being of clients throughout Fairfield County. Our agency builds better lives by offering more than 30 programs that meet needs across all ages, delivering services to more than 13,000 people each year. Our clients reside primarily in Norwalk, Wilton, Darien, Westport, Weston, New Canaan, Stamford, and Greenwich. Our Home Care and Foster Care programs provide assistance to residents throughout Fairfield County, and the Adoption program is both nationwide and international.

Our mission is to partner with individuals, families, organizations, and communities to build better lives.

FCA is proud to currently offer a hybrid working model to our employees. Employees enjoy a wide array of benefits that make up our competitive compensation package. We are proud to offer generous employer contributions to our medical plans, continued education credits offered at no cost, annual tuition reimbursement stipend, employer paid Life & LTD policies, FSA and Dependent Care, 401K with a match and safe harbor contribution and a generous vacation and time off policy to include Martin Luther King Jr Day and Juneteenth! We also offer employee discounts to multiple organizations, events and your cell phone plan. Our benefits don't stop there - we offer an EAP program, paid for CEUs and clinical supervision, summer Fridays and employee appreciation events along with wellness incentives and challenges! This position is also eligible for the public service loan forgiveness program.

The Adoption Department serves prospective adoptive parents interested in building their families through adopting and expectant parents considering adoption, with a goal of creating safe and permanent plans for children. Our programs are designed to provide a continuum of services that support all members of the adoption triad throughout the life cycle of each family.

The Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) is a confidential, home based, assessment, education, brief counseling and referral service available to adoptive and guardianship families, and to professionals seeking support for their client families. Using an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) model of short term service delivery, the program offers clients the opportunity to consult with a social worker around any concern that is placing stress on the family. Family & Children's Agency provides AAP services in the greater Bridgeport, greater Waterbury, and greater New Haven areas.

• Conduct short term assessments of families referred to the Adoption Assistance Program
• Connect adoptive families with appropriate resources in their community to target their identified needs
• Provide educational advocacy to ensure that the academic and developmental needs of children are being met
• Conduct monthly parent support groups for adoptive parents
• Maintain a current community resource list of providers who have adoption experience
• Assist in developing post adoption education programs at FCA and in the community
• Maintain detailed progress notes on case activity and collaborative work for all AAP clients
• Attend monthly Adoption Assistance Program statewide meetings
• Participate in any planning meetings related to cases
• Work with birth parents, adoptive parents, foster parents, and children around issues of permanency in PPSP program
• Conduct assessments with expectant parents and provide options counseling, as needed
• Complete adoption home studies according to Connecticut and New York child placing regulations, as needed
• Conduct post-placement visits and reports as required by adoption placing program, as needed
• Provide support to adoptive families during the waiting period once a child has been placed in the home, as needed
• Assist in the finalization of adoptions, as needed

Essential Qualifications/Skills:

• LCSW preferred; LMSW or MS (license eligible) in related field with two years of child welfare/adoption experience required
• Experience with school/educational advocacy
• Experience with running support groups
• Awareness of the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients served.
• Knowledge of the life cycle of adoption for individuals and families
• Experience conducting psycho-social assessments
• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Networking and community relations
• Ability to work independently with children and families.
• Driver's license and own transportation.
• Ability to work in a Hybrid Work environment with two in-office days (minimum) and three in-field/home days
• Travel throughout Bridgeport, greater Waterbury, and greater New Haven areas