WENDY'S WONDERFUL KIDS ADOPTION RECRUITER

Job Details

JOB TITLE: Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiter

DEPARTMENT: Enhanced Family Foster Care/ Residential Foster Care

LOCATION: Primary office Jamaica Avenue, Queens (will also require travel to Brooklyn and Long Island)

STATUS: Full time Non-Exempt

FUNCTION OF THE POSITION: The WWK recruiter will implement the WWK child-focused recruitment model to

serve children in foster care who do not have an identified permanent adoptive resource.

REPORTS TO: Recruitment/Permanency Supervisor

SUPERVISES: N/A

Responsibilities

• Maintain active caseloads of 12-15 children and an average total caseload of 18 children.
• Conduct initial referral services by establishing contact with the child’s caseworker to introduce the role of the recruiters, gathering initial referral information, establishing a date to begin case file review, and scheduling an initial meeting with each child.
• Build relationships by having, at minimum, monthly meetings with each child in person to develop openness and trust.
• Date and reason the child entered the system.
• Child’s most recent profile and assessment.
• Chronological placement history.
• Significant services provided to the child, currently or in the past.
• Identification of needed services.
• All significant people in the child’s life, past and present, including caseworkers, foster parents, attorneys, court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteers, teachers, therapists, relatives, mentors, faith-based representatives, extracurricular activity leaders, etc.; and
• Next upcoming court date.
• Provide family search efforts by implementing the process of identifying, locating, and contacting persons with whom the child already has, or had, a bond or positive relationship with, with the knowledge and approval of the child’s caseworker.
• Conducts Lexus Nexus searches, web searches, diligent search requests and putative father registries.
• Develop an initial written assessment of each child and provides updated assessments quarterly to enhance the child-focused plan. Assesses the child’s strengths, challenges, desires, preparedness for adoption and whether the child has needs that should be addressed before moving forward with the adoption process. If the child has needs that must be addressed prior to moving forward with the adoption process, Grantee will ensure that the recruiter will work with the child’s caseworker to have the child’s needs met.
• Provide adoption readiness efforts to address any barriers to child’s willingness to be adopted. During the matching process, Grantee will ensure that the recruiter assesses whether the family is adequately prepared to meet the needs of the child.
• Build a network with persons close to and knowledgeable about the child, such as caseworkers, foster parents, CASA volunteers, teachers, relatives, mentors, faith-based representatives, etc., and maintains regular and on-going contact with them.

Develop a comprehensive recruitment plan or enhances the existing recruitment plan, based on file review, interviews with significant adults, and the input of the child. The plan will be customized and defined by each child’s needs. The plan will be reviewed at minimum monthly and updated quarterly.

• Attends any Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Summits (“WWK Summits”).
• Submits monthly Statistical Online Database Reports.
• Fulfills duty of Mandated Reporter, which entails reporting any suspected instances of child abuse or maltreatment.
• Meets with Supervisor one-on-one on a consistent basis to discuss safety and permanency issues of caseload.
• Communicates and work effectively with SCO foster care support staff such as Youth Skills Coaches, Educational/Vocational Specialists, Parent Advocates, and medical and mental health staff and with NYC Children’s Services, outside medical and mental health centers, schools, consultants, other SCO programs, and all other relevant parties.
• Adheres to SCO’s personnel policies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachler’s degree required, BSW or MSW preferred.
• Approved background clearances and fingerprinting are required.
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Proficiency in computer skills, including Microsoft Office, Excel and Connections.
• Bilingual abilities are strongly encouraged.
• Valid NYS Driver License

In addition, all EFFC employees should possess the following characteristics:

• Be team players. Maintain a constructive, cooperative, and positive atmosphere.
• Demonstrate commitment to the Agency’s mission and values.
• Be able to empathize and provide quality services to children and families that have histories of chemical dependency, mental illness, neglect, physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse.
• Be willing to work closely with children, families, and staff from different cultural and religious backgrounds, as well as from varying socio-economic statuses.
• Work competently, compassionately and without judgment with individuals who may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or may be in different stages of discovering or disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity.
• Possess a strong belief in people’s ability to grow and change; forge a mutually respectful partnership with persons served and their families.
• Be flexible in their ability to work extended hours or irregular schedules in response to the program’s needs. Be willing to travel between the various EFFC offices and other agency sites, as required.
• Demonstrate an ability to set limits and maintain the helping role of practitioner, as well as to intervene appropriately.
• Must be tech-savvy
• Sales experience is a plus
• Must drive to Long Island, Bronx and Westchester Facilities, when required

SCO Family of Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities