Foster Care Specialist

We are currently looking for a Full Time Foster Care Specialist to join our Foster Care Resource Team team located at the Ardmore Family Services working 8:00AM-5:00PM - Mo Tu We Th Fr.

Summary:

Supports the well-being of children within the Chickasaw Nation Child Welfare program by providing services related to foster care, and family reunification. Works to ensure children in need of care receive safe, nurturing, and culturally appropriate placements, while also supporting families and working towards family preservation and reunification whenever possible.

Responsibilities:
* Develops and implements strategies for recruitment and retention of tribal foster care resources
* Conducts in home visits with potential and current resource families
* Continuously locates foster homes, group homes, shelters, respite care and other placements for foster children with limited notice
* Ensures an ongoing pool of trained and approved foster homes
* Performs outreach and provide program information to local community organizations and schools
* Prepares reports as needed or requested
* Collects and keeps confidential all information necessary to evaluate, certify, and close foster homes
* Assesses the open foster homes compliance with foster care policies and requirements
* Maintains close contact with the State Foster Care Programs, county child welfare offices, child placement agencies and other tribes
* Provides a minimum of quarterly home visits to open foster homes
* Offers training resources to foster families
* Helps foster families to understand the importance of bridging to support reunification efforts with biological families when appropriate
* Supports and collaborates with Child Welfare Services during removals, diligent searches, and placement of children in CWS custody
* Provides continuous support and assistance to resource parents
* Provides first class customer service - courteous and helpful to all internal and external customer types
- Answers questions in a courteous and professional manner
- Greets and engages with a smile
- Determines needs, seeks positive experience and outcomes
* Completes all training and development requirements and participates in continuing education opportunities
* Works in a collaborative and supportive manner to support the productivity and safety of the work area, team members and customers of all types
- Maintains general upkeep of work area and maintains a safe environment
- Maintains and promotes professionalism
- Punctual and consistent in meeting start time, work schedule, attendance and other assigned work time metrics
- Adheres to Chickasaw Nation dress code standards
* Maintains knowledge of and follows all laws, rules, regulations, policies and SOPs for assigned area, e.g. MICS, TICS, hospital standards, health codes, food sanitation, accounting principles, etc.
* Performs all other duties as assigned

Competencies:
Essential:
* Able to follow instructions, both written and oral
* Able to adhere to all scheduling and attendance requirements
* Maintaining a high level of confidentiality and using discretion and discernment
* Good driving record and be insurable by the Chickasaw Nation
* Honesty, truthfulness, reliability, accountability
* Prioritizes, meets deadlines and works independently in a high-pressure environment and uses appropriate judgement in upward communication regarding assignments
* Able to read, understand, apply, and retain knowledge of Chickasaw Nation, departmental, divisional and all other rules, regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines
* Knowledge of crisis evaluation and de-escalation tactics
* Knowledge and understanding of First American populations
* Knowledge of Indian Child Welfare Act and Statutes
* Knowledge of Adoption and Safe Families Act
* Organizes work and assigned area logically and orderly
* Define problems, collect data and establish facts
* Establishes professional working relationships as appropriate
* Able to verbally communicate in a professional and positive manner with other team members, departments, guests and management
* Writes effective communications with team, departments, guests and management

Skills:
Essential:
* Basic Computer skills
* Must be familiar with the Microsoft Office Suite of products

Experience:
Essential:
* 3 years directly related experience

Education:

Nonessential:
* Bachelors Degree in directly related field

Nonessential:
* Prefer individuals with a degree in human services, social work or a related field with experience in child welfare or social service programs

Credentials:
Essential:
* Pass general background check
* Standard Driver's License
* Must be 21 years of age or older

Working Conditions:
Essential:
* Works in an office setting
* Standing up to 25% of shift
* Walking up to 25% of shift
* Sometimes lift and or carry up to 30 lbs
* Sometimes bend, kneel, stoop, push, reach
* May be required to assist individuals with unmanaged emotions
* May be required to deal with situations that are potentially dangerous
* May be on-call
* May work evenings, weekends or holidays
* Subject to traveling and working at other locations or in other environments
* Requires driving for extended periods
* Pass pre-employment drug test