Therapist (Adoption Competent)

Who We Are

Paths for Families is an adoption and family well-being organization that partners with communities dedicated to the life-long work of building and sustaining families. For over 30 years, we've been here for expectant parents exploring adoption, birth parents, prospective and current adoptive families, children in need of adoption, people who were adopted, and professionals in the community. Our mission is to build and support healthy lifelong connections for every child and advocate for continuous improvement of systems that strengthen family well-being.

We practice IDEAS Principles (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Social Justice) and welcome all children, families, and team members regardless of gender identity, gender expression, age, race, religion, wealth, health, marital status, or sexual orientation. With IDEAS Principles as one of our core values, we believe in cultivating a healthy environment in which all employees feel supported while working to achieve our mission.

Overview

The Therapist provides individual, family, and parent counseling and clinical case management to families. The Therapist will offer intake assessments, adoption/permanency competent, trauma informed counseling services to adoptive and guardianship families, crisis intervention, and case management.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

Master's degree in social work with a current Maryland social work license. Professional experience in child welfare or as an adoption/permanency-competent, attachment-focused, trauma-informed clinician is highly preferred.

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of the clinical issues associated with adoption, foster care, kinship care, attachment disruption, and in trauma informed care.
• Knowledge of the impact of trauma and trained in therapeutic interventions and treatment for children, youth and families involved in child welfare in varying levels of permanency, including adoption, guardianship, foster care, and reunification.
• Experience in providing attachment focused, trauma informed, and permanency competent therapeutic services.
• Excellent interpersonal, clinical, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work in a team and independently.
• Ability to prioritize and problem solve.
• Proficiency in Microsoft office suite of products and database case management.
• Ability to communicate and express ideas clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others, both clients and colleagues.
• Administrative ability to manage cases and maintain client files/case notes.

Additional Notes

Each employee is required to complete (and maintain as necessary) a physical exam to include a TB screening, a criminal background check in identified jurisdictions, Child Protective Services Registries check in identified jurisdictions, and orientation training.

Role and Responsibilities

• Provide therapeutic services (individual, family, group) to a caseload of approximately 16-18 children, adolescents and/or families in an adoption competent, trauma focused, and permanency competent manner. Specific services include initial intake assessments, intensive counseling, crisis-intervention, and case management to families.
• Sessions will include support and education around the following (but not limited to): loss and grief; trust and attachment; identity formation; effects of early childhood trauma; mental health, physical health, and development delays; school issues; foster care to guardianship; open adoption; foster care to adoption; transracial and/or transcultural adoption; and LGBT adoption.

Other Duties: Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Why Join Us?

If our mission and vision align with your personal values, we may be a good fit! This position provides an opportunity to join a mission focused, welcoming team working together to build and strengthen families.

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer outstanding benefits including:

• Flexible working environment
• Paid Vacation & Sick Leave Over 4 weeks to start!
• Health, Dental & Vision Insurance Including an HRA and FSA
• Paid Life Insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Paid Holiday Leave
• And more!

To apply, a detailed cover letter outlining your qualifications for the position along with your resume is required. 

Paths for Families is an equal opportunity employer and offers a pleasant, flexible work environment. To learn more, please visit 

Principals only, no recruiters. No phone calls please.