Family Services Specialist - Foster Care/Adoption

Salary: $22.76 - $42.76 Hourly
Location : 99 Ninth Street, Lynchburg, VA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 03584
Department: Human Services
Division: SS Social Workers
Opening Date: 04/23/2026


Description
Performs responsible professional work to support and assist agency clients with personal, social, health and economic needs, by performing the following duties.
Essential Duties
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Other duties to provide direct or indirect service to the citizens may be assigned.
• Makes comprehensive assessment of families/clients in crisis
• Analyzes needs and coordinates resources, which will support the family/client
• Develops and implements a plan of action for the family/client which directly involves family/client input;
• Engages family/client and community in problem solving, conflict resolution and achieving goals in order to resolve the crisis;
• Stabilizes and improves family/client living and interpersonal skills through counseling and referrals to collateral resources;
• Executes complex and critical decisions involving families/clients in crisis, under possible adverse conditions
• Performs scheduled and unscheduled field visits in frequently highly volatile and dangerous environments
• Participates in extensive networking and collaboration with community and professional agencies, both public and private
• Provides analysis, recommendations and testimony in complex court proceedings, which requires thorough assessment and documentation of the family/client's situations; assists in formulating recommendations on difficult and important technical problems relating to the court action;
• Interprets, implements and administers complex policies, regulations, and laws, and refines established complex procedures which require frequent independent thinking and resourcefulness in a complex environment.
ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES when assigned to Family Services Specialist - Intake:
• Receives and determines validity of calls from the public, mandated reports, police, schools etc. regarding suspected abuse/neglect
• Assigns cases to Family Services workers
• Works closely with service providers
• Engages with the public in collecting information regarding suspected abuse/neglect
ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES when assigned to Family Services Specialist - Foster Care/Adoption - Resource Home Coordinator:
• Participates in licensing activities for prospective Parents including orientation, training and certification packet completion
• Assists in providing pre-service and on-going training to Foster Parents or prospective parents
• Evaluates and monitors foster homes for compliance with state and local guidelines
• Maintains accurate foster parent files, quarterly status reports (at a minimum) and records regarding the certification status of each foster home; tracks expiration of licensing documentation for renewal process
• Responds to licensing alerts
• Takes the lead in placing children in foster care into appropriate foster homes
• Conducts foster home meetings in conjunction with foster home trainer and Family Service Specialists
• Maintains knowledge of all certification laws and changes; informs the appropriate personnel of changes
• Performs professional recruitment and marketing duties, including developing and implementing a strategic recruitment plan for identifying, engaging and training potentially successful foster and respite families in our community
• Performs marketing duties for recruitment, such as public speaking, social media and other creative outlets
• Performs child specific recruitment for some children, such as youth over the age of 13
• Coordinates training and recruitment activities in collaboration with Social Service staff
• Conducts Mutual Family Assessments with prospective foster parents who have applied to foster with the City of Lynchburg
• Performs compliance and approval duties for over 90 resource families (including extensive background checks, training, home visits and recertification).
• Works in conjunction with Resource family trainer to aid in the development, delivery and evaluation for resource families
• Serves as a support for each resource family
• Performs other duties as assigned

ADDITIONAL DUTIES
• Assists in the evaluation of programs and services rendered to families/clients
• Processes financial documentation related to family/client services
• Interprets agency programs to other agencies, community groups, and associations;
• Identifies homes suitable for placement of children and adults
• Researches and develops community resources, gives presentations, and participates in interagency meetings such as FAPT, eligibility, and IEP meetings with schools;
• Transports clients to medical and mental health appointments
• Assists in the operation of emergency shelters.
• Other duties to provide direct or indirect service to the citizens may be assigned.
• When unusual situations occur and/or the City Manager declares a State of Emergency, all City employees may be required to accept special assignments and perform as needed to ensure appropriate service delivery.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Minimum Education and Experience Required


QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field or minimum of a Bachelor's degree in any field with a minimum of two years of appropriate and related experience in a Human Services area (Section 22VAC40-670-20 of the Administrative Code of Virginia). Experience in assigned program area and completion of required training programs or equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Possession of a BSW or MSW degree and a Commonwealth of Virginia Social Worker license are desirable.

Additional Requirements


Possession of valid driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia and acceptable driving record according to City criteria.

Must successfully complete IS100 and IS700 National Incident Management (NIMS) training within 90 days of employment. May also be required to complete higher levels of NIMS training as determined appropriate for the position.
The City offers an array of benefits combined with direct salary/wages in order to establish a total compensation package that supports the City's goals of attracting, rewarding, and retaining employees who are both representatives of the community and are also able to deliver exceptional services.

• Employees in full-time positions are eligible for the following benefits:
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Retirement through the Virginia Retirement System (VRS);
    the City's contribution is based on a rate determined bi-annually by the VRS Board and employees pay 5% of base pay (pre-tax) towards their VRS benefit
  • Life insurance at no cost to the employee
  • Optional benefits such as 457 deferred compensation, Roth IRA, flexible spending accounts, etc.
  • Eligibility for parental leave and tuition assistance
  • Paid Time Off
• Employees in hourly and part-time positions may be eligible for benefits depending on the position

Employees of the City of Lynchburg may also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program for federal student loans

Additional information about City benefits can be found on our and in the
01


Describe how your work/education/ experience directly relates to working with children and families. Be specific.
02


This position requires that you possess a bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university in a Human Services field (social work, sociology, psychology, criminal justice, political science or child development) or in the last semester of a degree program. Please certify below that you possess such a degree.
03


While this job normally follows a Monday-Friday schedule, the employee may be required to work outside normal working hours, including being on-call for emergencies after hours and on weekends. Are you willing to work this type of schedule?

• Yes
• No

04


Transporting agency clients is a requirement of this job that requires that you be at least 21 years of age. Please certify below that you are at least 21 years of age.

• Yes
• No

05


(Current Out-of-State applicants and applicants who have had an Out-of-State Drivers License at any time in the last 3 years): I agree to provide, WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF MY APPLICATION, a copy of my driving record from that state where I am currently licensed or have been licensed within the past 3 years. I will contact Human Resources within 2 weeks if I am unable to obtain my out of state driving record in that time. I understand that my application may not be considered for this position until I submit my out of state driving record.You can email this information to View email address on click.appcast.io, or fax to View phone number on click.appcast.io or mail this information to Human Resources, 900 Church Street, Lynchburg VA 24504. Include the name of the position for which you are applying. If you have a driving record less than 30 days old you can upload as an attachment to your application.

• Agree to provide record within 2 weeks of application date
• Do not agree (I understand I will no longer be considered for this position if I disagree.)
• Not applicable (I have not had an Out-of-State Driver's License during the past 3 years.

06


Please provide your driver's license number so that your driving record can be obtained.
07


DMV Release Notice: This position requires a valid driver's license and acceptable driving history. I hereby certify that I have read and understand the DMV Record Release Notice and give the City permission to obtain my driving record.

• Yes
• No

Required Question