Position Title: Family Finder and Parent Engagement Specialist
Department: Professional Foster Parenting
Reports to: Supervisor of Licensing
Position Objective and Summary:
Works as a part of a professional family support team to assist youth and their families by providing strong location efforts and engagement of biological families. This position will utilize a family-centered, trauma-informed, strength-based approach to engage youth and families. This position will provide administrative support and resource development and support to the casework team. This position is non-case carrying.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
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Extensive research, investigation, and outreach in locating absentee parents/guardians.
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Identify and locate potential extended family/fictive kinship relationships.
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Assist the family caseworker with facilitating the expansion of resources needed to better service children and their families involved in foster care.
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Attend staff meetings as required and participate in scheduled trainings in order to maintain and upgrade skills.
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Maintain documentation using the Evolv and SACWIS system.
Casework Support
- Assist caseworkers with obtaining vital documents and consents.
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Assist caseworkers with biological parent support and training.
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Facilitation of the expansion of community resources.
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Utilize the Statewide Provider Database (SPYDER) to identify resources for caseworkers and families.
Parent Engagement and Recruitment
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Possess the ability to identify and engage familial supports and connections including relatives and fictive kin for the purpose of life-long connections and permanency achievement.
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Assist in training potential foster parents and biological parents/relatives as assigned.
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Engage in a variety of techniques to meet and communicate with parents, including attending recruitment events, networking, social media etc.
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Coordinate targeted recruitment events for potential families who may meet a youth’s specific needs.
Professionalism and Work Conduct
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Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standard, and displays a positive image of UCAN.
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Acts in a professional manner at all times and maintains appropriate boundaries with youth and families.
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Demonstrated accountability for results and keeps commitment to others.
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Reports to work meetings, training, and other job-related activities prepared and as scheduled.
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Demonstrated openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of families and coworkers.
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Understands and support UCAN’s standard of Diversity Equity and Inclusion and strives to meet those standards.
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Understands implicit bias and how to work within a system that impacts decisions for youth and families.
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Perform other related tasks as required or assigned.
Education/Job Experience/Certification:
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Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or Social Work preferred.
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Lived experience and some college would be considered.
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Car and valid Illinois driver’s license and insurance required.
Special Knowledge and Qualifications:
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Ability to maintain confidentiality of classified information.
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Experience working with youth in care and foster families.
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Ability to lift up to 25lbs., (carry non-walking children and toy boxes)
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Ability to communicate with children, youth and adults in a courteous and professional manner.
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Has an understanding of trauma-informed practice.
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Has an understanding of Positive Youth Development
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Ability to work both independently and a part of a high functioning team.
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Experience and ability to use computers for data entry, communication and report writing.
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Working knowledge of the child welfare system.
Work Environment: Requires travel. This position may require work on weekends and evenings (recruitment events).