Resource Family Specialist

Resource Family Specialist

Job Summary:
The Resource Family Specialist is knowledgeable about, and is responsible for applying, appropriate social worker skills and principles in the professional treatment effort as it applies to each child on the assigned caseload. The “Specialist” is equipped to identify the needs of the children and family in their care, and to address those needs through the application of various components of all of the White's Family Services care models, including Foster Care, Independent Living, Home-Based Services, and Adoption Services. This position will be an integral part of the treatment team’s efforts toward permanency; reunification with the legal family, adoption, or independent living. This position requires an over-arching understanding of the entire continuum of services available for families, children, and the referring agencies.

Basic Responsibilities:

1.Work with Resource (Foster)Families (20%)
Build and maintain positive, supportive, and encouraging working relationships with resource families
Help resource families in their efforts to be therapeutic in their work with those placed in their home
Manage resource family crises
Attend resource family trainings

2.Work with Foster Children and Independent Living Students (25%)
Service an assigned caseload
Meet with each foster child no less than twice per month (specific service contracts may call for more or less contact)
Enhance foster child functioning by: basic counseling, psycho-education, skills training, etc.
Implement and maintain therapeutically sound treatment programming for youth in independent living program in line with White’s mission and philosophy
Encourage independent living students toward self-sufficiency by exposing students to developmentally appropriate independent living exercises and activities

3.Work with Birth/Adoptive Parents (20%)
Build working relationships with birth/adoptive parents with whom foster child is to be reunified (if that is the case plan)
Assess family dynamics to extend case plan and accessibility permits
Help birth/adoptive parents prepare for reunification
Serve as a resource coordinator for families in mobilizing and securing resources for critical needs; this may involve transporting families to resources or bringing such to them
Provide mentoring and teaching resources:
a)nurturing/parenting skills
b)problem-solving/conflict resolution skills
c)child development
d)self-esteem concepts
Coordinate establishment of a family support team to meet with family regularly
Arrange for support team to carry on after White’s services are no longer active
Coordinate development and implementation of family goal plan
a)includes a safety plan for children and parents
b)includes objectives for growth in family’s assets
c)includes issues as well as basic needs
§Formally assess families using the Magura Family Risk Scales and/or other instruments chosen by White’s; first family assessment, including long and short-term goals, due within thirty (30) days of admission
Assist with family preparation for adoption, where appropriate
Facilitate training for adoption, where appropriate

4.Case Management (25%)
Develop conceptualization for each assigned case (in conjunction with placing agency worker, program manager, and clinical supervisor
Periodically meet with treatment team to review cases
Pursue case goals utilizing various resources: resource family life, supplemental counseling, psychiatric services, therapeutic activities, etc.
Advocate for child and family’s needs and best interests
Maintain appropriate and required documentation: Individual Treatment Plan, Progress Report, Closing Summary, case notes, outcome measures, etc.
Attend and represent White’s at review hearings
Keep placing agency workers informed about family and child’s progress, major crises, etc.
Facilitate independent living student in securing entitlements and other collateral resources for youth

5.Agency Support and Enhancement (4%)
Maintain a working relationship with placing agency workers of children and families with whom they work
Be a positive liaison between White’s and placing agencies and the public in general

6.Professional Development (2%)
Fulfill reading assignments
Attend workshops and other opportunities for professional growth
Use Performance Review as a professional development tool
REQUIREMENTS
Qualifications:

We are seeking bachelor and master level applicants for this position!


A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or in a related area of the helping professions.
Five years of supervised paid case work experience.
Two years of the supervised paid case work experience must be in a child placing agency (one year of graduate training in an accredited school of social work, including supervised case work in the field, may be substituted for the required five years of supervised paid case work experience).
A person not meeting the “case work experience requirement” may be hired as a “specialist in training” and a plan developed to bring the person into compliance with Department of Child Services’ standards.
Have a valid driver’s license with no restrictions that would limit the ability to perform job functions.