This position will support local departments of social services (LDSS) child welfare front line staff, supervisors and LDSS leadership by providing coaching and practice to increase the capacity of local departments to effectively search, engage and empower families as decision makers and to first place children who enter foster care with kinship foster parents. This position will support LDSS to re-engineer business processes to disrupt “practice as usual” so that LDSS can prioritize consistent and ongoing family search and engagement, effectively utilize FPMs to position families as decision makers and effectively utilize the Permanency Assessment Tool to identify and capitalize on factors of resilience present in families. The position may provide 1 to 1 coaching with LDSS Directors and leadership to support effective change management necessary to develop an internal Kin First culture within local department. This position may also support LDSS staff in planning for Family Partnership Meetings (FPMs) and placement of specific children in foster care with relatives.
Essential Functions Include:
· Assist the agency to develop processes so that when a child/youth is at risk of entering foster care or has entered care natural supports and connections are identified and engaged.
· Give instructions, ideas and out of the box thinking to support natural connections so that the child/youth have more opportunities to heal long-term.
· Demonstrate ways to engage parents/caregivers who have experiences trauma and/or are in crisis and are not responding to typical interventions.
· Participate in Out of Family Staffings and provide direct support to staff engaged in family finding or use of the Permanency Assessment tool.
· Support LDSS to develop plans to connect children in congregate care settings to relatives, fictive kin, or natural connections in order to maximize opportunities for lifelong connections and potential permanency opportunities.
· Build capacity within the LDSS through coaching and modeling.
· Identify internal processes or systems that can be improved or put into place that more readily support family/kin engagement.
· Collaborate with regional practice consultants and Family Services staff ongoing and as needed.
· Support state-wide learning or training activities and the facilitation of communities of practice meetings.
This position requires a combination of in-person and virtual coaching and practice assistance to LDSS. Some travel is expected.
Required skill set:
The successful candidate must demonstrate a commitment to establishing a Kin First Culture in Virginia and expertise in engaging and supporting parents and extended family in determining the best plan for children at risk of entering or in foster care. Candidates should be able to identify strengths of children and families involved in Virginia’s child welfare system and to integrate those strengths throughout the provision of placement/services. Candidates should possess strong communication skills (both oral and written), strong family engagement skills, experience with managing crises, and the ability to collaborate and work with a variety of different team members, and audiences. Critical thinking skills, ability to work independently and collaboratively, ability to multi-task and work well under pressure, excellent oral and written communication skills are required. Experience with navigating virtual platforms (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams) is expected. Proficient use of computer software is required. Candidates should understand racial disparity and inequity and how it affects social services clients. Those with lived child welfare experience are strongly encouraged to apply.
Job Types: Part-time, Contract
Pay: $31.00 - $60.00 per hour
Expected hours: 30 per week
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Glen Allen, VA 23060