Foster Parent Recruitment

JOB DESCRIPTION

1. MISSION STATEMENT: A safe, nurturing home for every child, a supportive community for every family.

1. VISION: A safe, nurturing home for every child, a supportive community for every family.

1. VALUES:

• Exceptional Service: Client-focused and teaming at the center of our work.
• Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion: All are welcomed, valued, and belong.
• Excellence: Ongoing commitment to learning and improvement.
• Integrity: Responsibility and ownership of our actions and results.
• Creativity: Imagination, innovation, and intelligent risk taking.
• Passion: Relentless positive energy toward our mission and vision.

1. SANCTUARY COMMITMENTS:
2. Nonviolence: Maintaining safety for all members of the community.
3. Emotional Intelligence: Managing emotions so we don't hurt ourselves or others.
4. Social Learning: Together we accomplish more, we care for one another.
5. Democracy: Everyone has a voice, not necessarily a vote.
6. Open Communication: Respecting and sharing ideas of our team.
7. Social Responsibility: Say what you mean, don't be mean when you say it.
8. Growth & Change: Creating hope for ourselves and the people we serve.

The Foster Parent Recruitment, Retention and Training Specialist plays a crucial role in engaging, equipping, and supporting homes for children in foster care. Seeking an individual with lived experience as a current or previous foster, adoptive or kinship caregiver who will share their perspective and experience with other foster families. Having an outgoing personality, friendly demeanor, comfortability in speaking to small and large groups, and a understanding of the child welfare system and foster care processes will be essential in successfully fulfilling this role. It is also crucial that one embraces and cultivates inclusive and equitable relationships with diverse groups of families.

This is a part-time, up to 20 hours per week, community based position. This position offers a flexible schedule, but the majority of the hours will consist of evenings and weekends. This position is grant funded to specifically increase the number of approved foster homes in Kent County. The Foster Parent Recruitment, Retention, and Training Specialist reports to the Licensing Supervisor.

Recruitment:

Lead efforts to recruit new foster homes. Plan, implement and evaluate recruitment strategies, plans, activities and events to ensure adequate foster homes. Actively seek out and engage potential foster families, often targeting specific populations and demographics to match the needs of children in care. Lead agency orientation for prospective families. recruitment activities and event.

Retention:

Implement strategies to support and retain existing foster families, addressing their needs and challenges to prevent them from leaving the program. Plan, facilitate and participate in foster family retention activities and events to acknowledge, support and sustain foster parents.

Training:

Facilitate pre-licensure and ongoing training to equip foster parents with the necessary skills and knowledge to care for children in their homes. Share successful strategies and approaches for navigating the challenges of foster parenting.

Support:

Provide ongoing guidance, support and encouragement to foster families, addressing their individual needs and challenges. Create a strong foster parent community by connecting foster parents and referring families to community resources.

Collaboration:

Collaborate and educate child welfare staff and community partners, to ensure the well-being of children in foster care. Develop and maintain positive relationships with community groups and key individuals to increase awareness of the need for and to support foster parents.

Supervision Received: General Direction - Plans and arranges own work. Uses a wide range of procedures to accomplish assigned objectives.

Supervisory Responsibilities: No supervisory responsibilities.

1. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
   
   
2. High school diploma or equivalent
3. Direct lived experience as a Licensed Foster Parent, Kinship Caregiver or Relative Caregiver. If no longer a licensed foster parent, license was closed in good standing.
4. Ability to share personal experiences with foster care in a professional manner.
5. Possess an understanding and sensitivity to the client's socioeconomic characteristics with personal qualities of warmth with the ability to establish meaningful relationships with people from various cultures.
6. Ability to provide high-quality customer service, handle multiple priorities simultaneously, and prioritize activities to meet deadlines of the position.
7. Access to reliable transportation, possesses a valid driver's license, positive driving record, and proof of automobile insurance.
8. The ability to work flexible hours to accommodate families the agency serves. Requires evening and weekend hours.
9. A personal commitment to the Agency's mission, philosophy, and values.
10. Ability to pass all Internal Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) National, State Sex Offender Registry and Central Registry Clearance documenting that there is no record of child abuse or neglect.

1. CORE COMPETENCIES
   
   
2. Communication: Ability to effectively receive and express ideas, both written and verbal; using clear and concise vocabulary and active listening skills. Ability to communicate with small and large groups and ability to communicate with all.
3. Customer Service: A desire to serve others by focusing efforts on listening and responding effectively to questions, providing services, and evaluating customer satisfaction.
4. Planning and Organizing: Ability to set priorities and allocate resources properly in order to effectively achieve work responsibilities and objectives.
5. Accountability: Acceptance of responsibility and one's own actions.
6. Detail Orientation: Pay attention to detail, accuracy, and completeness.
7. Teamwork: Effectively interacts with people by being able to share and receive information that supports team goals.
8. Reliability: Ability to be dependable, trustworthy, and committed to doing the best job possible and completing work in a timely and consistent manner.