Job Title : Placement Coach
Department : Intake and Homefinding, Foster Care Program
Location : Brooklyn or Queens
Purpose of the Position : To facilitate and support placements into new Foster / Adoptive Homes within 90-120 days of initial certification. The Placement Coach will also work with all Foster / Adoptive Parent resources on the vacancy list to facilitate and support placements within 90 days of home being reported as having a vacancy.
Reports to : Unit Supervisor
Position Requirements
- Engage prospective Foster / Adoptive Parents immediately after their certification process to help them be prepared to accept placement of youth.
- Facilitate pre-certification training and recertification training as needed.
- Maintain vacancy list and facilitate placement of youth being referred to SCO from OPA or in need of replacement.
- Review all placement referral documents to determine the best possible match with a SCO Foster / Adoptive parent on the vacancy list.
- Facilitate "meet and greet / match meetings" between Foster / Adoptive Parents and Youth being referred to SCO or needing transfers from one foster home to another.
- Ensure that placement occurs in a newly certified home by or before the 90-120th day from initial certification or vacancy report.
- Support newly certified Foster and Adoptive Parents while they wait to be matched with a youth for placement. Support both newly certified and recertified Foster / Adoptive Parents post placement to ensure they are receiving the services needed to manage placement.
- Assess trends in placement referrals and support / coach both new and previously certified Foster / Adoptive Parents with recent vacancy on increasing or decreasing their age range, considering accepting non-preferred gender of a child and / or becoming more open to youth with special needs based on current OPA / ACS placement needs.
- Work collaboratively with Centralized Intake to ensure placement matches made through the Placement Module occur, recommend FBH's for a placement not initially matched through the module and assist with identifying respite resources as needed. Connect Foster and Adoptive Parents to FAPA,
- Make home visits (virtual or in person) as needed to prospective and current foster and adoptive homes post placement to provide support and identify needs related helping youth and Foster / Adoptive Parents adjusting to new foster parent to child relationship.
- Facilitate support groups and training for foster parents related to maintain placement and preventing disruption.
- Produce progress notes in FAD for each Foster / Adoptive Parent engaged in matching and support activities.
- Track lateral moves to inform placement practice and replacement trends.
- Ability to work flex schedule including scheduled Saturdays as needed to facilitate placement and provide support to Foster / Adoptive Parents within first 30 days of placement.
Qualifications
BA / BS required, MSW preferredBilingual preferredStrong communication skills in writing and speakingStrong interpersonal and assessment skills that assist in the writing / review of psycho-socials for home study.Ability to engage people of various backgrounds and assess their ability to provide safety, permanency and well-being to children in foster careComputer literateCONNECTIONS literate requiredBinti literate preferredUse of excel for tracking outcomesValid Drivers license preferredEqual Opportunity Employer
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