General Adoption Specialist

Positions: General Adoption Specialist
Reports To: Senior Director of Programs // IAP Program Manager
Posted Salary Range: $45,000-$51,000/year (dependent on qualifications and experience)
Hours: Full Time Exempt
Benefits: Health/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance, Competitive Paid Time Off, 401(k) Plan with Company Match, Pro-rated Health/Dental/Vision/Life, Catastrophic Leave, Parental Leave, LCSW Clinical Hours Supervision Program, Telecommuting Program, and more
To Apply: Submit cover letter and resume to Erin Groce (HR Director) via form below

Mission & Culture:    
Adoption Options is an inclusive, non-profit adoption agency dedicated to enriching the lives of children, youth and families. We provide education, placement services, counseling and support for all members of the adoption community. The staff and Board of Directors at Adoption Options is actively working as a team to uphold the company’s stated values of Integrity, Compassion, Respect, Inclusion, Education, and Professionalism in all aspects of the organization.

Position Summary:
Reporting to the Senior Director of Programs and IAP Program Manager the General Adoption Specialist provides a variety of advanced administrative functions that support critical agency child placement services in both the Flexible Families and Infant Adoption programs. The General Adoption Specialist must be an experienced child welfare professional with exceptional communication and teamwork skills, the ability to be flexible with often shifting priorities, and a desire to serve children and families as they move towards permanency. This role will carry responsibilities and duties across both adoption programs, and will carry a shifting caseload as assigned to meet the needs of the agency. These duties will include but are not limited to providing all-options counseling and support through the legal process for expectant and birth parents, completing homestudy assessments for potential adoptive parents, leading outreach to community partners and resources, supporting or leading family education and training classes as needed, search and placement matching of foster care families with state agencies both in and out of Colorado, attendance at formal presentations and the placement of children into families, provide post placement supervision as required, and prepare, complete, and distribute all finalization documentation.
 
Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

• Complete all family evaluations with a minimum of 3 joint visits in the clients’ home and conduct individual interviews with each applicant and individual interviews with all children in the home. Complete the assessment in the SAFE format.
• Prepare written family assessments using SAFE (structured analysis family evaluation) and present to the Placement Supervisor in a timely manner
• Work closely with the Senior Director of Programs and IAP Program Manager to ensure family compliance in both programs
• Recruit and retain foster to adopt families through information nights, fairs, faith-based, and other events, coordinate and conduct formal presentations that inform potential clients about Adoption Options experience and services
• Search, match, and present Flexible Families to County and State Social Services Departments in order to make “placement matches” for children waiting in foster care
• Work in partnership and maintain relationships with other agencies regarding children’s placement needs
• Advocate for Flexible Families or IAP/DAP Families during the process of pre-placement of children including formal presentations, coordination of visitation prior to the child moving to the family, provide placement/post placement support and services
• Provide options counseling, support, and advocacy for expectant parent(s) considering a plan of adoption. This includes assessing safety concerns, filing legal paperwork, attending court proceedings, referring parents to appropriate community resources, acting as a liaison between cradle care provider, hospital, expectant parents, etc.
• Present detailed information, conclusions and recommendations regarding both parents at expectant parent staffing’s
• Act as a mandated reporter and reporting to Social Services when it is anticipated or believed that a child may be at risk of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or neglect
• Maintain up-to-date and thorough client files both through the agency records platform and in hardcopy as required by state regulations and licensing requirements, and close files in a timely manner
• Work to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with community leaders, hospitals, schools, libraries, congregations, and businesses
• Participate in weekly supervision, maintaining excellent communication with both program managers at all times
• Prepare and complete ICPC documentation regarding adoptive families, birth parents and children as required
• Actively pursue personal developmental opportunities to enhance overall competencies and           skill set
• Must be able to perform “on-call” services as required

• Maintain up-to-date awareness of all agency and state policies and procedures from the Options Counseling, Adoptive Family (IAP/DAP), and Flexible Families programs to maintain licensing standards as set forth by the State of Colorado.
• Understanding of birthparent (BP) counseling legal requirements and processes
• Provide individual and group supervision to employees or interns working towards clinical licensure with the state of Colorado (if licensed). Maintain state license.
• Work independently and within a team on special non-recurring projects as assigned by the Senior Director of Programs.  These activities may require working with agency clients, assisting co-workers, planning, scheduling, and communicating progress both verbally and in writing.

Position Requirements: Requirements listed below represent the knowledge/skills/ability required.

• As required by state & county regulations, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 2 weeks prior to start date, and maintain current recommended boosters. (Candidates seeking an exemption from this requirement for medical/religious reasons must contact the HR Director.)

• Master’s degree in the social or behavioral sciences, (or a BA, BS, or BSW in one of these fields plus 4 years experience in the child welfare setting)
• Current LCSW is preferred
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in child welfare setting
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is preferred
• Must possess exceptional interpersonal, presentation, time management, attention to detail, and organizational skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required
• Be trained and certified in SAFE (structured analysis family evaluation) process or, obtain SAFE certification as soon as practical post hire
• An analytical ability is required in order to gather and summarize data for reports and find solutions to a variety of client and agency related situations
• Consistently demonstrate an ability to respond to changing situations in a flexible manner in order to meet the current needs of the agency, such as reprioritizing work as necessary
• Demonstrate a proactive approach to responsibilities
• Display a willingness to make decisions, exhibit sound and accurate judgment, support and explain rationale for decisions, include appropriate individuals in decision-making process and make decisions in a timely fashion
• Meet the attendance requirements of the job, including weekends and evenings as directed
• Must have access to reliable transportation and possess a valid unrestricted driver’s license and current car insurance as frequent local travel will be required, overnight travel possible

• Work within approved budgets as established by the Executive Director

Physical Requirements
The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Speaking and hearing ability sufficient to communicate effectively by phone or in person at normal volumes
• Intermittent physical activity including bending, reaching and prolonged periods of sitting
• Routinely lifting and/or moving up to 20 pounds
• Required to work extended periods of time at a video display terminal with ongoing keyboard data entry
• Ability to safely and efficiently operate a motor vehicle
• Vision adequate to read correspondence, computer screen, forms, etc.

Supervisory Responsibility

• This position may have periodic supervisory responsibility of individuals participating in Adoption Options Intern Program. This position may also be tasked with providing clinical supervision to employees seeking state clinical licensure.
  
  

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and physical demands. Adoption Options management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and agency needs as necessary.

To provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at Adoption Options will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Adoption Options does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Adoption Options will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.

Adoption Options is a recognized leader in supporting and serving LGBTQ+ families through the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's - All Children All Families.