Kin Link Specialist - Roseville, United States - Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
Description
Resume and Pre-Interview Questions:
To apply, we ask that you send a resume and responses to pre-interview questions at the following link:
We do not require a cover letter.
Once we receive all materials, Program Directors will review and decide whether to extend first interview offers. You should expect to hear back from us within two weeks.
This position will remain open until filled ;
however, an initial review of resumes will begin on Tuesday April 30, 2024.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Kin Link Specialist will be part of an innovative service area at Ampersand Families focused on locating, engaging, and supporting relative and kin resources for children entering foster care due to child protection concerns.
Part of this position involves working within the parameters of the 30 Days to Family model, while other cases and activities will be similar in nature in working with urgency and creativity to ensure kids remain connected to relatives once they have been removed from their parents care.
This is a professional position requiring a significant amount of self-direction, team collaboration, irregular hours and travel throughout the state.
Ampersand Families is partnering with Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition as a replication site for 30 Days to Family, which has been categorized as an evidence-based practice through the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse.
30 Days to Family is an intense and short-term intervention that aims to place children with safe and appropriate relatives within 30 days of entering foster care.
This program aims to meet mandates which require states to identify and provide notice of the child entering foster care to all adult relatives within 30 days of the child entering state custody.
The concentrated efforts and low caseloads of 30 Days to Family are designed to make placement with relatives possible, while also aiming to support the family so placement stability is maintained.
30 Days to Family utilizes workers with experience in child welfare and/or other experience that gives them skills and comfort level required to effectively locate and engage with relatives.
This is a professional position requiring a significant amount of self-direction, some irregular hours and occasional travel throughout the state of Minnesota.
Kin Link Specialists spend a portion of their time in the field, driving to meet with youth and families, and to attend court.
Most clients for this position live in the greater metro area but may live in any part of the state.
AGENCY SUMMARY:
Ampersand Families provides permanency and adoption services to older youth and families who face barriers to equity in child welfare, and champions systemic changes that advance belonging, dignity and hope.
We are seeking experienced professionals who understand the profound impact that child welfare intervention has on the lives of children, youth and families.
A successful candidate for this position will be curious about the many ways permanency work can restore belonging, dignity and hope.
An orientation of professionalism and humility that values continuous learning and commitment to give and receive consultation are requirements for successful employment at Ampersand Families.
As an organization, Ampersand Families strives to strategically address systemic inequity and barriers to permanency for older youth, youth of color and sibling groups.
Ampersand Families is proud to be an employer of choice with an organizational culture of excellence that embraces humor, learning and collegial support.
We employ professionals who are accountable for learning the skills, building the relationships, and investing the time required to achieve and support real outcomes for youth, families and excellence in the programs designed to support them.
Ampersand Families are committed to doing their part to create a more equitable child welfare system.To that end, Ampersand Families provides equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, nationality, ethnic background, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, marital status, socio-economic status, status regarding public assistance, political affiliation, veteran status, other non-visible differences, and other protected attributes.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Work as a team
with other specialists and program supervisor to utilize the tools,
guides, and practices of the 30 Days to Family model to identify and
contact all known relatives for a child entering foster care.
Contact
"priority" relatives within one day and contact all relatives out to 4th
generation within 5 days of receiving a case.
Engage, assess,
and support relatives who have interest in playing a role in the child's
life, thinking outside the box to break down presenting barriers.
Operate with
urgency to identify 1 placement resource, and 2 back-up options, for each
case. Due to the intensity of this work, typical caseload size is 2 cases
at a time, 30-45 days each.
Meet with
relatives in-person in their homes and the community, virtually, and via
phone and email.
Maintain
regular communication with case partners regarding progress, barriers,
and next steps.
Build effective
relationships with the other individuals, professionals, and agencies or
resource partners involved in the lives of each family and leverage those
relationships to achieve permanency.
Manage the
documentation required to meet agency and MN DHS requirements for client
services, including frequent case noting, case plan summaries, and foster care
licensing and adoption requirements.
Engaged
participationduringa six-month probation/onboarding period, which will include
partnering with more experienced peers to develop a deep understanding of
the role and the practice orientation of Ampersand Families.
During probation, new employees are
expected to be present in the office whenever they are not in the field
meeting with families or professional partners.
Frequent and
in-depth consultation with peers to develop strategies, promote creativity
and maintain balance in this position which has a potential for higher
stress and emotional impact due to constant exposure to stories and
painful events in families' lives.
Commit to taking
time and asking questions to develop a deep understanding of the social
and systemic influences that contribute to disparities and
over-representation of older youth and youth of color in the child welfare
system.
Participate in advancing
the Agency's commitment to anti-racist practices.
QUALITIES:
Ability to work with an extreme
sense of urgency, while remaining calm, and collected
Flexible in working schedule and
responsive to immediate and unexpected tasks
Ability to use creative problem
solving and strategizing:
"think outside the box"
Relentless curiosity and
commitment to overcoming barriers
Proactive problem solving
abilities
Ability to lead and educate the
professional team, family, and stakeholders towards innovative solutions
that challenge "services as usual"
Strong advocacy skills
Bold in the face of challenging
"business as usual" child welfare practices
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
·
Bachelor's degree in social work, sociology, family social science, or another related field. One year of experience in child welfare, children's mental health, adoption, foster care/adoption, and/or another related field is preferred. Equivalent personal and professional experience may be substituted for some or all the education requirements.
Experience
with and passion for family preservation and/or relative/kin search, engagement,
and support or similar is preferred.
Experience
working in permanency/adoption/foster care in Minnesota, direct family
support and crisis intervention, children's mental health and/or
trauma-informed care preferred.
Professional licensure is required, as
applicable to the degree held. Social work licensure supervision (LICSW,
LISW, LGSW, LSW) available on-site.
Ability
to learn to utilize a wide range of search techniques to locate
individuals and proficiency in the use of electronic tools necessary to
work the 30 Days to Family Program (Microsoft Office suite, Genopro,
internet search resources/Family Connections Tool, social media, email,
scheduling, etc)
Personal commitment to
anti-oppression work. Must recognize the ways that race, gender, sexual
orientation, ability/disability, and other identities (historically and
presently) intersect and impact whether youth and families experience
child welfare intervention, and what their experience is once they become
involved. Willingness to engage in difficult and respectful conversations
for the purpose of strengthening the organization, the child welfare
field, and interpersonal relationships with colleagues.
Ability to be flexible, take personal
initiative, be self-directed, and manage documentation and multiple
deadlines, while embracing a work environment that demands collegial
support, consultation, and accountability.
Strong written and verbal communication
skills. This position requires the ability to summarize team communication
and case narrative in concise and frequent emails and reports.
Well-organized with strong attention to
detail.
Men and persons
of color are particularly encouraged to apply.
·
Valid driver's license, insurance coverage, and clean driving record. BCA and social services fingerprint background check required.
BENEFITS
Ampersand Families has a competitive benefit package, including Health, Dental, Vision, Life and Long-term Disability Insurance, Retirement Plan, 20 Days of PTO (accrued per year; increases with each year of employment), 10 floating holidays plus Juneteenth and Election Day paid holidays, Paid Parental Leave, and a Short-term Disability Bank (accrue 5 days/year of service).
Mileage is reimbursed for local travel, and rental cars are available for longer trips. All staff are provided with a budget of $400 yearly for ongoing training and education.Before accepting an offer, the finalist is given an opportunity to meet with current staff to get a further sense of the Agency culture and to ask any questions they may have to ensure they are a good fit for the organization.
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