Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Background:

Forestdale (FD) is a NYC child welfare agency working to prevent child abuse/neglect through parenting, prevention, and foster care (FC) services, focusing on low-income and immigrant communities in Queens & Brooklyn. We help thousands of families work through acute & complex trauma, parents raise the next amazing generation of children, and youth successfully launch into adulthood. FD’s mission is “to ensure that children and families have the fundamental assets they need to thrive and live independently.”

Job Summary:

The Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiter (Case Manager) is responsible for connecting youth awaiting permanent homes with families interested in adoption. This role involves implementing and coordinating effective recruitment, matching, and support services for a caseload of youth in active recruitment status. Utilizing an evidence-based, child-focused recruitment model, the recruiter will identify permanent, adoptive resources for youth in the county’s permanent custody or with APPLA (Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement) status. Priority is given to youth over the age of nine, those with special needs, and members of sibling groups.

Major Responsibilities/Activities:

• Work in partnership with agency staff to identify youth for referrals to the WWK program
• Review the case record, interview the youth, caseworker, other agency staff with knowledge of the case and any available family members and/or other supportive connections to assist in the recruitment process
• Utilize internet search tools to identify resources within the youth’s network i.e. LexisNexis.
• Develop an initial written adoption readiness assessment describing the youth’s understanding and feelings about adoption and update on a quarterly basis
• Create child-focused recruitment plans for the youth and update on the quarterly basis
• Meet with youth monthly and be comfortable traveling to various locations, including counties, school, foster home, residential treatment center, hospitals, and other relevant settings as needed.
• Communicate with the caseworker monthly to review the progress of the recruitment plan
• Meet with family members and supportive connections to discuss the progress of locating permanent resources for the youth
• Utilizes the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Child-Focused Recruitment Strategy
• Conducts aggressive follow-up with connections identified, with the knowledge and approval of the child’s caseworker
• Once matched, work with the caseworker, youth and the adoptive resource to ensure pre-placement visits are implemented
• Assist with the development and coordination of the transition plan with the youth and matched family. Work with the youth and family during the transition process to assist with placement support
• Work in conjunction with the case worker to ensure that the adoptive family is working towards adoption finalization
• Attend educational opportunities provided by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption including, but not limited to: WWK classroom training, database training, webinars, and the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Summit hosted by the Foundation
• Submit monthly data in the WWK database
• Participates in evaluation activities with Forestdale, ACS and/or the Dave Thomas Foundation
• Completes bi-annual report for Wendy’s Wonderful Kids
• Performs other duties as assigned by Supervisor
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree with two years post graduate direct experience recommended, MSW preferred
• 2 years of child welfare experience, preferably in foster care adoption
• Access to a personal vehicle with insurance coverage and have a valid driver’s license
• Belief that all children deserve legal permanency
• Highly motivated self-starter
• Demonstrated ability to organize and manage multiple projects and cultivate relationships
• Willingness to engage in cold calling people identified as current and previous connections of the youth
• Competence in planning, organizing, scheduling, case documentation, and strong oral and written communication abilities and the ability to handle a flexible workload
• Proficiency with documentation, case management systems, and Microsoft Office Suite
• Must possess strong human relations skills to communicate and work effectively within a culturally diverse work environment and community

Salary Range:

• Bachelors - $29.12/hr - $31.04/hr
• Bachelors (Bilingual)- $30.22/hr - $32.15/hr
• Masters - $30.22/hr - $33.24/hr
• Masters (Bilingual) - $31.59/hr - $34.34/hr
• Masters (Bilingual & License) - $34.43/hr - $37.09/hr

Benefits

• Four weeks' vacation
• Medical/dental/vision/life/disability insurance
• Pension plan
• 401(k), 7% employer contribution + 2% match
• Tax-deferred health care/dependent care/commuter plans

Additional Information:

Forestdale Inc. is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission. Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Forestdale Inc. is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

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