Adoption Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary/Objective

The Adoption Specialist/Kinship Worker is responsible for providing adoption and kinship services that promote permanency, stability, and well-being for children and families.

Required Education and Experience

• 
  Bachelors Degree. This position requires a Bachelors degree preferred in areas of human development, psychology, counseling, coaching, communication, biology, social work, or a related field.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Child welfare, adoption, foster care, or kinship experience preferred.
  

  
  

  Essential Job Functions

  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  General

  • Enforces company and program policy within the scope of the job function
  • Ensures a normal and supportive environment for every child placed with Azleway
  • Advocates for all children and coordinates services through multiple systems including STAR Health, HHSC Behavioral Health Services, Early Childhood Intervention, and the education and child welfare systems
  • Coordinates care with medical consenters and participates in STAR Health Service Coordination (dependent and based on the childs individual eligibility)
  • Participates in team meetings, supervision, and other activities as assigned
  • Ensures that all duties are completed in a timely manner
  • Completes other duties as assigned

  Adoption and Kinship Case Management

  • Manage an assigned caseload of adoption and kinship cases from referral through permanency and aftercare services.
  • Coordinate foster-to-adopt, matched adoption, and kinship placements in accordance with agency policies and DFPS requirements.
  • Facilitate adoptive and kinship placements and provide ongoing support to families throughout the permanency process.
  • Conduct regular contact with children, adoptive families, and kinship caregivers to assess adjustment, support needs, and placement stability.
  • Participate in case staffings and provide recommendations regarding placement decisions and permanency planning.

  Training & Treatment Model

  • 
    Completes and maintains all required training, including but not limited to Trauma Systems Therapy-Foster Care (TST-FC) treatment model
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    Implements the Trauma Systems Therapy-Foster Care (TST-FC) treatment model in the everyday work setting

  Home Studies and Assessments

  • Complete Adoption-Only Home Studies and Kinship Home Studies in accordance with agency, DFPS, and licensing requirements.
  • Prepare and complete all required home study updates, revisions, and addendums.
  • Conduct home visits and interviews with prospective adoptive and kinship families.
  • Assess family strengths, needs, readiness, and appropriateness for placement.
  • Ensure all documentation is accurate, complete, and submitted within required timeframes.

  
  

  Permanency Planning and Documentation

  • Develop, implement, and maintain Adoption Plans and required addendums.
  • Complete monthly adoption and kinship logs and ensure timely submission.
  • Prepare court reports, permanency reports, and other required case documentation.
  • Maintain complete and accurate case files in compliance with agency, licensing, contractual, and regulatory standards.
  • Monitor case progress and identify barriers that may impact permanency timelines.

  
  

  Post-Placement and Aftercare Services

  • Conduct post-adoptive and post-placement home visits as required.
  • Provide adoption and kinship aftercare services for a minimum of six (6) months following placement or finalization, as required.
  • Assess family functioning and identify support services or referrals needed to maintain placement stability.
  • Respond to family concerns and coordinate appropriate resources and interventions.

  
  

  Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

  • Collaborate with SSCC staff, DFPS caseworkers, attorneys, CASA representatives, court personnel, and community providers to support permanency goals.
  • Attend court hearings, adoption finalizations, staffing meetings, and other meetings as required.
  • Serve as an advocate for children and families throughout the permanency process.
  • Maintain effective professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

  
  

  Recruitment and Community Outreach

  • Represent the agency at adoption fairs, recruitment events, community presentations, and other outreach activities.
  • Provide information regarding adoption and kinship services to prospective families and community partners.
  • Support agency recruitment efforts to increase the number of qualified adoptive and kinship families.

  
  

  Continuous Quality Improvement

  • Distribute and track adoption-related surveys to adopted children, adoptive parents, and caseworkers as required.
  • Assist with quality assurance activities, audits, and program evaluations.
  • Utilize survey feedback to support continuous improvement efforts within the adoption and kinship programs.

  Competencies

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    Technical Capacity. Able to use computer systems with effectiveness and efficiency. Knowledgeable with word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications.
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    Personal Effectiveness/Credibility. Works with others to maintain a level of effectiveness and credibility.
  • 
    Works projects through to completion with a strong attention to detail. Audits files on a regular basis to ensure that all requirements are met.
  • 
    Collaboration Skills. Able to collaborate with a team on tight deadlines. Identifies needs and assists in coordinating efforts to meet the needs of the office. A team player.
  • 
    Communication Proficiency. Effective and calm communicator. Able to handle stress with grace and patience. Maintain a calm and professional demeanor while under stress and managing multiple projects.
  • 
    Able to adjust to a fast-paced work environment with multiple projects. Able to manage stress in a manner that does not add additional stress to the work environment.
  • 
    Business Acumen. Has professional knowledge of governmental and child placing agencies within the state of Texas.
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    Has strong written and oral communication skills. Communicates with families and individuals from a variety of backgrounds and values with ease and respect.
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    Is organized and able to maintain all written documentation.
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    Self-Motivation. Works independently and takes initiative to accomplish tasks and drive capacity building
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    Active Listening. Must be capable of hearing and receiving verbal instructions, answering phones
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    Time Management. Ensures that adoption specialist/kinship worker duties are completed in a timely manner.

  Supervisory Responsibility

  This position has no supervisory responsibilities over other employees, but may lead certain processes as described above and collaborate with other personnel within the agency.

  Work Schedule

  The work schedule is typically 9 am - 5pm with some variation expected due to the nature of the position. This may include nights, weekends, and early mornings as dictated by the needs of the job. (Examples may include taking phone calls in the evenings, flexing days due to work requirements, attending functions with families, attending conferences, trainings, or facilitating transportation if necessary).

  Days

  Times

  Typically, M-F, but may vary

  (40 hours / week, with occasional over time)

  Typically, 9am - 5pm, but may vary.

  Work Environment

  This role uses standard office equipment and requires use of computers, phones, copiers, filing cabinets, emails, and fax machines. Must have the ability to work in a high energy environment both at the office, in the community, and in the foster care and adoption environment.

  Work Authorization

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    The Adoption Specialist/Kinship Worker must have a valid Texas Driver's License with a clear driving record and must maintain this status for the duration of their employment. Driving is a critical function of this position and failure to maintain the ability to drive and be insured through insurance providers may be grounds for termination.
  • 
    Azleway requires all employees to be authorized to work in the United States.
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    Must be able to pass a background check, drug screen, TB test, and driving record check.

  EEO Statement

  Azleway is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, Azleway prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Azleway conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.

  Other Duties

  Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.