Adoption Case Manager

MISSION STATEMENT

The Children’s Network of Hillsborough is committed to working with the community to protect children and preserve families.

General Purpose of Job

Provide adoption case management for children with a goal of Adoption and where a petition for termination of parental rights has been filed. This position provides direct case work support to families adopting children with needed case management, transition assistance and services, while adhering to relevant legal and policy requirements governing adoptions. The purpose is to evaluate, coordinate, and ensure that the necessary services and treatment are provided; complete required family assessments and ongoing documentation; assess families through the adoption home study process and assist by teaming with them to identify goals to maintain and strengthen the family unit and to participate in staffings to ensure permanency is being obtained timely and to maintain child safety and well-being.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Adoption Case Manager Responsibilities

• Oversight of all adoption related tasks for children and families, to include but not limited to adoption home studies, child studies, referrals for psychological evaluation or other assessments if/as warranted, subsidy requests, enhanced subsidy requests (when warranted), home visits, maintenance of adoption tab information in FSFN

• Provide adoptive placement services to adoptive families including documentation in compliance with legal requirements for full disclosure and adoption subsidy

• Provide update regarding adoption case activity to Child Welfare Case Manager for judicial reviews and testify at court regarding status of adoption, when needed

• Fulfill needs related to adoption disruptions including documenting disruptions, ensuring that subsidy is terminated (if applicable), and guiding efficient coordination of needs toward subsequent placement of the children and support of the children and family

• Perform specialized case management activities as needed toward program compliance with legislative mandates, and DCF and/or agency initiatives including the Adoption Incentive Program

• Assist in coordination of and participate in sibling separation staffings, match staffings and Adoption Applicant Review Committees

• Assess children and family needs and coordinates delivery of services specific to adoption preparation, transition and support for the children and family including coordinating the development, documentation and fulfillment and support of transition plans for all adoptive placements

• Communicate with the primary Child Welfare Case Manager at least monthly to provide status update regarding adoption case activity 

• Provide life books to adoptive families

• Serve as the primary point of contact to adoptive families with children placed in their home during the 90-day post-placement supervision period

• Display understanding of, and sensitivity to, service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics

• Provide documentation and data on adoption activities

• Conduct regular home visits to ensure engagement and progress of children/families

• Adherence of all data collection into FSFN

• Produce periodic reports as requested

• Other duties may be assigned as special projects may be requested

Working Hours

Children’s Network of Hillsborough’s standard business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. This position is an in-office based position with fieldwork requirements, that averages 40 hours per week. Work hours may vary outside of these standard hours, including evenings and weekends, as needed to meet operational demands. All hours worked will be compensated in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and agency policies, including applicable overtime and other compensation requirements.

Travel

Travel within and outside of Hillsborough County is required. The employee must be able to drive and have reliable transportation to perform the essential functions of the position.

Training

All employees are required to complete fifteen (15) hours of training annually, which may be completed online or in a classroom setting. Employees who hold a credential or license relevant to their position must ensure that all training and continuing education requirements are met to maintain their credential or licensure.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does not have supervisory responsibilities

Education and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited college or university with a minimum of two (2) years of child welfare related experience OR an advanced degree in social work or a comparable human service field.

• Official transcripts are a mandatory requirement

• Must have a working knowledge of community services in our local five (5) county area.  Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships is also a must.

• Adoption Competency training (preferred)

Other Qualifications

• Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities

• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with others

• Ability to work as a team member

• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment

• Effective listening skills

• Verbal and written communications skills

• Must be self-motivated and have the ability to manage various work assignments simultaneously

Skills and Abilities

Exceptional leadership and communication skills, fostering collaboration across all organizational levels. Possess a strong aptitude for analytical thinking and data-driven decision-making, they excel at solving complex problems and implementing effective solutions. Proficient in project management, they adeptly handle multifaceted initiatives, ensuring deadlines are met and budgets are maintained. Highly adaptable to fast-paced and dynamic environments, they prioritize tasks efficiently while leveraging operational software and tools to enhance productivity. Strategic planning expertise and a commitment to fostering teamwork enable them to drive organizational success.

Pre-employment Requirements

Certificates, License, Registrations, backgrounds, drug screens, Etc.

• Valid driver’s license, clean driver’s license check, and proof of insurance

• Criminal background screening (Local Law Enforcement and FBI/FDLE & abuse registry)

• Drug Screening is a requirement

• Children’s Network participates in E-Verify

• Child welfare certification within one (1) year of post-test

Other Requirements

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret regulatory documents, contracts, policies, and case records.  Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from management, staff, clients, and outside agencies.  Ability to effectively present information to children and families, management, employees, and outside agencies.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.  Ability to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.  Able to anticipate needs and/or problems based on current events and/or situations and to develop solutions.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here 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.

This job requires the ability to sit for extended periods; walk; stand; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel or crouch; talk and hear. This job requires visual acuity sufficient to read and to operate standard modern office machines. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This is administrative work in an indoor office environment with a moderate noise level (business machines, printers, computers, telephones).

ADA:       Children’s Network of Hillsborough, LLC will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

EEO:        Children’s Network of Hillsborough, LLC does not discriminate based on race, national origin, gender, religion, veteran status, or disability in employment, in provision of services, or in access to programs.

Children’s Network of Hillsborough, LLC is a Drug-Free Workplace.

Remember:  If you are currently an employee of Children’s Network of Hillsborough Florida, LLC, or one of our Case Management Organizations, it is necessary that you notify your current Supervisor, prior to applying.