Post Adoption Specialist

Summary

The Post Adoption Specialist is a member of Adoption Journeys, in a small team based in Worcester.  Adoption Journeys is a statewide program providing voluntary post-adoption support to families; we have five regional offices, up to 20 employees and serve around 500 families statewide each year.  We offer a range of services to our families, including community-based clinical supports, support groups, respite and recreational events and activities, and training for both families and professionals.  This role requires some experience with intervention skills and a willingness to learn the post-adoption specialty. FT 35 HOURS PER WEEK.

Child and Family Services recognizes the power in Diversity and believes that Equity is a Human Right.

$1 per hour Language Differential! (eligible languages include: Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish or ASL)

Child & Family Services carefully considers a wide range of factors when determining compensation including, but not limited to, prior experience, education, certification(s), license(s), skills and expertise, location, internal equity and other factors that are job related and consistent with business need. Our goal is to support, reward and compensate the entire individual. Depending on role eligibility, your offer may include a bonus or other incentives. Therefore, final offer amounts may vary from the amount stated.

Starting Pay - BA Degree = $20.50 per hour / MA Degree = $25.00 per hour

Job Responsibilities & Essential Functions

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

• Responsible for participation in the Regional Response Team, providing brief, home-based intensive family stabilization, services to adoptive and guardianship families
• Provide a strengths based psycho-social assessment of the family’s needs and resources
• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule
• Provide advocacy and coordination to empower families to gain access to long term supportive services
• Provide second stage information and referral to families and professionals
• Design, track and implement support groups to meet the diverse needs to adoptive families
• Develop a network of respite providers and/or resources within the region.  To explore creative solutions to meet longer term needs of families and the program
• Coordinate respite providers and resources within the region and offer ongoing training and consultation to that network of providers
• Develop a team of adoptive parents and/or persons to act as parent and/or young adult liaisons with other adoptive families and individuals.  Offer training and consultation to those liaisons
• Coordinate and/or provide training to mental health and/or human service related professionals
• Responsible for providing assistance/backup to the Regional Manager in relation to regional support services and the marketing of the program to other human service oriented resources
• Responsible for the entry of data and record keeping in the Journeys database
• Perform other required duties and responsibilities, as assigned

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 this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Education and Experience

Candidates should have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work of a related field and have a minimum of three years’ experience in an advocacy and/or casework oriented human service agency.  Master’s level Candidate preferred.  Candidates should possess knowledge of family systems. Adoption experience is desirable.

Cultural Competency Qualifications: 

• Awareness of personal attitudes, beliefs, biases, and assumptions about others 
• Knowledge of the various dimensions of diversity, including gender, race, and ethnicity 
• Acknowledging that people from other cultural groups may not share the same beliefs and practices or perceive experiences in the same way 
• Cultural knowledge of key populations that will be served to address disparities in service delivery
• Demonstrates positive attitudes towards cultural differences by showing respect and openness towards people whose social and cultural background is different from one's own 
• Demonstrates skills for communication and interaction across cultures, including the ability to recognize and manage personal behaviors, moods, and impulses to create an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming climate within the agency 

Travel Required

Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation that meets CFS Driver Policy. Travel is required to provide services in different settings and to attend agency meetings, events, and trainings

Benefits:

• Benefit eligible at 20+ hours per week
• Medical – Harvard Pilgrim/HealthPlans Inc.
• Dental – Delta Dental of MA
• Vision - EyeMed
• Wellworks for You (Employee Wellness)
• 2 weeks’ vacation accrued over 1st year, 3 weeks after 3 years, 4 weeks after 5 years and 5 weeks after 20 years
• 12 Sick Days, 10 Paid Holidays, and 2 Personal Days per year
• Tuition reimbursement – Up to $1,500 per calendar year
• Professional Licensure reimbursement (LICSW, LMHC)
• Flexible spending accounts – save on medical expenses and dependent care!
• 401K – CFS matches first 1% at 100%; 2%-6% of annual earnings are matched at 50%
• 100% Employer paid Life Insurance
• 100% Employer paid Long Term Disability and AD&D
• 24-hour travel assistance, mileage reimbursement, discounted Healthtrax gym membership, and employee appreciation events!

Child and Family Services, Inc. values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages applicants from the BIPOC, LGBTQ+, AAPI, Hispanic, Latinx and Veteran communities to apply for employment. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, gender, sex,( including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy) disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.