Employment Opportunities
Join Our Team
We are looking for superior candidates to join our dynamic team. You are welcome to apply for all open positions that match your experience and skill sets.
Our Commitment to DEI
The Coalition is founded on trust, built with empathy, and structured to harness the infinite power diversity brings. Our focus lies in cultivating an environment that encourages individuals to embrace their authentic selves and have their perspectives acknowledged and respected. We are devoted to fostering a culture of inclusion within our organization.
Current Openings
Family Support Specialist
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Base Salary: $56,595
The Family Support Specialist serves families impacted by foster care in Franklin, Lincoln, and Warren Counties, specifically those caring for youth under the jurisdiction of the court in these regions. The role involves providing direct support and case navigation services to foster, relative, and adoptive parents, and the child welfare team. The specialist works collaboratively with all involved parties, including the child, foster placement, and biological family members to assist in meeting the identified program goals.
The primary focus of the Family Support Specialist is to support the development and implementation of individualized advocacy or case plans aimed at preventing placement disruptions. The Specialist will assist in identifying additional familial and natural supports, provide referrals to community resources, and work toward strengthening partnerships between families and the child welfare team.
Essential Functions:
- Documentation & Data Management: Maintain accurate daily activity logs, document program data in a timely manner using software such as Salesforce, and ensure documentation is complete, professional, and timely (e.g., intake forms, assessments, progress notes, and closing summaries).
- Family Engagement & Goal Setting: Partner with families to identify and set achievable goals, providing the necessary support to help them reach those goals. Maintain a responsive and collaborative approach to training, coaching, and feedback.
- Communication & Coordination: Respond promptly to communication from families, caregivers, and professionals. Coordinate services and monitor progress to ensure placement stability. Visit families in-home or in the community as needed.
- See job description for a complete list of responsibilities
Qualifications & Requirements:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in a social service field or a related field required.
Experience
- Knowledge of the foster care system.
- Minimum of two years of experience in child welfare, with direct experience working with foster and adoptive families.
- Knowledge of services and supports in Franklin, Warren, and Lincoln Counties.
To Apply:
This is a full-time position. Send your resume and cover letter to Sharon Winfield, Chief Human Resources Officer, at recruiting@foster-adopt.org. Applications without a well-written, thoughtful cover letter stating your passion and qualification for serving our population will not be considered. The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Respite Coordinator
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Base Salary: $56,595
The Respite Coordinator serves as a key point of contact for resource parents and partner agency case managers seeking respite services. In this role, the coordinator matches families with appropriate respite providers based on their specific needs and supports families throughout the respite process, including locating and arranging services. Building and maintaining strong relationships with respite providers is a critical aspect of the role, as well as understanding the areas of specialty of each provider.
Additionally, the Respite Coordinator works closely with partner agencies to help families navigate the respite process, ensuring that both families and providers have accurate information about documentation, payment procedures, and service delivery. Strong collaboration with community partners and licensing teams is necessary to understand the needs of children requiring respite and to ensure that families are matched with providers who meet these needs.
The Respite Coordinator is expected to maintain regular documentation of services, track respite support, and stay informed about trends and policies related to respite services, particularly within the child welfare system. The role also involves working with program staff and leadership to enhance program development and ensure that services are meaningful, appropriate, and supportive for children and families in need of respite care.
Essential Functions:
- Respite Provider Management: Develop and maintain an updated database of respite providers who can meet the specific needs of families.
- Family Coordination: Gather background information on children and families to ensure the appropriate matching of families with respite services.
- Communication & Support: Respond to phone calls, emails, and inquiries from resource parents and partner agencies in a timely manner. Provide ongoing support to families, addressing concerns and connecting them with internal and external resources.
- See job description for a complete list of responsibilities
Qualifications & Requirements:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in a social service field or a related field required.
Experience
- Knowledge of the foster care system.
- Minimum of two years of experience in child welfare, with direct experience working with foster and adoptive families.
- Knowledge of services and supports in the St. Louis metropolitan area (including St. Louis City, St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson, Franklin, Warren, and Lincoln Counties) is preferred.
To Apply:
This is a full-time position. Send your resume and cover letter to Sharon Winfield, Chief Human Resources Officer, at recruiting@foster-adopt.org. Applications without a well-written, thoughtful cover letter stating your passion and qualification for serving our population will not be considered. The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Treatment Foster Care Specialist
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Base Salary: $56,595
The Treatment Foster Care (TFC) Specialist plays a key role in supporting the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition’s mission to provide high-quality foster care services to youth with complex needs. The primary responsibility of the TFC Specialist is to collaborate with partner agencies to recruit, train, and retain foster families equipped to support youth who require a higher level of care to remain in the community, preventing unnecessary placement in restrictive residential settings.
The TFC Specialist is responsible for facilitating training sessions for prospective TFC parents, which occur one evening a week over the course of nine weeks, typically training two cohorts annually. In addition to training, the role involves providing ongoing support to foster families by conducting home visits, typically in the evening to accommodate the schedules of foster parents. Specialists carry a caseload of up to ten families, ensuring that children’s needs are being met, treatment plans are followed, and placement stability is maintained.
As part of a growing program, the TFC Specialist also participates in ongoing evaluation and improvement efforts, collaborating with the broader TFC team to provide support and training to licensed foster and adoptive parents in Missouri. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to the development of a critical service that helps stabilize foster placements and improves outcomes for children in care.
Essential Functions:
- Connect Families to Resources: Assist families in identifying and accessing support services and community resources tailored to their needs.
- Assess Foster Parent Competencies: Conduct initial and ongoing assessments of foster parent and Treatment Foster Care (TFC) competencies to ensure readiness and effectiveness in caregiving.
- Maintain Communication: Keep regular communication with families participating in training, providing ongoing support, resources, and additional training. This may be through phone, virtual meetings, or in-person visits.
- Conduct Evening & Weekend Training: Lead training sessions after 5 p.m. and on some weekends, on a rotating schedule.
- See job description for a complete list of responsibilities
Qualifications & Requirements:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in a social service field or a related field required.
Experience
- A minimum of 3 years navigating the child welfare field preferred
To Apply:
This is a full-time position. Send your resume and cover letter to Sharon Winfield, Chief Human Resources Officer, at recruiting@foster-adopt.org. Applications without a well-written, thoughtful cover letter stating your passion and qualification for serving our population will not be considered. The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Family Connections Specialist
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Base Salary: $56,595
Summary of Position
Closely modeled after our 30 Days to Family® program, Family Connections aims to enhance efforts in identifying safe, suitable relative supports and potential placements for youth in foster care. The program is designed to assist foster care case management agencies’ requirements to notify a youth’s adult relatives of their option to participate in the care and family placement of the youth. The initial search is for parents, grandparents, and siblings, however a minimum of at least 80 additional relatives will be identified, contacted, and explored for potential placement and support. Because foster care placements can be fragile, the goal is to identify multiple relatives or kin as potential placement providers. Maternal and paternal relatives are explored with equal interest.
Family Connections takes a unique approach by prioritizing reconnection over immediate placement. This focus on reuniting youth with their family of origin has proven to significantly enhance children’s mental health and overall well-being. By facilitating these important relationships, the program not only addresses needs of the youth, but also strengthens family ties, promoting stability and support. In all cases, every effort is made to keep siblings together and preserve the youth’s important relationships with friends and supportive adults.
Reconnecting with relatives after a child has been in foster care for an extended period can be challenging. Family Connections specialists excel at listening to relatives’ concerns and frustrations. Acknowledging the trauma associated with the child welfare experience is essential, as it helps relatives feel heard and valued.
Once background checks are completed, relatives can define what reconnection means for them, including phone calls, video chats, or mentorship. Facilitating that initial connection is a vital step in rebuilding relationships, creating a supportive network for the child. Family Connection specialists often take the lead in initiating meetings to ensure successful reconnections.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities:
- Demonstrates a commitment to the following program philosophies:
- Youth deserve to be with their family
- Family takes care of family
- All families include members who are willing and able to care for youth
- Families are the expert and may need help discovering and organizing their strengths
- Relatives have a right to know family exists
- Everyone has something to contribute
- Facilitate ongoing communication with referring agencies and appropriate team members with accurate family documentation, including detailed genograms, family contact information, and identified family supports and in a timely manner.
- Assist in preparation of family for licensure, to include detailed information regarding all licensing expectations.
- Ensure that the Fostering Connections to Success Act, applicable Missouri statutes, and Missouri Children’s Division policies are adhered to.
- See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.
Qualifications & Requirements:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field required.
Experience
- Demonstrated experience working with interdisciplinary teams utilizing innovative strategies to overcome obstacles. Direct experience in the child welfare field with knowledge of foster care and adoption. Experience in resource parent licensing strongly preferred.
To Apply:
This is a full-time position. Send your resume and cover letter to Sharon Winfield, Chief Human Resources Officer, at recruiting@foster-adopt.org. Applications without a well-written, thoughtful cover letter stating your passion and qualification for serving our population will not be considered. The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
30 Days to Family® Specialist
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Base Salary: $56,595
Summary of Position
30 Days to Family® is a short-term intervention to expand efforts to find safe, appropriate relative support and placements for youth entering foster care. The program is designed to assist in meeting the 2008 Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act’s 30-day standard and Missouri youth placing agencies’ legal requirement of notifying a youth’s adult relatives of their option to participate in the care and placement of the youth. The initial search is for non-offending parents and grandparents, but at least 80 additional relatives will be identified, contacted, and explored for potential placement and support. Because foster care placements can be fragile, the goal is to identify multiple relatives or kin as potential placement providers. Maternal and paternal relatives are explored with equal interest.
In all cases, every effort is made to keep siblings together, maintain youth in their school of origin, and preserve the youth’s important relationships with friends and supportive adults. Once the placement provider is identified, the Specialist provides support to the family in the identification of family and community resources, assistance in eliminating barriers to placement with relatives, and creating a network of formal and informal supports to assist with placement stability.
To best meet the scheduling needs of the family, approximately 10% of the Specialist’s work may be performed in the evening or on the weekend.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities:
- Demonstrates a commitment to the following program philosophies:
- Youth deserve to be with their family
- Family takes care of family
- All families include members who are willing and able to care for youth
- Families are the expert and may need help discovering and organizing their strengths
- Relatives have a right to know family exists
- Everyone has something to contribute
- Assists the case manager and court officials with meeting the Fostering Connections to Success Act, applicable Missouri statutes, and Missouri Children’s Division policy regarding relative/kin notification and
- Collects information from relatives/kin to expand the youth’s support system and family connections, while identifying potential relative home providers.
- Identifies and documents at least 80 relatives/kin for each youth through family finding diligent search activities, including: internet & database searches; Children’s Division case file reviews; and youth, family, and collateral contact
- Facilitates ongoing communication with the team and provides the referring agencies with accurate family documentation, including detailed genograms, family contact information, and identified family supports on a regular basis.
- Participates in court hearings, external and internal meetings and/or individual professional consultations. Most of these meetings will be attended in
- Navigates various software packages to obtain, collect, and track program outcome data in a timely manner as required by the funder and/or the Foster & Adoptive Care
- Completes assessments on the youth and family functioning upon case referral and case closure to measure the success and outcomes of the
- Assists in preparing the family for licensure by explaining the licensing process and assisting with home licensing
- Provides identified relative resource provider with additional community support and resources for placement stability.
- Submits detailed activity notes and documentation of all case related billing activities in accordance with funding requirements as required by the funder and/or the Foster & Adoptive Care
- Completes monthly billing sheets timely and daily activity log, accurately and in accordance with funding requirements as required by the funder and/or the Foster & Adoptive Care
- Maintains accurate files and records for each
- Understands, or willing to learn, Genopro and Salesforce.
- Meets all 30 Days to Family® program outcomes.
- See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.
Qualifications & Requirements:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in a social service field
Experience
- Demonstrated experience working with interdisciplinary teams utilizing innovative strategies to overcome obstacles.
- Direct experience in the child welfare field with knowledge of foster care and adoption and experience in family interview, engagement, and assessment.
- Experience in resource parent licensing strongly
To Apply:
This is a full-time position. Send your resume and cover letter to Sharon Winfield, Chief Human Resources Officer, at recruiting@foster-adopt.org. Applications without a well-written, thoughtful cover letter stating your passion and qualification for serving our population will not be considered. The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Comprehensive Systems Navigator
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Base Salary: $56,595
Summary of Position
Multiple systems serve children in foster care with the highest level of mental and physical health needs. These systems function independently and often at cross-purposes, resulting in poor outcomes for youth. The Comprehensive Systems Navigator theory of change is to create a practice-level System of Care created for each youth and family served. The intention is for these systems to function as an accountable, cohesive network that meets the youth and family’s needs. In addition to the child welfare system, the Comprehensive Systems Navigator may interact with the following systems: mental health, physical health, educational, and developmental.
The Comprehensive Systems Navigator acts as care coordination consultant, helping the youth and family navigate multiple systems by:
- Engaging the youth and family
- Being a single point of contact
- Facilitating communication among providers
- Tracking outcomes
- providing referrals and linkages
- Managing service provider transitions
- Providing supportive follow up.
The Comprehensive Systems Navigator helps the family drive the service plan to completion, navigating systems, and overcoming barriers. Given the nature of this position, up to 40% of the work hours can be expected to occur in the late afternoon, early evening, and occasional weekends. Services are designed to be culturally sensitive, trauma informed, and promising practices to ensure the youth will have improved outcomes that results in placement stability.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities:
- Navigates the above systems.
- Facilitates team discussions that allow members to focus on the common goal of successful placement.
- Provides wraparound services by cultivating and networking with resource and referral services and supports within the
- Understands relevant policy and has a high comfort level researching gaps in
- Directs families and professionals through case-based advocacy
- Utilizes knowledge of complex-developmental trauma and attachment-based strategies to educate parents and caregivers about the unique issues surrounding adoption and guardianship, child development, loss, grief, attachment, and
- Respects and demonstrates understanding for differences including the ability to interact effectively with individuals regardless of race, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability and socioeconomic
- Receives and responds to training, coaching, supervision, and feedback; works well in team setting.
- Responds to communication from families and professionals in a timely
- Visits with the child and family in-home or in the community to address concerns that relate to placement stability.
- See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.
Qualifications & Requirements:
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field
Experience
- Demonstrated experience collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams utilizing innovative strategies to overcome Experience navigating the child welfare and Department of Mental Health systems is preferred.
To Apply:
This is a full-time position. Send your resume and cover letter to Sharon Winfield, Chief Human Resources Officer, at recruiting@foster-adopt.org. Applications without a well-written, thoughtful cover letter stating your passion and qualification for serving our population will not be considered. The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Family Works Specialist
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Base Salary: $56,595
Summary of Position
The Family Works program is an in-home parenting support intervention intended to stabilize and enhance foster, pre and post-adoptive, and guardianship homes at risk of disruption due to the family’s depleted capacity to meet the needs of children impacted by abuse and neglect.
The Family Works Specialist has a master’s degree in social work or a counseling related field. They have extensive training and clinical understanding of developmental trauma, neurobiology, attachment, and their impact on foster/adoptive youth and families. Enrolled families have access to support from their Specialists during when escalated situations occur. This sometimes occurs after office hours and on weekends.
The program focuses on increasing the caregiver’s capacity to understand, accept, and effectively respond to the behavioral challenges children and youth present. Through this program, caregivers are provided support, skills, validation, and psychoeducation to remain open and engaged with their child, even during challenging behaviors, creating a haven for growth and healing.
The program follows the principles of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP). It uses strategies and techniques to help the family stabilize and further support the child(ren) to develop greater relational skills, increase their sense of personal safety and security, resolve developmental trauma, and facilitate new relationships.
Projected Outcomes:
- 80% of children will remain home or move to a more stable living situation
- 70% of parents have knowledge, skills, and support for positive parenting (measured by the Parental Stress Scale)
Essential Functions & Responsibilities:
- Utilize knowledge of complex developmental trauma and attachment-based strategies to educate parents and caregivers about the unique issues surrounding adoption and guardianship, identity development, loss, grief, attachment, and trauma.
- Appointment days and times are dependent on the availability of individual families assigned to the specialist. Given the nature of this position, up to 20% of the work hours can be expected to occur in the evenings and/or weekends.
- Identify, collaborate with, and refer to collateral service providers.
- Respond to families with a sense of urgency and in a timely manner.
- Respond to communication from families, staff, and professionals promptly.
- Provide face-to-face child and family interventions.
- Partner with families to identify and establish attainable goals and support families in achieving them.
- Navigate and use various software packages to promptly obtain, collect, and track program data as required by the funder and the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition. This includes but is not limited to Salesforce.
- Provide wraparound services by cultivating and networking with resource and referral services and support within the community (i.e., school programs, family court, summer camps, therapy services). Link children and families to such services and support.
- Request and review psychological, medical, educational, legal, and social service records supporting the child and family to reach the goals.
- See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.
Qualifications & Requirements:
Education
- Master’s degree in counseling, social work, or a related counseling field.
- LMSW, LCSW, PLPC, or LPC preferred.
Experience
- 2 Years of experience in child welfare or related field with direct client contact.
To Apply:
This is a full-time position. Send your resume and cover letter to Sharon Winfield, Chief Human Resources Officer, at recruiting@foster-adopt.org. Applications without a well-written, thoughtful cover letter stating your passion and qualification for serving our population will not be considered. The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Older Youth Readiness Navigator
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Base Salary: $56,595
Summary of Position
The purpose of the Older Youth Readiness Program is to: 1. help youth in foster care establish safe and meaningful connections to relationships lost while in foster care; 2. link youth with meaningful resources; and 3. establish new opportunities to help youth transition out of foster care and into successful and healthy adults. The focus for youth ages 16 – 24 is to assist with navigating and obtaining access to the relevant services necessary to achieve well-being. Youth 13-15 may receive support through the program to build support earlier to improve their opportunities for success in adulthood. Youth guide the service plan process which directs the pathway to develop strong relationships with the goal of achieving interdependence.
The Navigator acts as care coordination consultant, collaborating with and organizing multiple systems tailored to the youth’s specific plan. In addition to the child welfare system, the navigator may assist with the following additional systems:
• family and community
• mental health services
• life skills systems
• disability services
• affordable housing
• employment and workforce development
• placement stability
• transition services
Given the nature of the program, up to 40% of the Older Youth Readiness Navigator work hours can be expected to occur in the late afternoon, early evening, and occasional weekends. Services are designed to be culturally sensitive, trauma informed and use promising practices to ensure youth will have improved outcomes that result in placement stability.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities:
- Navigates the above systems.
- Facilitates decision-making and communications within and between systems.
- Initiates difficult discussions.
- Provides wraparound services by cultivating and networking with resource and referral services and supports within the community.
- Understands relevant policy and has a high comfort level researching gaps in knowledge
- Directs families and professionals through case-based advocacy situations
- Respects and demonstrates understanding for differences including the ability to interact effectively with individuals regardless of race, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability and socioeconomic status.
- Receives and responds to training, coaching, supervision, and feedback; works well in team setting
- Responds to communication from families and professionals in a timely manner.
- Visits with the child and family in-home or in the community to address concerns that relate to placement stability.
- Participates in team and agency meetings and/or individual professional consultations; Majority of these meetings should be attended in person.
- Completes thorough, professional, and timely documentation (i.e. intake forms, assessment, progress and activity notes, progress maintenance plans and closing summaries).
- See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.
Qualifications & Requirements:
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field
Experience
- Demonstrated experience collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams utilizing innovative strategies to overcome obstacles. Experience navigating the child welfare, mental health, physical health, housing, and workforce development systems are preferred.
To Apply:
This is a full-time position. Send your resume and cover letter to Sharon Winfield, Chief Human Resources Officer, at recruiting@foster-adopt.org. Applications without a well-written, thoughtful cover letter stating your passion and qualification for serving our population will not be considered. The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
ReFresh Sales Manager
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Summary of Position
As a ReFresh Sales Manager, you will be responsible for providing excellent customer service, maintaining store cleanliness and organization, and supporting the overall sales and operations of the store. You will assist customers in finding items, processing transactions, and ensuring a positive shopping experience. Your role is vital in promoting the mission of the store and supporting our commitment to sustainability and community service.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities:
- Customer Service
- Sales and Transactions
- Merchandising and Inventory
- Store Maintenance
- Team Collaboration
- Mission Support:
- Agency Accountability
Qualifications & Requirements:
Education
- High school diploma or equivalent.
Experience
- Previous retail or customer service experience preferred
Skills and Competencies
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, basic math skills, and the ability to operate a POS and cash register.
- Positive attitude, reliability, flexibility, and a passion for sustainability and community service
- Strong organizational and time management skills and ability to multitask.
- Must be a self-starter, driven, and highly organized.
- Strong problem-solving skills and analytical abilities.
- Flexibility to support the agency through rapid growth
- Strong interpersonal skills to interact positively with all employees.
- Attention to detail to ensure tasks are completed thoroughly and correctly.
To Apply:
This is a full-time position. Send your resume and cover letter to Sharon Winfield, Chief Human Resources Officer, at recruiting@foster-adopt.org. Applications without a well-written, thoughtful cover letter stating your passion and qualification for serving our population will not be considered. The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Agency Shared Values
Employees of the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition agree to hold themselves and colleagues to the following values:
- Equity: We insist on fairness and respect. We are deliberate in ensuring everyone has safety, opportunity, access, and support to be heard.
- Family: We are family. We are connected and support one another in meeting the needs of our own families and the families we serve. We assume the best and are committed to each other.
- Diversity: We celebrate differences and harness the power that diversity brings. Every viewpoint is heard and honored. We are stronger because of our differences.
- Innovation & Excellence: We are intentional about knowing better and doing better, using innovation and solution-focus approaches with courageous passion and excellence.
- Inclusion: We respect, leverage, and engage everyone’s unique strengths and talents so each individual can contribute to their full potential.
- Integrity: We are an agency built on integrity, maintaining a culture of trust, respect, transparency, and honesty. We walk in our truth and uphold ethical standards.
- Courage: We stand up for each other and what is right for our clients and stakeholders with truth, vulnerability, and accountability.
- Teamwork & Collaboration: We develop and maintain authentic relationships by being flexible and open-minded and maximizing the strengths of each individual in the team to accomplish the best outcome for our children and families. Everyone contributes in leadership.