Employment Opportunities

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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.

Download full job description.

Base Salary: $56,595

Summary of Position

The Coalition CareLine is a vital resource, connecting foster and adoptive families with essential support services, resources, and referrals. With just one call, families gain access to a wide range of services, including educational, mental health, physical health, and advocacy resources. The CareLine Support Specialist plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between families and community partners such as child welfare professionals, case managers, court personnel, and service providers. By ensuring seamless access to resources, the CareLine equips families with the tools and support they need to care for their children effectively, advocating for their unique needs and providing them with a nurturing environment.

The specialist’s work includes conducting intake assessments, developing personalized support plans, and facilitating regular follow-ups to ensure families receive timely and relevant referrals. The CareLine’s comprehensive approach helps stabilize placements and support the holistic care of children impacted by foster care. These services often include explaining child welfare system policies, facilitating communication between families and professionals, and providing emotional support, resources, and referrals.

The primary goal of the Coalition CareLine is to offer immediate support to foster and adoptive families, connecting them to the resources and services they need. By empowering caregivers with these tools, the CareLine strives to stabilize placements and foster holistic care for children in the foster care system.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Ensure foster and adoptive parents are informed about the child welfare system, including the child’s legal rights, agency procedures, and support programs.
• Act as a supportive sounding board for parents, providing guidance and information to address their concerns and needs.
• Connect families with services such as counseling, education support, financial assistance, medical care, and housing.
• Advocate for foster and adoptive families in meetings with child welfare professionals, schools, and other service providers, ensuring the family’s voice is heard and needs are addressed.
• Build trust with families from diverse backgrounds and navigate cultural differences effectively, ensuring services are tailored to their unique situations.
• Maintain detailed records of family interactions, follow up on referrals and services provided, and track the progress of family goals and needs.
• Offer a compassionate presence for parents dealing with emotional challenges, helping them manage stress and emotional fatigue.
• Lead workshops or one-on-one sessions to teach parents coping strategies, how to manage challenging behaviors, and how to navigate the complexities of the foster and adoption systems.
• Collaborate with other professionals involved in the family’s case to ensure comprehensive care and support for both the child and parents.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field required.

Experience

• Experience navigating the foster care system.
• Minimum of two years in child welfare, with direct experience working with foster and adoptive families.
• Knowledge of services in the St. Louis metropolitan area preferred.

To Apply:

This is a full-time position. Send your resume and cover letter to recruiting@foster-adopt.org. The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Download full job description.

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 recruiting@foster-adopt.org.  The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Download full job description.

Summary of Position

Families United is a comprehensive relative support program dedicated to assisting relatives and kinship caregivers in navigating the foster care licensing process while offering emotional and practical support. We recognize that kinship placements can occur unexpectedly, often placing immediate and significant responsibilities on caregivers. Our goal is to support families every step of the way, providing advocacy, education, resources, and crisis assistance to help them maintain stable, healthy homes for their loved ones.

The Families United program offers license-ready assistance which focuses on guiding families through the entire foster care licensing process. This includes completing home studies, gathering necessary documents, attending court hearings, providing required training, and connecting families with community resources. Once a family is licensed, ongoing support continues until the child’s case closes.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Guide relative caregivers through the licensing process
• Conduct home visits and maintain communication
• Facilitate caregiver training
• Advocate for families and engage families proactively
• Maintain thorough documentation
• Participate in team and agency meetings
• Remain informed about policy
• Integrate feedback and collaborate effectively
• Demonstrate cultural competence
• See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related social service field required.

Experience

• Direct professional work experience in foster care licensing
• Minimum of two years in child welfare field with direct experience working with foster and adoptive families
• STARS Train the Trainer certified is preferred
• SAFE trained or available to complete training within 60 days

To Apply:

This is a part-time position, with expected working hours up to 20 hours per week. Send your resume and cover letter to recruiting@foster-adopt.org.  The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Download full job description.

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 recruiting@foster-adopt.org.  The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Download full job description.

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 recruiting@foster-adopt.org.  The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Download full job description.

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 recruiting@foster-adopt.org.  The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Download full job description.

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:

1. Customer Service
2. Sales and Transactions
3. Merchandising and Inventory
4. Store Maintenance
5. Team Collaboration
6. Mission Support:
7. 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 recruiting@foster-adopt.org.  The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.