Homefinder

Description

Summary/Objective: 

The Foster Care Homefinder is responsible for the recruitment, certification, recertification, training, and ongoing support of foster families. Serving as the primary licensing and certification specialist for assigned foster homes, the Homefinder ensures foster parent eligibility, regulatory compliance, and readiness to provide safe and appropriate care for children in foster care. This position conducts home studies, background clearances, home inspections, and compliance monitoring activities while providing education, guidance, and technical assistance to foster parents. The Homefinder also assists with placement-finding activities by canvassing available foster home resources, assessing foster home capacities and strengths, and helping identify appropriate foster family placements for children referred for care. The Homefinder works collaboratively with agency staff, local departments of social services, and community partners to maintain a sufficient pool of qualified foster homes that meet the diverse needs of children and youth served by the agency.

Essential Functions:

Foster Parent Recruitment & Resource Development

· Supports foster parent recruitment activities in accordance with CHJC's Foster Parent Recruitment Plan.

· Participates in community outreach, recruitment events, informational sessions, and other activities designed to increase awareness of foster parenting opportunities and support foster parent recruitment efforts.

· Serves as a resource to prospective foster parents by responding to inquiries, conducting initial consultations, and providing information regarding foster parenting requirements, training expectations, and the certification process.

· Maintains correspondence and timely follow-up with prospective foster parent inquiries and applicants throughout the certification process.

· Collaborates with agency recruitment staff to identify recruitment needs, promote foster parent retention, and support the development of qualified foster home resources.

Foster Home Certification & Licensing

· Coordinates and facilitates required foster parent pre-certification training and ensures completion of all applicable training requirements for prospective foster parents and transfer applicants. 

· Facilitates all required foster parent certification, recertification, amendment, and closure activities in accordance with OCFS regulations and agency policy. 

· Conducts home consultations, home studies, recertification assessments, and related interviews, and prepares comprehensive written reports and recommendations regarding foster home approval. 

· Coordinates and monitors all required background clearances, fingerprinting, SCR checks, reference checks, and other required documentation related to foster home certification. 

· Monitors certification and recertification timelines to ensure all required clearances, medical statements, training requirements, licensing documents, and approvals remain current. 

· Assists foster parents in obtaining, completing, and submitting required certification and recertification documentation.

Foster Home Monitoring, Compliance, & Quality Assurance

· Conducts initial, annual, and as-needed foster home visits and inspections to ensure compliance with OCFS regulations, agency standards, and health and safety requirements. 

· Evaluates foster homes for ongoing compliance with applicable licensing standards, including physical plant requirements, sleeping arrangements, capacity limitations, supervision requirements, emergency preparedness standards, and training requirements. 

· Provides written and verbal communication to foster families regarding certification status, regulatory changes, agency expectations, corrective actions, and training requirements. 

· Develops, implements, and monitors corrective action plans when foster homes are found to be out of compliance with regulatory or agency requirements. 

· Investigates, documents, and reports concerns related to foster home compliance, licensing standards, child safety, or foster parent practice, as appropriate. 

· Maintains current knowledge of foster home capacities, vacancies, strengths, preferences, and licensing limitations.

Foster Parent Support & Placement Coordination:

· Schedules, coordinates, and tracks ongoing in-service training requirements for certified foster parents. 

· Provides ongoing training, coaching, technical assistance, guidance, and support to foster parents to promote retention, regulatory compliance, and quality care. 

· Identifies foster parent support needs and recommends retention strategies, additional training opportunities, and resources to promote foster parent success and stability. 

· Assists with placement-finding activities by canvassing available foster home resources, assessing foster family strengths, capacities, preferences, and licensing limitations, and identifying appropriate homes for children referred for placement. 

· Collaborates with Foster Care Case Planners, Supervisors, Clinical Staff, DSS representatives, and other stakeholders to support placement decisions and ensure foster homes are appropriately matched to the needs of children and youth. 

· Participates in emergency placement planning and assists in identifying available foster homes for urgent, respite, specialized, or after-hours placement needs.

Documentation, Collaboration, & Professional Responsibilities:

· Maintains accurate, complete, and organized foster home records in accordance with OCFS regulations, agency policy, and accreditation standards. 

· Completes timely and thorough documentation of all activities, including home visits, inspections, interviews, telephone contacts, case conferences, meetings, training activities, compliance reviews, and other foster home-related services. 

· Prepares reports, correspondence, and documentation required by OCFS, local departments of social services, agency leadership, and other oversight entities. 

· Maintains current knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, guidance, and best practices related to foster home certification, recruitment, retention, and child welfare services. 

· Participates in agency recruitment, outreach, training, community engagement, and special events as requested, including activities that may occur outside normal business hours. 

· Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Special Requirements:

Work Environment: Office environment will require occasional travel to recruitment events, local schools, conferences and/or meetings and moderate travel within the community to include off-site/in-home visits. May have contact with service recipients that are agitated and/or are in crisis. Some risk involved working with service recipients with mental illness. Works in an office setting with a controlled temperature environment.  Occasional exposure to inclement weather conditions may occur depending upon assignments. 

Equipment: This position is required to maintain a working knowledge of related office equipment including personal computers and printers, audio-visual equipment, telephone systems, copiers, fax machines, etc.

Physical Demands: Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, carry, push/pull, climb, bend, and stoop. Must be able to perform fine motor skills, read, and type. Must be able to sit for long periods of time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position. Work hours generally occur during regular business hours, with flexibility based on program needs. Occasional evening hours and participation in on-call rotation are required.

Travel:

Regular travel throughout Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, and surrounding Counties is required to meet with youth, families, providers, and community partners in homes, schools, agency sites, and other community locations.

Required Education and Experience: 

Associate's degree in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, Education, Criminal Justice, or a related field required; Bachelor's degree preferred. Prior experience working with children, youth, families, foster care, child welfare, family support services, or related human service programs is strongly preferred. Experience conducting assessments, home visits, caregiver training, or regulatory compliance activities is desirable. Knowledge of family court processes, local departments of social services, and the child welfare system is preferred.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge:

Strong organizational abilities and office skills are essential for this position. This person must also have excellent people skills and be a team player. Ability to work with diverse populations. Must demonstrate effective and excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to work cooperatively with others. Must be detail-oriented and possess excellent time-management skills. Requires self-direction, tact, diplomacy, and the ability to be clear, courteous, and professional. Able to react to change productively and handle other duties as assigned.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

Must maintain privacy of confidential information. Successful completion of routine pre-employment requirements as mandated by the New York State Department of Health, Office of Mental Health and Office of Children and Family Services along with ongoing clearances and exclusion checks. These requirements are to include employment health requirements, reference checks, criminal background checks/fingerprinting, State Central Registry clearance and your eligibility to work in the United States. A valid NYS driver’s license required. Corporate Compliance, HIPAA Privacy Security, and Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Training and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, First Aid and CPR will be required following date of hire.