Family Finding Specialist

The Yurok Tribe Tribal Child Welfare Department helps to provide safe and stable out-of-home care for children until the children are safely returned home, placed permanently with adoptive families or placed in other planned arrangements for permanency. Under the general supervision of the Tribal Child Welfare Manager, the Family Finding Specialist will be responsible for conducting relative searches and organizing family finding placement and preservation meetings. This position works closely with the Tribal Child Welfare staff to support the youth in making and maintaining important relationships.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Conduct relative searches for placement purposes utilizing records included but not limited to, enrollment and genealogy records, child welfare records, and other available records.
2. Children who have been detained or is in a non-relative or non-Tribally Approved Home,
3. Coordinate necessary services and supports to assure relationships important to youth receive are nurtured and maintained.
4. Collect program data.
5. Participates in special studies or research projects as assigned by the Department Director.
6. Prepares written correspondence, reports and other documents related to Tribal Child Welfare program activities and mandated federal and state reports.
7. Performs other related duties as assigned.EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
1. G7: Highschool diploma or GED with five years of job specified experience.
2. G8: Highschool diploma or GED with six years of job specified experience.
3. Employees must be willing to acquire any special certifications or attend any training that is determined to be relevant or become required of the position in the future.
4. Candidates with equivalent combinations of education, training and experience will be considered.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Ability to gather complete information from clients in a telephone interview or in person interview.
2. Ability to respond to clients in a calm, empathetic and professional manner while courteously directing the conversation to pertinent issues.
3. Excellent written and oral communication skills.
4. Ability to work independently as well as support team efforts, and to strategize and plan to timely and consistently move applications forward across multiple case timelines.
5. Excellent organizational skills to handle individual caseloads of benefits applications.
6. Experience as an advocate, including intake, interviews and advocating for clients.
7. Strong client customer service skills, including working from a trauma-informed perspective with clients.
8. Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income people and/or people experiencing homelessness.
9. Microsoft Office skills.
10. Have a good understanding of case management and development of case plans for clients.
11. Knowledge of the laws, rules and regulations including policies, procedures, programs, and goals of public social service agencies.
12. Knowledge and skills in the principles of supervision, training and instructional methods and techniques.
13. Experience and demonstrated knowledge of Child Welfare programs and procedures.
14. Ability to exercise sound judgment when organizing, directing, prioritizing, and assigning activities including selecting, training, supervising, evaluating, and disciplining subordinate staff.
15. Demonstrated strong computer skills with three plus years using Microsoft Office or similar software and including a strong working knowledge of automated database systems such as MS Access or similar database.
16. Recognition that in order to serve Yurok People one must know as much as possible about Yurok history, culture and values.SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
1. All applicants are subject to the Tribe’s Drug and Alcohol Policy including pre-employment screening.
2. All applicants will acknowledge and follow all Yurok Tribe personnel and other policies and procedures.
3. The Yurok Tribe is an equal opportunity employer who exercises Indian preference; Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (Title 25, USC, Section 472).
4. Valid state issued driver’s license and/or the ability to obtain a California driver’s license. Must be insurable on the Tribe’s insurance policy.
5. Must pass a background investigation and fingerprint clearance.
6. This position requires compliance with the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act Public Law 101-630; 25 Code of Federal Regulations Part 63 - Indian child Protection and Family Violence Prevention; Crime Control Act of 1990, Employee Background Checks; and Executive Order 12968, Adjudicative Guidelines.
7. Position could require travel and occasional work outside of regular work schedule.