Job Title: Child Placing Agency Specialist

Program: Child Placing Agency 

Job Status: Non-Exempt (Hourly); Full-Time

Location: Wichita, Kansas and surrounding areas

Reports To: Child Placing Agency Supervisor

Supervises: Not Applicable

Details: On Site and In Home

Job Summary

The CPA Specialist provides on-going support services to foster families which includes assisting with children placed within the home.   Under supervision of the CPA Supervisor and while working closely with other assigned staff, CPA Specialists will provide intake services and assist with placement recommendations and/or service planning. The CPA Specialist will also assist with recruiting and training foster families while also providing support, professional guidance and crisis assistance.

Essential Functions

• Carries an average caseload of 20 active families
• Accepts intake information regarding potential placements for children in care and match with foster families
• Conducts home visits and reviews documentation on foster children on a monthly basis
• Conducts home visits on assigned active respite families on a monthly basis
• Assists foster parents in accessing resources throughout the community to meet foster child needs
• Ensures that foster parents attend trainings throughout the year for their annual relicensing requirements
• Oversees initial licensing, renewal process and exceptions as necessary
• Conducts family assessments at time of initial licensing and renewal
• Updates KaleidaCare and openings list once weekly at a minimum or upon request
• Facilitates support meetings and other activities for foster families regularly
• Tracks DCF Notice of Survey Findings (NOSF) to ensure that corrective actions are completed 
• Tracks MVR reports to ensure that corrective actions are completed
• Develops and tracks Professional Development plans and/or safety plans with foster families as required
• Assists in the process of recruiting new foster families
• Conducts DT classes for prospective foster and adoptive families
• Completes DT Summary / Recommendations and Strengths / Needs
• Prepares monthly reports that document current behaviors on each child in assigned homes
• Provides crisis/on call services and 24 hour, 7 days a week support to assigned foster families
• Submits an incident report when appropriate 
• Maintains good working relationships and facilitates communication with the foster family, foster child, and collateral agencies and staff 
• Approves and submits foster parent timesheets biweekly
• Conducts adoption home studies as needed
• Maintains regular contact with supervisor 
• Requires the ability to maintain strict confidentiality
• Job may require the employee to be able to regularly drive to various DCCCA locations and other business locations throughout the day including early morning or evening hours

Education, Experience, and Licensure

• Bachelor's degree in human services, psychology, education, criminal justice, or related field, required.
• Two years' experience working with children in a volunteer or work setting, required.
• BSRB licensure not required for this role, but may make candidate eligible for higher-level position.
• Must possess a valid Driver's License, have in force automobile liability insurance coverage, and maintain a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) that meets organization's insurability standard as defined by DCCCA policy. Availability of reliable transportation is required for this position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Regular and predictable on-site attendance.
• Proficiency with computers and Microsoft suite of products including Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to efficiently operate other office equipment such as telephones, voicemail systems, copy and fax machines, and scanners.
• Adherence to DCCCA Values: 
• We provide education and services based on research and a dedicated commitment to improving lives.
• We value the people and communities we serve by respecting their experiences and treating them with dignity and respect.
• We encourage leadership at all levels by challenging existing conditions and finding innovative ways to grow and learn.
• We deliver high quality services every day, holding ourselves accountable for our outcomes.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described below are representative of what must be met to satisfy the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to:

• Stand, walk, sit, climb, or balance
• Talk, hear, taste, or smell
• Reach with hands and arms
• Use hands to finger, handle, or feel
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
• Move lift or move up to 50 pounds occasionally
• Vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Travel

Certain positions will require travel which may include driving personal or company-owned vehicles.  Note: Even with a valid driver's license, certain motor vehicle infractions may render individual's ineligible to drive company-owned or personal vehicles for company business. Such infractions may also disqualify employees from continued employment with DCCCA, Inc.

Please note this 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.

Candidates must successfully complete pre-employment drug screening, background screening, a fingerprint-based records search as required by position or program, and reference checks. Continued employment is contingent upon annual background screening. 

DCCCA is a drug-free and smoke-free workplace.

DCCCA, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, gender, disability, genetics, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is the policy of DCCCA to comply with all federal, state, and local laws concerning the employment of women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans, and to act in accordance with regulations and guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), in every location in which DCCCA has facilities. This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, training, and any other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.

Possible Opportunities for Promotion and/or Growth:

• Child Placing Agency Licensed Specialist
• Child Placing Agency Lead Specialist
• Child Placing Agency Supervisor
• Child Placing Agency Trainer
• Prevention Specialist