Summary

Under the supervision of the Regional Director, the Foster Home Developer is responsible for developing strong relationships with prospective foster families and helping them move from interested parties to verified foster homes in both the Tyler and Nacogdoches area. This position is ultimately responsible for building capacity within the child placing agency by moving families through the verification pipeline. In addition, this position works with the Regional Director to identify logistical challenges, oversee verification compliance, writing home studies, and ensuring homes coming into the system will meet the requirements for being providers of a high-quality, nurturing, and trauma-informed living environment. This position is responsive and maintains a welcoming, professional, and hospitable work space for staff, co-workers, and visitors. The Foster Home Developer works with a diverse group of external callers and visitors as well as internal contacts at all levels of the organization. Independent judgment is required to plan, prioritize and organize a diversified workload, make recommendations for programmatic changes, and enable free communication between stakeholders and administration.

Scope

The Foster Home Developer reports directly to the Regional Director and oversees the verification process within the CPA programs in both Tyler and Nacogdoches, TX.

Position Details

• FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
• FTE Status (Full-Time, Part-Time, PRN, etc.): Full-Time (40 hrs. / work week)
• Pay Method: Salaried, Twice Monthly
• Department: CPA Tyler
• Division: CPA
• Location: Tyler, TX and Nacogdoches, TX
• Reports to: Regional Director
• Supervises: N/A. This position has no supervisory responsibility.
• Work Schedule: Work schedule may vary depending on programmatic needs. Anticipated work may also include weekends for trainings, conferences, and presentations. If no events, work schedule is 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions as outlined below:

• Recruits prospective foster parents for Azleway’s Child Placing Agency. Foster home recruitment may include writing correspondence, placing ads, attending conferences and meetings to promote the agency while fielding inquiries from prospective foster families.
• Organizes and prioritizes large volumes of information and calls. Identifies critical tasks & incidents, ensures proper information is gathered, and reports are completed.
• Checks company email daily and utilizes company technology to communicate and be easily available.
• Acts as a liaison between onboarding foster families, the Health and Human Services Commission (HHCS), Child Protective Services (CPS), community resources, and the agency.
• Works both independently and within a team to move foster families through the verification pipeline.
• Attends special events throughout the week and during weekends to promote the agency and provide trainings to foster families.
• Types and designs general correspondence, memos, charts, tables, graphs, business plans, etc. Proofreads copy for spelling, grammar and layout, making appropriate changes. Responsible for accuracy and clarity of final copy.
• Signs up for DFPS and RCCL email threads to remain up-to-date on department policy and communications.
• Facilitates smooth and hospitable interactions between foster families and state agencies.
• Establishes a training calendar and ensures compliance and training requirements are met for foster families.
• Enforces company and program policy within the scope of job function.
• Attends night and weekend events and trainings.
• Develop and maintain strong interpersonal relationships with foster families, employees, and other child care professionals.
• Maintains current working knowledge of social programs, HSSC policies and requirements, and best practices for conducting foster
• Utilizes strong public speaking skills and oratory ability to provide streamlined presentations and answer questions in front of small and large crowds of people with the ultimate purpose being to communicate a clear path to verification to prospective families.
• Works independently and takes initiative to accomplish tasks and drive capacity building.
• Must be able to differentiate between speech that is therapeutic and non therapeutic as part of the screen process.
• Exhibits a customer-service orientation with concern for representing the agency in a strong and positive light.
• Provides pre-service training for foster families and employees to ensure compliance with licensing requirements.
• Must be capable of hearing and receiving verbal instructions, answering phones.
• Conducts full foster home studies in a timely manner.
• Audits files on a regular basis to ensure that all requirements are met.
• Participate needs assessment by identifying and prioritizing foster / adoptive care needs at the local level. Reporting needs to direct supervisor.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and training as required.

Competencies

• Technical Capacity. Uses computer systems effectively and efficiently. Knowledgeable with word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications.
• Personal Effectiveness/Credibility. Works with others to maintain a level of effectiveness and credibility.
• Thoroughness. Works projects through to completion with a strong attention to detail.
• Collaboration Skills. Collaborates with a team on tight deadlines. Identifies needs and assists in coordinating efforts to meet the needs of the office.
• Communication Proficiency. Effective and calm communicator with trauma-informed approach. Able to handle stress with grace and patience. Does not yell or raise voice toward other employees of program residents.
• Flexibility. Adjusts to fast-paced work environment with multiple projects. Able to manage stress in a manner that does not add additional stress to the work environment.

Work Environment

This job operates in a variety of environments and may include professional office spaces, foster homes, churches, community events, or camp-like cottage atmosphere. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. This role will also require travel as noted below.

Physical Demands

This position may require the Foster Home Developer to perform physical tasks including, lifting, opening, reaching, stooping, filing, reading fine print, strong attention to details, loud environments, being around large groups of people, and standing & sitting for long periods of time. Additional requirements may be required in emergency situations.

Work Schedule

• Days: Monday - Friday
• Times: Work schedule is variable, with typical work week extending from 9am to 5pm, with frequent alterations due to business necessity. Nights and weekends will be required for trainings and presentations.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibility.

Travel

This position may be required to travel frequently to presentation sites, foster homes, and conferences. Travel within a personal vehicle for company purposes will be reimbursed according to company policy.

Required Education and Experience

• This position requires a bachelor’s degree.
• One year of experience working within the social services field.
• Clear understanding of foster-care and working with traumatized populations.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Two years of related experience.

Work Authorization

• Must have a valid Texas Driver's License with a driving record that does not inhibit insurability. Must also maintain this status throughout employment as the position requires a valid Driver's License and insurability to perform essential functions. Failure to maintain these two criteria may result in immediate termination of employment.
• Azleway requires all employees to be authorized to work in the United States.
• Must be able to pass all required background checks, drug screens, TB test, and MVR (driving record check).

EEO Statement

Azleway is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, Azleway prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Azleway conforms to the spirit and letter of all applicable laws and regulations.

Other Duties

Please note this job 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.