Wendys Wonderful Kids Recruiter

The Children's Home of Poughkeepsie has been caring for children throughout the Hudson Valley for over 175 years! We strive to empower children and families to achieve optimal health and well being. We are currently seeking a full-time Wendy's Wonderful Kid's Recruiter at our Community Based Services Program.

Position Summary:

The WWK Recruiter focuses on an individual child's history, experiences and needs in order to find an appropriate adoptive family. This position will be embedded at the Department of Community and Family Services.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

1. Initial child referral
   
   
   
   1. Gathers initial referral information.
   2. Meets with the caseworker to secure further information.
   3. Establishes a date to begin review of the child's case file.
   4. Schedules an initial meeting with the child.
   
   
   
   
2. Relationship with child
   
   
   
   1. Meets with the child in person at a minimum of monthly, to develop trust and openness.
   2. Provides transportation of youth.
   3. Facilitates the assessment of the child's adoption readiness.
   4. Prepares the child for adoption.
   5. Develops a recruitment plan.
   6. Documents case notes and/or contact logs to record significant details about contact with the child.
   
   
   
   
3. Case record review
   
   
   
   1. Conducts in-depth review of existing custodial case file.
   2. Documents date and reason the child entered the system, most recent assessments, chronological placement history, significant services provided, identification of needed services, next court date and all significant people in the child's life.
   3. Submits online database reports.
   
   
   
   
4. Assessment of adoption readiness
   
   
   
   1. Determines the child's strengths, challenges, desires, preparedness for adoption and whether the child has needs that should be addressed before moving forward with the adoption process.
   
   
   
   
5. Adoption preparation
   
   
   
   1. Ensures the child is prepared for adoption and the recruitment process, utilizing tools such as handouts, lifebooks, workbooks and/or activities for youth including support groups, etc.
   2. Ensures the pre-adoptive family is adequately prepared to meet the needs of the youth.
   
   
   
   
6. Network-building
   
   
   
   1. Meets with individuals who are close to and knowledgeable about the child, such as caseworkers, foster parents, attorneys, teachers, therapists, relatives, mentors, etc.
   2. Maintains regular and on-going contact with individuals close to and knowledgeable about the child.
   3. Maintains monthly contact with the child's social worker.
   4. Works as part of youth's interdisciplinary team.
   
   
   
   
7. Recruitment plan
   
   
   
   1. Develops a child-focused recruitment plan, based on file review, diligent search, interviews with significant adults and the input of the child and assessment of the child's adoption readiness.
   2. Enhances the recruitment plan quarterly until the youth is matched with a pre-adoptive family.
   
   
   
   
8. Diligent search
   
   
   
   1. Implements the ongoing and intensive process of identifying, locating and contacting individuals with whom the child already has or had a bond or positive relationship with.
   2. Conducts aggressive follow-up with identified contacts, with the knowledge and approval of the child's caseworker.
   
   
   
   
9. On-going training/education
   
   
   
   1. Participates in annual WWK training, online learning, etc.
   
   
   
   

Schedule: Monday - Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday-Sunday OFF

The Children's Home offers an outstanding benefit package which includes medical, vision, dental, life insurance, 403(b), tuition reimbursement, paid time off, and a great work environment! Paid time off includes 4 weeks of vacation, 3 personal days, 12 holidays and 9 sick days annually.

MINIMUM Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree
• Experience working with youth

PREFERRED Qualifications:

• Experience working with LDSS/Child Welfare/adoption

*The Children's Home of Poughkeepsie is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

*The Children's Home participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the form I-9.