FC Relative Intern

D A Blodgett-St Johns•Grand Rapids, MI

11h

About The Position

The Foster Care Relative Intern is responsible for identifying relatives and other supportive adults for the purpose of placement and/or continued connection and support for children in foster care. This Family Finder will engage and support relatives and those with a strong positive emotional tie or role in a foster child’s life, with the goal of relative placement. This position is expected to function effectively with moderate supervision while following the guidelines given on procedures, along with agency, federal, and state regulatory requirements.

Requirements

Enrolled in a Bachelor’s program in one of the following areas; Behavioral Science, Community Services, Counseling (Psychology), Criminal Justice (Administration), Early Childhood Studies, Family Ecology, Family Life Education - Spring Arbor University, Family Studies, Family and/or Child Development, Guidance/School Counseling, Human Development and Family Studies - Michigan State University, Human Services, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science, Education, Community Development, Law Enforcement, Forensic Psychology, Gerontology, Special Education, Education of the emotionally disturbed, Education of the gifted.
Proficient with Microsoft Office and web-based applications.
Valid driver’s license good driving record and adequate insurance.
Sensitivity to and awareness of cultural, ethnic ,and socioeconomic differences.
Ability to work a flexible schedule
Interpersonal skills necessary to interact with and engage a diverse group of high risk families.
Commitment to the Agency’s mission, philosophy, and values.

Responsibilities

Identify and utilize tools/methods to effectively implement exhaustive relative searches.
Actively search for and engage relatives using in-person interviews with parents (and children, if appropriate)and on-line searches as deemed appropriate.
Document and communicate identified relatives to Foster Care Workers and team.
Complete family genogram and document relative names and contact information in the required time frames as outlined in DHHS Policy and our service contracts.
Provide relative caregiver support.
Coordinate relative connections for children in Foster Care
Contact relatives identified; explore and engage interest in placement and/or ongoing support of children.
Provide information and expectations to potential relative caregivers.
Create plans for initial contact between the youth and the family member/potential supportive adults,
Ensure relative and kinship caregivers are assessed per policy, and
Ensure youth have at least one safe and appropriate kinship support person beyond their current placement identified.
Complete Initial Safety Screen and Relative Assessment on relatives interested in placement.
Identify barriers to placement and facilitate work with the team to collectively problem solve and monitor possible solutions.
Complete all necessary background checks and home visits to assess the relative for initial and ongoing placement. Collaborate with adoption and foster care teams to ensure a comprehensive assessment of the child(ren)’s strengths, needs, and the relative caregiver’s ability to meet the needs with proper supports in place.
Encourage relatives who do not take placement of the child to support and maintain contact in other ways, when appropriate.
If more than one relative is interested in placement, the Specialist will conduct a meeting with Foster Care Worker and all family members to determine who would be best suited for placement.
Engage and provide ongoing support/point of contact for relatives who do not take placement but are interested in ongoing support of children. This could include, but is not limited to, coordinating, supervising and/or assisting with relative visits and/or substitute care.
Assisting relative with transportation.
Supervise relative visitation to support a successful transition to placement.
Connect relatives with necessary resources as needed to achieve successful placement.
Ensure relatives feel supported and are able to contribute to the treatment planning for the children.