The Heart Gallery Post Placement Specialist is responsible for supporting and engaging with adoptive families, before and after finalization of the adoptive placement. This position also engages with community stakeholders in the DFW area to help secure the placement and provide critical resources to adoptive families that reside in region 3. The primary goal of this program is to identify the needs and challenges of families adopting children that have lived in foster care and are now in their permanent placement. All Heart Gallery Post Placement efforts are designed to increase the local support services and prevent the disruption of placements of children from the adoptive family across the 19 counties of region 3.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Post Placement Specialist
- Assist in the matching process for children being placed through the local SSCCs by scheduling and/or facilitation the selection staffing.
- Assist community CPAs with locating adoption knowledgeable and supportive resources for families adopting through the foster care system.
- Develop a post adopt application process to assist both SSCC’s in the region.
- Conduct family assessments in the home to determine the needed resources to ensure success of the adoptive placement.
- Prepare service plans for each family in the program.
- Network and partner with State employees, foster/adopt agency workers and professional organizations to help improve the lives of families and children.
- Assist families in the adoption process through education of the needs of the children and support services required to be successful.
- Develop respite, education and material resources within the community to assist families in the adoption process.
- Maintain program status reports of families using HG Post Adopt services.
- Develop a working relationship and referral process with the state Post Adoption program in region 3.
- Remain informed of Heart Gallery procedures, current adoption policies and licensing standards.
- Conduct individual post adopt information meetings for inquiring families through webinars and face to face meetings.
- Be available to work some weekends and evenings but keep a 40 hour work week schedule.
Other Duties & Customer Service:
- Attend Gladney’s monthly staff meeting.
- Attend community professional meetings.
- Travel to all 19 counties within region 3.
- May have some travel to other regions as needed.
- Assist with community partner events as requested.
- Assist and participate in the coordination of the activities of the Heart Gallery North Texas program.
- Present a positive and visible image in a professional manner to the community and other professionals.
- Responsible to promote Heart Gallery services to both internal and external clients in a positive manner.
- Public speaking engagements may be required.
- Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Requirements:
- 1 year of experience in a system support type role.
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Knowledge of normal and abnormal child development.
- Ability to process, organize and present information in an accurate, clear manner.
- Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Consistent maturity to represent the Heart Gallery Post Adopt program to the community and other professionals.
- Self-motivated and capable of time management.
- A pleasant and professional appearance.
- Knowledgeable about adoption and post adoption issues.
- An effective communicator able to express self clearly.
- Self-assured and skilled enough to make presentations and speak on behalf of the Heart Gallery North Texas.
- Knowledge of social media platforms, scheduling tools and analytics to measure the growth and success of the program.