Summary of Position
The Family Search and Engagement Specialist provides intensive, short-term services to identify, locate, notify, and engage safe, appropriate relatives and kin for youth in foster care. Using family search and engagement practices modeled after 30 Days to Family®, this role supports compliance with the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, Senate Bill 683, and applicable Missouri statutes, and contributes to family search and engagement efforts across multiple agency programs.
Family Search and Engagement Specialists provide services across various programs within the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition, including Family Connections, Extreme Recruitment®, and Older Youth Readiness. Upon case assignment, the Specialist immediately identifies and engages non-offending parents and grandparents, then conducts a comprehensive search to locate, contact, and assess up to 80 additional maternal and paternal relatives.
The goal is to build a strong network of potential placement options and supportive connections, recognizing that foster care placements can be fragile. Efforts focus on maintaining sibling connections, preserving the youth’s school of origin, and supporting meaningful relationships with friends and other supportive adults.
Once a placement resource is identified, the Specialist supports stability, based on program expectations, by assessing needs, connecting families to resources, addressing barriers, and developing support plans that include both formal and informal supports. This position requires strong engagement skills, persistence, and the ability to navigate complex family dynamics. Services are delivered flexibly, including occasional evening and weekend hours (approximately 10%).
Essential Functions & Responsibilities
- Family Engagement and Support
- Family Finding and Diligent Search
- Documentation and Case Management
- Licensing and Placement Preparation
- Program Compliance and Court Involvement
- See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.
Qualifications & Requirements
Education
Bachelor’s degree in social work or a social service field
Experience
- Demonstrated experience working with interdisciplinary teams utilizing innovative strategies to overcome obstacles.
- Direct experience in the child welfare field with knowledge of foster care and adoption and experience in family interview, engagement, and assessment.
- Experience in resource parent licensing strongly preferred