Employment Opportunities

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Summary of Position

30 Days to Family® is a short-term intervention to expand efforts to find safe, appropriate relative support and placements for youth entering foster care. The program is designed to assist in meeting the 2008 Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act’s 30-day standard and Missouri youth placing agencies’ legal requirement of notifying a youth’s adult relatives of their option to participate in the care and placement of the youth. The initial search is for non-offending parents and grandparents, but at least 80 additional relatives will be identified, contacted, and explored for potential placement and support. Because foster care placements can be fragile, the goal is to identify multiple relatives or kin as potential placement providers. Maternal and paternal relatives are explored with equal interest.

In all cases, every effort is made to keep siblings together, maintain youth in their school of origin, and preserve the youth’s important relationships with friends and supportive adults. Once the placement provider is identified, the Specialist provides support to the family in the identification of family and community resources, assistance in eliminating barriers to placement with relatives, and creating a network of formal and informal supports to assist with placement stability.

To best meet the scheduling needs of the family, approximately 10% of the Specialist’s work may be performed in the evening or on the weekend.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates a commitment to the following program philosophies:
  • Youth deserve to be with their family
  • Family takes care of family
  • All families include members who are willing and able to care for youth
  • Families are the expert and may need help discovering and organizing their strengths
  • Relatives have a right to know family exists
  • Everyone has something to contribute
• Assists the case manager and court officials with meeting the Fostering Connections to Success Act, applicable Missouri statutes, and Missouri Children’s Division policy regarding relative/kin notification and
• Collects information from relatives/kin to expand the youth’s support system and family connections, while identifying potential relative home providers.
• Identifies and documents at least 80 relatives/kin for each youth through family finding diligent search activities, including: internet & database searches; Children’s Division case file reviews; and youth, family, and collateral contact
• Facilitates ongoing communication with the team and provides the referring agencies with accurate family documentation, including detailed genograms, family contact information, and identified family supports on a regular basis.
• Participates in court hearings, external and internal meetings and/or individual professional consultations. Most of these meetings will be attended in
• Navigates various software packages to obtain, collect, and track program outcome data in a timely manner as required by the funder and/or the Foster & Adoptive Care
• Completes assessments on the youth and family functioning upon case referral and case closure to measure the success and outcomes of the
• Assists in preparing the family for licensure by explaining the licensing process and assisting with home licensing
• Provides identified relative resource provider with additional community support and resources for placement stability.
• Submits detailed activity notes and documentation of all case related billing activities in accordance with funding requirements as required by the funder and/or the Foster & Adoptive Care
• Completes monthly billing sheets timely and daily activity log, accurately and in accordance with funding requirements as required by the funder and/or the Foster & Adoptive Care
• Maintains accurate files and records for each
• Understands, or willing to learn, Genopro and Salesforce.
• Meets all 30 Days to Family® program outcomes.
• See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in 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

To Apply:

This is a full-time position. Send your resume and optional cover letter to recruiting@foster-adopt.org. The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Download full job description.

Summary of Position

Extreme Recruitment® is an innovative, evidence-informed model that focuses on achieving permanency for youth who face some of the most significant barriers to adoption and guardianship. The program serves youth ages 10–18, sibling groups, and those with emotional, developmental, or behavioral needs—many of whom have experienced complex trauma and systemic inequities. Through intensive, time-limited, child-specific recruitment efforts, the program works to identify and support permanent families for these young people while building a lifelong network of supportive adults.

The Director of Extreme Recruitment® oversees a team of Extreme Recruiters and ensures fidelity to the model’s goals: building a sustainable network of caring adults for at least 85% of youth and identifying a committed permanent resource for at least 70% of program participants. The Director of Extreme Recruitment® offers reflective supervision, coaching, and support rooted in trauma-informed care and cultural humility ensuring that the needs and voices of youth while guiding staff through intensive recruitment, case pre-work, permanency matching, and post-match stabilization.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

As a member of the Coalition’s Leadership Team, the individual who holds this position must demonstrate the ability to:

• Provide constructive and strategic feedback to the Leadership Team.
• Facilitate decision-making and communications within and between internal and external constituents and professionals for the development and enhancement of the organization.
• Direct and develop people: Willingness to initiate difficult discussions.
• Shape positive organizational culture.
• Evaluate and monitor team and agency-wide progress towards annual goals and objectives.
• Drive execution.
• Have vision and see the big picture (especially when things get challenging).
• Demonstrate emotional, professional and emotional maturity; introspection.
• Stand up and get involved when necessary—strong advocacy skills.
• As the immediate supervisor to the Extreme Recruitment team, the individual who holds this position must demonstrate the ability to provide:
  • Leadership & supervision
  • Case oversight & assignment
  • Documentation & data management
  • Training & Outreach
  • Communication & Collaboration
  • Professionalism & Conduct
• See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in a Social Service or related field is required.

Experience

• Demonstrated experience working with interdisciplinary teams utilizing innovative strategies to overcome obstacles. Direct experience in child welfare field with a strong knowledge of foster care and adoption. Supervisory experience or demonstrated leadership acuity required.
• Strong candidates will possess:
  • At least 5 years of direct child welfare experience
  • Experience in case management, foster parent licensing, and foster care adoption services
  • Knowledge and familiarity with the policies a and procedures of the Family Courts, area Children’s Division offices, and contracted Foster Care Case Management (FCCM) agencies in St. Louis and the surrounding counties
  • Missouri Children’s Division FACES training

To Apply:

This is a full-time position. Send your resume and optional cover letter to recruiting@foster-adopt.org.  The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Download full job description.

Summary of Position

The Educational Advocate plays a critical role in providing educational support and advocacy for youth in foster care, those adopted from foster care, and children in guardianship arrangements from the foster care system. Serving as a key resource for caregivers, educators, and child welfare professionals, the advocate works to ensure that each child’s educational needs are met, empowering families to navigate complex systems effectively.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• School Placement & Educational Support: The advocate works with the child’s Educational Decision Maker to ensure appropriate school placement and access to necessary educational services.
• Special Education & Evaluations: Supports the acquisition of educational evaluations and ensures the implementation of special education services as required by law.
• Disciplinary Advocacy: Upholds the rights of students during disciplinary proceedings, ensuring fair treatment and due process.
• Mental & Behavioral Support: Connects students to essential behavioral, emotional, or mental health resources to promote educational success.
• Initial Assessment: After an intake consultation, the advocate conducts a thorough assessment, including school observations, interviews with school staff, and potential direct interviews with the child.
• Individualized Service Plan: A comprehensive plan is developed, outlining goals and existing support, which guides the advocacy process.
• Collaborative Action: The advocate works closely with school teams, service agencies, and the family to address educational concerns, facilitate IEP meetings, and ensure proper documentation is in place.
• Ongoing Support & Monitoring: Once goals are achieved, the advocate maintains periodic check-ins and follow-ups to ensure long-term success, including home visits or additional observations.
• See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education

• Master’s degree in education or related field required.

Experience

• Proven Experience in Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with multi-disciplinary teams, leveraging innovative strategies to overcome challenges and ensure successful outcomes for children and families.
• Expert Knowledge of Education & Foster Care Systems: In-depth understanding of the education system, including Special Education processes, child development, and educational laws, paired with experience navigating the foster care system.
• Minimum of 2 Years Relevant Experience: At least 2 years of professional experience working within or alongside the education and foster care systems, preferably with direct involvement in advocating for youth in foster care or those with educational barriers.

To Apply:

This is a full-time position. Send your resume and optional cover letter to recruiting@foster-adopt.org.  The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Download full job description.

Summary of Position

The Coalition is hiring a Family Enrichment and Volunteer Manager to plan and execute fun outings and giveaways for our clients, as well as cultivate relationships with volunteers and in-kind donors. The successful candidate will be an organized go-getter who will manage multiple tasks and priorities. Some weekend and weeknight availability and a willingness to occasionally pick-up and deliver donations to our clients is required.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Serve as staff lead for outings held for our families and youth, including organizing logistics, managing registration, handling communications, and overseeing volunteers on event days
• Serve as co-lead of the Back-to-School and Project Dream Dress giveaways, including organizing logistics, managing youth/family registration, handling communications, and overseeing volunteers on event days
• Coordinate staff and volunteer assignments for Coalition fundraisers
• Create and manage online registrations using event scheduling software such as Eventbrite and our CRM software, Salesforce
• Regularly communicate with clients, in-kind donors, and Coalition staff to arrange for the donation and distribution of in-kind donations such as holiday gifts, hygiene and hair products, etc.
• See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in a related field.

Experience

• Demonstrated success with planning group outings or events
• Proven ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with volunteers and/or donors
• Strong organizational and time management skills with attention to detail
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Microsoft Excel
• Experience using Client Relationship Management software is preferred

To Apply:

This is a full-time position. Send your resume and optional cover letter to recruiting@foster-adopt.org.  The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Download full job description.

Summary of Position

Families United is a comprehensive relative support program dedicated to assisting relatives and kinship caregivers in navigating the foster care licensing process while offering emotional and practical support. We recognize that kinship placements can occur unexpectedly, often placing immediate and significant responsibilities on caregivers. Our goal is to support families every step of the way, providing advocacy, education, resources, and crisis assistance to help them maintain stable, healthy homes for their loved ones.

The Families United program offers license-ready assistance which focuses on guiding families through the entire foster care licensing process. This includes completing home studies, gathering necessary documents, attending court hearings, providing required training, and connecting families with community resources. Once a family is licensed, ongoing support continues until the child’s case closes.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Guide relative caregivers through the licensing process
• Conduct home visits and maintain communication
• Facilitate caregiver training
• Advocate for families and engage families proactively
• Maintain thorough documentation
• Participate in team and agency meetings
• Remain informed about policy
• Integrate feedback and collaborate effectively
• Demonstrate cultural competence
• See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related social service field required.

Experience

• Direct professional work experience in foster care licensing
• Minimum of two years in child welfare field with direct experience working with foster and adoptive families
• STARS Train the Trainer certified is preferred
• SAFE trained or available to complete training within 60 days

To Apply:

This is a full-time position. Send your resume and optional cover letter to recruiting@foster-adopt.org.  The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Download full job description.

Summary of Position

The Family Support Specialist serves families impacted by foster care in Franklin, Lincoln, and Warren Counties, specifically those caring for youth under the jurisdiction of the court in these regions. The role involves providing direct support and case navigation services to foster, relative, and adoptive parents, and the child welfare team. The specialist works collaboratively with all involved parties, including the child, foster placement, and biological family members to assist in meeting the identified program goals.

The primary focus of the Family Support Specialist is to support the development and implementation of individualized advocacy or case plans aimed at preventing placement disruptions. The Specialist will assist in identifying additional familial and natural supports, provide referrals to community resources, and work toward strengthening partnerships between families and the child welfare team.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Education Support
• Mental Health Support
• Parent Coaching & Behavioral Health
• Kinship Navigation
• Resource, Referral, and Case-Based Advocacy
• Documentation & Data Management
• Family Engagement & Goal Setting
• Communications & Coordination
• Case Advocacy & Support
• Community Resources & Networking
• Meetings & Collaboration
• Professional Development
• Policy Knowledge
• Trauma-Informed Support
• See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Desired Qualifications & Skills

• In-depth knowledge of community resources in Franklin, Lincoln, and Warren Counties related to education, mental health, parent coaching, and kinship care.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with families, child welfare teams, and community partners.
• Familiarity with child welfare practices and a commitment to supporting families in the foster care system.
• Ability to work independently, manage a caseload, and provide direct support to families while ensuring effective service delivery.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in social work or related required.

Experience

• Knowledge of the foster care system.
• Minimum of two years of experience in child welfare, with direct experience working with foster and adoptive families.
• Knowledge of services and supports in Franklin, Warren, and Lincoln Counties.

To Apply:

This is a full-time position. Send your resume and optional cover letter to recruiting@foster-adopt.org.  The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Download full job description.

Summary of Position

The Family Works program is an in-home parenting support intervention intended to stabilize and enhance foster, pre and post-adoptive, and guardianship homes at risk of disruption due to the family’s depleted capacity to meet the needs of children impacted by abuse and neglect.

The Family Works Specialist has a master’s degree in social work or a counseling related field. They have extensive training and clinical understanding of developmental trauma, neurobiology, attachment, and their impact on foster/adoptive youth and families. Enrolled families have access to support from their Specialists during when escalated situations occur. This sometimes occurs after office hours and on weekends.

The program focuses on increasing the caregiver’s capacity to understand, accept, and effectively respond to the behavioral challenges children and youth present. Through this program, caregivers are provided support, skills, validation, and psychoeducation to remain open and engaged with their child, even during challenging behaviors, creating a haven for growth and healing.

The program follows the principles of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP). It uses strategies and techniques to help the family stabilize and further support the child(ren) to develop greater relational skills, increase their sense of personal safety and security, resolve developmental trauma, and facilitate new relationships.

Projected Outcomes:

• 80% of children will remain home or move to a more stable living situation
• 70% of parents have knowledge, skills, and support for positive parenting (measured by the Parental Stress Scale)

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Utilize knowledge of complex developmental trauma and attachment-based strategies to educate parents and caregivers about the unique issues surrounding adoption and guardianship, identity development, loss, grief, attachment, and trauma.
• Appointment days and times are dependent on the availability of individual families assigned to the specialist. Given the nature of this position, up to 20% of the work hours can be expected to occur in the evenings and/or weekends.
• Identify, collaborate with, and refer to collateral service providers.
• Respond to families with a sense of urgency and in a timely manner.
• Respond to communication from families, staff, and professionals promptly.
• Provide face-to-face child and family interventions.
• Partner with families to identify and establish attainable goals and support families in achieving them.
• Navigate and use various software packages to promptly obtain, collect, and track program data as required by the funder and the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition. This includes but is not limited to Salesforce.
• Provide wraparound services by cultivating and networking with resource and referral services and support within the community (i.e., school programs, family court, summer camps, therapy services). Link children and families to such services and support.
• Request and review psychological, medical, educational, legal, and social service records supporting the child and family to reach the goals.
• See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education

• Master’s degree in counseling, social work, or a related counseling field.
• LMSW, LCSW, PLPC, or LPC preferred.

Experience

• 2 Years of experience in child welfare or related field with direct client contact.

To Apply:

This is a full-time position. Send your resume and optional cover letter to recruiting@foster-adopt.org.  The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Download full job description.

Summary of Position

The Development Team supports the Coalition’s mission by inspiring, managing, and growing the support of donors. The Strategic Impact Manager leads the Development Team in the planning and execution of donor prospecting and ongoing engagement. This position works closely with other members of the Development Team, the Marketing Team, Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Impact Officer.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Provides intentional and meaningful engagement with affinity groups and various types of donors (new, monthly, lapsed, corporate, etc.).

• Develops and implements strategies/annual goals to increase retention, involvement, and support among donors, sponsors, and prospects through regular, intentional contact.

• Solicits donations to support special events, fundraisers, and ReFresh/ReSource.

• Conducts community outreach of prospective corporate and other group partners- understanding how their mission and vision align with the Coalition, their interests for involvement, and/or capacity for giving.

• Records, manages, and analyzes fundraising data while looking for trends using Salesforce or a similar Client Relationship Management (CRM) system.

• See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in business or marketing, and/or a minimum of 3 years’ experience in development, sales, or closely related field.

Experience

• Experience in the nonprofit sector and working with diverse stakeholders.

To Apply:

This is a full-time position. Send your resume and optional cover letter to recruiting@foster-adopt.org.  The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer.