Summary of Position
This supervisory role provides leadership and oversight within a short-term, intensive intervention program designed to rapidly identify and engage relatives and kin for youth entering foster care. Central to this work is the 30 Days to Family® model—an evidence-based, high-intensity approach that aims to ensure that every child entering care is placed with safe, stable family as quickly as possible. The model emphasizes comprehensive family finding, robust engagement, and the development of strong, sustainable support networks so children can maintain stability, preserve connections, and avoid unnecessary time in foster care.
The Supervisor is responsible for guiding staff in executing this model with fidelity while ensuring compliance with the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, Senate Bill 683, and other applicable Missouri statutes. This includes overseeing staff as they immediately begin identifying and engaging non-offending parents and grandparents, followed by an extensive search for up to 80 additional maternal and paternal relatives who may serve as placement options or provide ongoing support.
The Supervisor ensures that staff pursue multiple safe placement possibilities to safeguard against fragile or disrupted placements and that every effort is made to keep siblings together, preserve the youth’s school of origin, and maintain important relationships with friends and supportive adults.
Once a placement provider is identified—whether prior to the Protective Custody Hearing or later—the Supervisor directs staff in delivering targeted support to promote placement stability. Responsibilities include ensuring thorough assessment of youth and family needs, coordinating family and community resources, removing barriers to relative placement, and overseeing the development of comprehensive plans that integrate both formal and informal supports.
To effectively support families and staff, the Supervisor may oversee work occurring during evenings or weekends, which typically accounts for approximately 10% of the team’s responsibilities.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities
- Provide visionary leadership to expand and strengthen family search and engagement programs in alignment with legal mandates and best practices.
- Use data to inform program development, assess outcomes, and drive continuous improvement.
- Lead the finalization and integration of fidelity standards to ensure consistent, high-quality service delivery.
- Assess and enhance staffing capacity and resource allocation to meet program demands and growth goals.
- Supervise and support the search and engagement team, fostering professional development and strong performance.
- Develop and implement program policies, procedures, and training frameworks.
- Collaborate with internal teams, external partners, and system stakeholders to strengthen referral processes and improve kinship outcomes.
- Oversee accurate documentation and reporting systems, ensuring compliance with funder requirements and internal metrics.
- Promote sustainability and innovation across family search and engagement initiatives through strategic problem-solving and continuous feedback loops.
- See job description for a complete list of responsibilities.
Qualifications & Requirements
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in social work or a social service field is required
Experience
- Minimum 5 years in child welfare program direct practice and leadership, with experience in performance management, evaluation, or data systems.
- Supervisory experience or demonstrated leadership insight and strategic judgment required.