Fostercare Family Resource Worker
: Job Details :

ABOUT CHILDREN SERVICES OF ROXBURY:Founded in 1972 Children's Services of Roxbury's (CSR) mission is to provide high quality services to economically disadvantaged children, youth, families, and individuals thereby promoting and strengthening family life and individual growth. CSR serves approximately 6,000 families across Massachusetts, serving families through four key services areas; Early Education and Care, Behavioral Health Services, Youth and Family Services and Housing and Stabilization. There are 22 programs operating under those four services areas. CSR operates across in 4 cities, has a staff of 400 employees, and an operating budget of $28M.OVERVIEW:Children's Services of Roxbury is committed to providing support and services that build on the strengths of the biological family system, address possible risks, and prevent out-of-family placements. However, in situations where this is not possible, CSR's Comprehensive Foster Care Program works to place children in stable, loving, nurturing foster homes. Our goal is to find both short-term and long-term placements for at-risk children and youth with a broad range of emotional, physical and developmental special needs. Reunification with the child's biological family is our goal. When that is not feasible, foster care providers and staff work together to formulate an alternate plan for permanency such as kinship care, guardianship, or adoption.Summary: Children's Services of Roxbury (CSR) will work with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to provide alternative placements for families when their children are not able to be safe from abuse/neglect. CSR will provide foster homes that provide a loving, stable, and structured environment to meet the child's needs until a permanent living environment has been identified. CSR will have family resources available that are able to meet the requirements for children needing Intensive Foster Care (IFC).Responsibilities/Maintaining Family Resource Files:Once you are informed that you are assigned the foster home, the Family Resource Worker should call to introduce yourself to the foster family and schedule a Home Visit. A minimum of one visit to the foster home every month. The visits are to provide support to the foster parent and make sure the home meets the safety standards set by CSR, DCF and EEC. The Family Resource Worker questionnaire, physical requirements checklist and the enhanced safety assessment should be reviewed with the foster parent during each visit. All forms need to be kept in compliance for CSR/DCF/EEC i.e., Foster Parent Agreement, Grievance Form, Release of Information, Driver's License, Auto Insurance, and Auto Registration

• Telephone contact with the foster parents on as needed basis
• Respond to emergencies when necessary-at times before 9am and after 5PM when needed. The Family Resource Worker is assigned a duty day one day of the week
• Weekly participation in Homefinder Meetings. Bring foster parent list to the meetings. The foster parent list should have as much current information as possible i.e., add new foster homes, current child placed in a foster home, date of most recent visit
• Train all foster homes in trauma informed care

• Completion of a CORI/BRC annually or in other circumstances that need a CORI/BRC i.e., a new household member, frequent visitors, or back-up. Ensure foster home is in compliance with DCF fingerprint policies.
• A re-evaluation is completed a year after the homestudy is approved. The next year is a licensing renewal of the foster home. The re-evaluation and re-licensing alternate each year. The re-evaluation/licensing renewal covers the events and issues in the past year and should include information on all the foster children who have been in the home in the past year, not just the child currently living in the home. Information should be obtained from meeting with the foster parent as well as from the Foster Care Case worker and case file. Medical references are required annually. There might be events that occur which require additional references, such as a new job (employer reference), bio child is having trouble in school (school reference). A school reference is needed for all the children in the home for the licensing renewal. A CORI/BRC should be run before starting the re-evaluation/licensing renewal if there is reason to believe something new will come up in the CORI/BRC. A BRC Standard Review needs to be submitted as part of the Annual Re-assessment or License Renewal event whether there is a new charge or to re-submitted to address previous CORI/BRC findings. Social Worker Observation Forms need to be completed by the DCF Social Worker for the children who have been in the Intensive Foster Care (IFC) foster home for the past year.
• The Child Placement Log needs to be completed when a child enters the home and when the child leaves the home; this includes respite. The Child Placement Agreement needs to be completed when a child enters a home, this includes respite. Child Specific workers are responsible for completing this form, Family Resource staff responsible for ensuring there is a copy in Family Resource file.
• The Training/Support Group Log needs to be completed for all in house and outside trainings, indicating whether the foster parent attended or not.
• The Family Resource Worker may assist the Trainer/Recruiter in finding trainers, setting up for trainings, and cleaning up after the trainings. If trainings are not available, the Family Resource Worker facilitates a foster parent support group. Family Resource Worker must participate in once a month Foster Parent Trainings when scheduled. The Family Resource Worker should encourage the foster parents to attend the trainings/support groups. Trainings and support groups might be in the evenings.
• The Family Resource Worker and Child Specific Worker should work in partnership so that the current Action Plan, Child Placement Agreement/update is in the file.
• The Family Resource Worker needs to document all contacts with or about the foster parents.
• The Family Resource Worker will need to assist in filling out the 51A/incident report form for EEC.
• Family Resource Information: Obtain information for any additional people needing CORI/BRC/Fingerprints. The Family Resource Worker needs to obtain the birth certificate, marriage license, divorce decree if missing from the file. The Family Resource Worker needs to obtain annually pet information such as vaccinations.
• The Family Resource Records are to be kept neat, orderly, and up to date/audit ready. Records should be returned to the Record Room and not left at your desk.
• If the Family Resource Worker finds out that a foster parent needs respite, the Family Resource Worker needs to let the Foster Care caseworker and Supervisor(s) know about the respite. The Family Resource Unit works together, with input from the Foster Care Caseworker, to find a respite/emergency/or another placement.
• Primary point person for referrals when assigned.
• The Family Resource Unit works together, with input from the Child caseworkers, to find appropriate matches for referrals and foster parents.
• Virtual Gateway: Keep information about the family resources up to date, run CORI/BRCs, enter re-evaluations/re-licensing, narratives, and all other necessary information.
• Efforts To Outcomes (ETO): When required, add the necessary information to the Prospective Resource Checklist, Trainings, and Support Groups. Keep information up to date as ETO responsibilities become known.
• Obtain and maintain Social Work/Mental Health License
• Participation in on call rotation

Major Measurable Goals:

• A minimum of one visit to the foster home every month. The visits are to provide support to the foster parent and make sure the home meets the safety standards set by DCF and EEC. The physical requirement checklist and the enhanced safety assessment should be reviewed with the foster parent during each visit.
• Response to emergencies when necessary-before 8AM and after 5PM
• Weekly participation in Homefinder Meetings. Bring updated foster parent list to the meetings.
• Attend all necessary trainings/meetings.
• Professional Representation always
• Appropriate Attitude & Team Spirit in the office and in the community
• Appropriate Boundaries in Relationships (Children, Collaterals, Foster Parents, Providers)
• Work Ethic (maintain work hours expected, Home Visits, appropriate lunch hours)
• Have an expectation of Supervision and Direction
• Required participation in on call coverage as scheduled
• Other responsibilities as deemed appropriate/necessary

Educational/Experience Requirements:

Master's level or bachelor's level; in social work or a related field

Must have a valid driver's license without restrictions and have reliable transportation

Must be available during business hours (M-F, 9am - 5pm) and flexible when dealing with crises or attending meetings outside of business hours

Must have excellent writing and communication skills

Must have typing skills and experience with Microsoft Office

Must be willing to work in collaboration with the child's entire Treatment Team, including: DCF social workers, Service Providers (therapists, physiatrists), biological families, school personnel etc. towards the goals of the child's Action Plan

Knowledge of referral coordination to community and private/public resources a plus

Experience in navigating any of the child-serving systems and experience advocating for children who are involved with behavioral health systems

IDEAL MINDSET• Incumbent should be creative, flexible and personable• An energetic go-getter with a bright spirit• An individual who loves achieving targets and aspiring towards an excellent employee experienceBENEFITS• Paid sick, vacation, personal leave• Health, vision and dental insurance• 401K plan• Access to free, on-line CEU approved educational courses• Employee discounts program providing discounts on thousands of products and services• Work with a professional, dedicated and compassionate team of people• Help us continue the important work of changing and saving lives