Family Advocate

Job Title: Child Specific Recruiting Family Advocate

Program(s): Child Specific Recruitment

State: Arizona

Population Served: Child Welfare

Reports To: Child Specific Recruitment Supervisor

FLSA Status: Exempt

Summary

The Child Specific Recruitment Youth Advocate provides individualized, child-centered recruitment services to support children and sibling groups involved with the Arizona Department of Child Safety in achieving legal permanency through adoption, guardianship, parental restoration, or transition to a family-like setting. This position develops and implements Child Specific Recruitment Plans, identifies and engages relatives, fictive kin, supportive adults, and prospective permanency resources, and collaborates closely with ADCS, caregivers, service providers, and Child and Family Teams to promote stable, permanent connections for children in out-of-home care.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide
• Accepts assigned Service Approvals and supports timely acknowledgment, assignment, documentation, and service delivery in accordance with contract requirements.
• Reviews and analyzes current and historical case information, including available records, prior cases, birth files when applicable, kinship home studies, and other relevant documentation to identify lost connections and permanency resources.
• Develops a proposed Child Specific Recruitment Plan within required timeframes using information gathered from case research, interviews, team collaboration, and the child’s unique needs, interests, culture, preferences, and permanency goals.
• Engages relatives, fictive kin, former caregivers, siblings’ caregivers, teachers, coaches, mentors, behavioral health providers, service providers, Tribal representatives, CASA, attorneys, and other significant adults to identify possible adoptive families, legal guardians, supportive relationships, and permanency supports.
• Conducts direct monthly contact with each assigned child or sibling group for a minimum of one hour to build rapport, provide age-appropriate updates, support recruitment readiness, and prepare the child for adoption, guardianship, parental restoration, or family-like placement as appropriate.
• Uses ADCS-approved curriculum and child-focused recruitment strategies to help children understand permanency, participate in recruitment planning, and prepare for transitions.
• Creates, coordinates, and implements individualized recruitment activities beyond standard recruitment efforts, including outreach to groups, organizations, and communities aligned with the child’s needs, interests, culture, and preferences.
• Develops creative recruitment strategies and materials, which may include social media content, brochures, flyers, posters, letters, articles, photos, profiles, and other approved media or marketing tools after verifying applicable releases and approvals.
• Creates and updates Children’s Heart Gallery and AdoptUSKids profiles, including narratives and photographs, in accordance with contract requirements and ADCS expectations.
• Shares recruitment information with foster licensing contractors, adoption placing agencies, community organizations, and approved online forums in alignment with the child’s preferences and confidentiality requirements.
• Maintains regular communication with the assigned ADCS Specialist and responds to ADCS requests for updates within required timeframes.
• Attends and participates in Child and Family Team meetings, court hearings, professional staffing meetings, recruitment events, family selection meetings, full disclosure meetings, and other required meetings to provide updates and support permanency planning.
• Identifies barriers to permanency and communicates concerns to ADCS within required timeframes while collaborating with team members to develop strategies to address barriers.
• Supports current and prospective caregivers before, during, and after placement transitions to promote stability and reduce the risk of disruption.
• Supports transition to a family-like setting when adoption or guardianship has not yet been identified or is not the child’s current permanency goal, including helping the child understand the discharge plan and participating in transition meetings and pre-move visits as appropriate.
• Continues monthly contact and support after placement in an identified home until finalization of adoption or guardianship or as otherwise directed by ADCS.
• Completes and submits required reports, including the Child Specific Recruitment Plan, Subsequent 90 Day Reports, Closure Reports, Monthly Provider Reports, Recommendation for Reauthorization, and other documentation within required timeframes.
• Documents all contacts, communication, visits, missed appointments, services, case activity, recruitment efforts, and outcomes accurately in Guardian and/or the designated client database.
• Reports significant incidents, suspected abuse or neglect, missing youth, safety concerns, and other required notifications in accordance with ADCS, company, contract, and mandatory reporting requirements.
• Ensures all services, procedures, forms, and communication are culturally relevant, linguistically appropriate, gender responsive, trauma-informed, and respectful of LGBTQIA+ youth and families.
• Maintains confidentiality of all client information, images, documents, and records and shares information only for authorized purposes with appropriate approvals.
• Provides or coordinates transportation for youth as required for visits, recruitment events, meetings, transition activities, and other service-related needs while following all motor vehicle safety requirements.
• Completes required training, including Guardian security training, approved child welfare recruitment or permanency curriculum, CPR, First Aid, and other job-related training as assigned.
• Ensures the safety, health, and welfare of children, caregivers, staff, and stakeholders during all service delivery activities.
• Acts as a positive role model and professional representative of the program and company while maintaining ethical standards and professional boundaries.

Other Duties

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Potential exposure to contagious diseases due to frequent interaction with clientele.

TRAVEL

• 60% throughout the state

Required Education And/Or Experience

• Associate degree with two (2) years of experience in a related field, or bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field with prior experience in child welfare, specifically working with children and youth.
• Knowledge of Arizona’s child welfare system, permanency planning, family-centered practice, child safety services, and applicable federal and state requirements.
• Minimum age requirement is 21.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid unrestricted Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card.
• Ability to pass and maintain a clear Central Registry Background Check and any required out-of-state central registry checks.
• Ability to pass pre-employment and ongoing drug screening requirements.
• Must meet the requirements of a safe driver.
• Must possess a current Arizona State Driver’s License and have an acceptable driving record for the past three (5) years.
• Must have personal vehicle liability insurance and vehicle registration as required.
• When required, the ability to pass a criminal background clearance check, drug screen, and if requested a physical exam.
• Must obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certification upon hire.
• Strong knowledge of the behavioral health systems processes, practice, and components.
• Skills, knowledge, and ability to instruct clients in the following topics: child development, home management, personal problem solving, accessing community services, and supports domestic violence issues, appropriate discipline and childcare techniques and age-appropriate parenting skills.

Preferred Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field preferred when not otherwise required.
• Experience with child-focused recruitment models, such as Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, the 3-5-7 Model, or other ADCS-approved permanency or recruitment curriculum preferred.
• Bilingual ability, or experience working with interpreters and families with Limited English Proficiency preferred.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• None

Qualifications

• Language Skills

Ability to respond effectively displaying professionalism, sensitivity, and empathy to linguistic, cultural, social, economic, and individual differences and challenges. Ability to write and maintain accurate and timely documentation. Ability to present information 1:1 and to groups in an organized and concise manner.

• Multi-tasking Skills

Must be able to work independently as well as a member of a team. Must have excellent organizational and time management skills. Must remain flexible and able to handle multiple priorities with the ability to adjust to high pressure and rapidly changing business conditions.

• Reasoning Ability

Ability to quickly assess unique situations and develop and apply strategies to effectively meet the needs of the child and family. Ability to interpret contracts and ensure compliance. Ability to provide exemplary service to employees and outside constituents.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Consistently exemplifies Clarvida Core Values of Compassion, Inclusion, Accountability, Advocacy, and Resilience.
• Ability to maintain ethical standards and professional boundaries.
• Adhere to HIPAA and confidentiality standards.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.
• Strong knowledge of overall company operations and policies and procedures.
• Strong knowledge of program development.
• Knowledge of community resources and services.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to collaborate internally and externally.
• Ability to identify needs and articulate and advocate on behalf of the child.
• Ability to identify indicators of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
• Ability to work with diverse population.
• Ability to build and maintain positive internal and external relationships.
• Ability to provide exemplary customer service to all employees and outside constituents.
• Must be flexible and able to handle multiple priorities, with the ability to adjust to high pressure and rapidly changing business conditions.