Adoption Counselor - Part Time or Full Time

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The Child and Family Services Division provides programming throughout Colorado, including Foster Care (traditional foster care, Unaccompanied Refugee Minor program, and Long-Term Foster Care program), Adoption and Pregnancy Counseling, Older Adult Services, and Family Support & Education programs. Our staff work diligently with clients and families to support them in reaching their unique goals.

JOB SUMMARY & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Adoption Counselor is responsible for providing counseling and support services to families involved in domestic open, designated, and international adoption programs. The Adoption Counselor supports families through the adoption process by conducting home studies, providing post-placement services, ensuring legal compliance, facilitating international cases, and maintaining detailed case documentation. This position also involves supporting prospective adoptive families through training and educational programs, contributing to the program's outreach and marketing initiatives, and responding to inquiries about the program.

REQUIRED COMPETANCIES

Occupational Competencies

• Provide case management : Familiarity with assessment, care planning, facilitation, coordination, and advocacy for support on behalf of and in collaboration with individuals or families.
• Coordinate services : Knowledge of currently available community resources, services, and supports, and ability to connect children, youth or families to appropriate resources to meet their needs through referral, application, or enrollment assistance.
• Deliver services within diverse cultural communities : Skills and sensitivity in working with children, youth and families from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Meet standards of practice : Familiarity with social work practice, human development, and adoption practices, including applicable local, state, federal, and international regulations and guidelines.
• Provide crisis intervention : Experience with crisis management, problem solving, and mediation best practices.
• Communicate professionally : Ability to communicate professionally and cooperate with colleagues, other professionals, community partners, and other individuals involved in the care and coordination of services.
• Document efforts : Ability to maintain thorough and timely documentation of activities, services, and efforts.

Foundational Competencies

Active Listening : Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Social Perceptiveness : Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Complex Problem Solving : Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Critical Thinking : Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

EXAMPLE ACTIVITIES

Provide counseling and case management to families throughout the adoption process.

Conducts timely and thorough home studies and post-placement visits in compliance with applicable regulations and standards.

Facilitate information meetings, presentations, education and training with potential adoptive families.

Provides client referrals, support, and interventions when indicated.

Works with partner agencies and governing bodies to facilitate domestic and international adoptions.

Supports the completion and organization of current licensing documentation for prospective and active families.

Participates in marketing the program by networking with potential and established referral sources and providing education through public speaking.

May participate in an on-call coverage rotation.

Performs other duties as assigned.

TRANSPORTATION

Must maintain a valid driver's license and carry personal auto liability insurance at the level of

$100,000 / 300,000 / 100,000.

• Frequent local regional travel, which may include occasional travel outside the Denver metro area. May be required to transport clients in personal vehicle.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in social or behavioral sciences.

If an individual has a Bachelor's degree in a non-related field, he / she shall have at least two (2) years' experience supervised by an individual with a Master of Social Work or other Master's degree in the social or behavioral sciences.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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