Adoption Coordinator

Description :

Next Generation Center (1522 Southern Boulevard)

$50,000 - $55,000

Sign-On Bonus Eligible

Position Summary : The Adoption Coordinator works in the Adoption Unit of the Foster Care Program in the Child Welfare and Family Services Division of Children’s Aid where the Coordinator’s role is to help prepare pre-adoptive foster parents and children for adoption.

The Coordinator works in collaboration with agency case planners and supervisors to identify areas where support may be required, to identify and prepare potential adoptive resources, and to support placements while adoptions are pending in the Family Court.

Adoption Coordinators work with the Administration for Children Services and the Office of Children and Families and adoption attorneys retained by the adopting foster parents to prepare, update, and maintain agency documents needed for adoption filing.

Adoption Coordinators also assist the adoptive family collect the information needed from the case record and that services needed after the adoption are referred to and in place, as required for each child and adoptive family.

The Coordinator also may participate in post-adoption service referrals upon request of adoptive families and provide non-identifying information to adults who were adopted through Children’s Aid from the sealed adoption records maintained by the agency.

Essential Duties :

Expedite adoption home studies as per New York State regulations and provide orientation to the applicants on the adoption process.

Coordinate the collection of CAS documents to adoption attorneys for complete adoption petitions for freed children.

• Update older adoption home studies and adjust others after a child is adopted and a new adoption application is submitted for another child.
• Troubleshoot retrieval of adoptive foster parents’ original marriage, divorce, and / or spousal death certificates, especially if from a foreign country.
• Make home visits as necessary to obtain documents including the Application to Adopt.
• Coordinate notary and fingerprinting appointments as necessary for adults over 18 in pre-adoptive foster homes.
• Participate in adoptive foster parent and CAS foster care staff and any additional adoption training. Contribute to the development of future trainings / support groups as directed by the administrative supervisor.
• Become a Liaison with ACS & OCFS to assist in processing documentation of Title IV-E through ACS and the State Central Registry and Adoption Subsidy through OCFS.
• Work closely with the different adoption attorneys to ensure that the adoption petitions are filed in court in a timely manner.
• Participate in adoptive foster parent and CAS foster care staff and any additional adoption training. Contribute to the development of future trainings / support groups as directed by the administrative supervisor.
• Assist in taking post-adoption inquiries
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications :

BA degree required, BSW a plus.

Key Competencies :

• Must have knowledge of the foster care and adoption field.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Word and Excel expertise.
• Must be detail-oriented and flexible.
• Bilingual English / Spanish preferred.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination.

Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender / sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Children’s Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children’s Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted.

Children’s Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team.

This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes.

The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.

Requirements :