Job Description

What Success Looks Like In This Job
Adams County has an opening for a Kinship and Foster Care Certification and Support Caseworker working for the Child, Adult, and Family Services Division. The Child, Adult and Family Services Division provides assessment of child abuse and neglect allegations, family preservation services, family reunification services, prevention services, foster care, kinship care and treatment services, resolution of extreme conflict between youth and parents, adoption, guardianship, emancipation, and other permanency options when children cannot be reunified safely with their parents. The Social Caseworker III- Kinship and Foster Care Certification Caseworker will provide intensive short term, ongoing, or as needed case management services to certified kinship and foster care providers. They will complete home safety assessments of kinship and foster care providers to ensure children are placed in a safe, stable, and appropriate environment for a short- or long-term basis. They will also assist with development and ongoing facilitation of kinship and foster care orientation, recruitment, training, and/or kinship and foster care support groups at Adams County.
Primary Goal: Act as the primary caseworker for kinship and foster care providers by offering background checks, formal assessments, ongoing supervision, behavioral coaching, and maintaining stability of the placement.
The ideal candidate should be familiar with kinship and foster care policy, rules and regulations, and Volume 7 regulations for foster and kinship care certification. Structured Analysis Family Evaluation certification will be required as this position is responsible for the yearly completion of home study updates. Duties consist of, but are not limited to, monthly supervision and assessment of kinship and foster homes, ensuring requirements are met to achieve / maintain certification, and providing support to kinship and foster care families to ensure their ability to care for children in their home.. All members of the team have other primary responsibilities within the kinship and foster care services and support program. We are looking for someone who has excellent communication skills, as well as strong writing skills. This position will be responsible for daily use of the Trails database system, foster and kinship care policy, rules and regulations, as well as Volume 7 regulations for foster and kinship care certification. SAFE (Structured Analysis Family Evaluation) training is required or must be obtained after hire.
Adams County Children and Family Services Guiding Principles

• We believe in treating everyone with dignity and respect, valuing their input, and striving to do no harm.
• Honoring all people's unique expertise and perspectives includes collaboration, shared decision making, and providing a safe environment.
• The best interest of children, families, and our community will always inform our approach, perspectives, and decisions.
• Children and youth belong in families and have a right to sibling, family, and community connections.
• Families have the inherent capacity to safely care for their children.
• We hold ourselves and our system accountable to each other, our families, and our community.

Hiring Range = $63,017.26 - $71,500.35/Full Range = $ 60,593.52-$87,860.60
Examples of Duties for Success
The following duty statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other non-essential duties that may be required. The County reserves the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of this job at any time. This position is primarily responsible for:

• Collaborative with the assigned caseworker to effectively identify and secure foster or kinship care homes for children needing temporary care.
• Supporting kinship and foster care families regarding their existing placement with the goal of returning the child home, reducing the level of care, and/or identifying a more stable/appropriate home for the child(ren).
• Provide Foster and Kinship providers with on-going support, behavioral coaching, and the training necessary to provide quality care for children, including training.
• Supports a caseload of foster care and both certified and non-certified kinship families.
• Embedment at the main CAFS offices of Adams County Human Services Department.
• Working directly with the child(ren)'s and youth's caseworker to identify supports and services needed to ensure the family's and child(ren)'s needs are being met.
• Ensuring requirements are met to achieve/maintain initial and annual certification, providing support to families to ensure their ability to care for children in kinship and foster care, yearly completion of home study updates intended to provide continual assessment of the family's ability to care for foster children.
• Have proficient knowledge of all rules and regulations for foster care, certified and non-certified kinship care, including waivers for items not related to safety.
• Engage in monthly contact with the family in the home to build/maintain rapport, stabilize placement, and increase provider's skills.
• Providing excellent customer service by returning all telephone calls as soon as possible or at the latest within 24 hours of receipt.
• Have the ability to meet all requirements listed in Volume 7.
• Documenting contacts with providers into TRAILS at least monthly. Significant or atypical information shall be communicated to the child's treatment team immediately through telephone and/or email.
• Assist providers with referrals as needed including CCAP for childcare.
• Take a leadership role with foster care, certified and non-certified kinship providers regarding family engagement, supporting the child's parents, sibling contact and assisting the child's caseworker with reunification goals.

• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as required.

Qualifications for Success

• Knowledge of theories, principles, and concepts of social casework practice related to child protection.
• Knowledge of casework principles and methods of human needs and behavior pertaining to child development, parenting, attachment, and separation.
• Knowledge of social group work principles and methods. Knowledge of the laws dealing with child abuse, neglect, and other dependency conditions.
• Knowledge and skill in interviewing techniques, crisis intervention methods, and relevant treatment modalities.
• Knowledge of community resources, of agency rules, regulations, and procedures related to child protection issues.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to independently analyze complex situations, formulate plans, and make quick decisions as needed.
• Ability to establish and maintain harmonious professional relationships with other employers, outside agencies and the public; establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

More Qualifications for Success
At Adams County, we value workplace flexibility. This role offers both hybrid-remote working arrangements as well as flexible scheduling options.
Experience: Professional, internship, or volunteer work experience in a human service-related agency
Education and Training:

• A bachelor's degree from a higher education institution with course work related to the job responsibilities of child welfare social caseworker. Course work examples can include and are not limited to, the development of human behavior, child development, family intervention techniques, diagnostic measures, or therapeutic techniques.
• An educational waiver is available for those individuals who do not meet the education requirements to be a social caseworker and are currently enrolled in a bachelor's program from a higher education institute. A bachelor's degree must be obtained within one (1) year from hire date with related coursework to job duties as outlined in 7.603.1 (

). If a degree is not obtained within one (1) year from hire date, employment with the agency may be impacted including, and up to termination. Employees will be responsible for updating the hiring manager every six (6) months of education progress. * Proof of education, (degree or transcripts), and license (if candidate has received one) are required.
License or Certificate:

• Colorado Child Welfare Caseworker certification required and must be completed within three (3) months of employment, through the Colorado Child Welfare Training System (CWTS).
• Possession of a valid driver's License and proof of automotive insurance.

Background Check: Must pass a criminal background check.
Ability to obtain, maintain, and ensure continued access to State and County systems in strict compliance with all applicable county and state regulations, policies, and user agreements.
Adams County complies with Colorado's Job Application Fairness Act ("JAFA"). JAFA prohibits employers from asking individuals to disclose their age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation on an initial employment application. However, additional application materials such as certifications and transcripts containing this information may be required for certain positions; if such additional materials are requested, applicants may redact information that identifies the applicant's age, date of birth, or dates or attendance or graduation.
Adams County provides a comprehensive benefits package to employees that goes above and beyond what is offered at most organizations.
Click to watch our video about why Adams County is an Employer of Choice!
Benefits You Expect:

• AFLAC Supplemental Medical Insurance
• Basic Term Life & Optional Term Life Insurance
• Deferred Compensation Plan
• Dental/Vision/Medical Plans
• Generous Vacation/Sick leave
• Long-Term Disability
• Retirement Plan
• Short-Term Disability

Plus some you might not expect:

• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Fitness Center
• Employee Health Clinics
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Recreation Center Discounts
• Training & Tuition Reimbursement Programs
• Wellness programs
• Lactation friendly certified workplace

Skills Required