Assistant Director: Foster Care and Adoption

Access Services is hiring a full-time Assistant Director of Foster Care, to serve children and family in Lehigh Valley, with an office base in Bethlehem, PA.

Our foster care team collaborates to ensure that each of the children we serve are placed in loving, supportive homes where they can grow to their full potential. The Assistant Director of Foster Care and Adoption will support the Director in the overall management, organization and daily operation of the program. They will guide a team of coordinators and collaborate with different agencies and stakeholders to make sure kids waiting for placement or adoption get the best possible outcomes.

This leader should possess a deep understanding of the challenges encountered by children throughout the foster care and the adoption process. They must advocate passionately for the rights and needs of children, use great organizational skills to manage diverse responsibilities, and uphold a primary focus on children's well-being.

As Assistant Director of Foster Care and Adoption, you will support and educate all staff to meet program objectives and provide needed services to those children and families served. You will assist the Director in implementing and monitoring the program budget, providing supervision to coordinators, facilitating group supervision, and leading staff meetings in the absence of the Director. The Assistant Director will provide interventions with foster providers and natural families and children, as is appropriate to facilitate effective case management. You will assist in the intake and referral process and help to ensure full compliance with regulatory standards regarding the maintenance of foster family and foster child files.

Essential Functions:

• Assist in the overall management and daily operational oversight of this program including program development, monitoring program budgets, policies and procedures.
• Interview, train, and supervise coordinators and other program staff, and maintain effective communication with team and supervisor.

• Lead and facilitate team meetings with program staff.
• Complete performance check-ins timely and provide feedback to staff on a regular basis.
• Interface and build positive relationships with case management, county office of Children and Youth, mental health providers, and other community partners.
• Collect and prepare program and individual data as needed; help ensure quality and compliance of all provider and child files.

• Support Coordinators in implementing the orientation process for new staff.
• Assist with the development of case review and staff training processes.
• Ensure the staffing, documentation, and coordination of the program’s emergency on call process, and participate and provide support as needed.

• Assist in the intake process for new referrals, and review and approve all IPSP and quarterly reports for children.
• Assist in all program audits, monitoring, and licensing.
• Carry a caseload, as necessary.

• Assist in development and oversight of new program initiatives.
• Provide community awareness and outreach; build collaborations and partnerships.
• Promote, support and encourage current trends/philosophies within the human services. Maintain regular and predictable attendance, and work scheduled overtime, or be available for unplanned overtime as necessary, to meet program needs.

• Travel during a normal workday to successfully carry out the expectations of this position including attending offsite meetings, providing services in the community, and providing service oversight and supervision.  Willingness to drive to perform responsibilities in Lehigh Valley, and at times, in Delaware Valley is essential.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required in a related field including human services, social work, psychology or special education; Master’s degree preferred.
• Three years' experience that includes a demonstrated progression of increasing supervisory responsibilities and direct work with children and/or adolescents in foster care settings required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of child welfare principles and practices.
• Knowledge of person-centered planning, positive approaches, and behavior management techniques. Knowledge of pertinent community resources and facilities.
• Excellent organizational and oral/written communication skills, with an ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Ability to effectively interact with all levels of staff.
• Proficiency in, or ability to learn and use, workplace applications, platforms and technologies.

Benefits

Salary: Salary range is $45,000- $50,000, with rates based on education and related work experience.

Our full-time comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Health, Vision, Rx, & Dental insurances, HSA/FSA, 401k program.
• Tuition Reimbursement, Student Loan Assistance.
• 20 Days PTO (vacation, sick days), 9 paid holidays.
• Mileage/Toll Reimbursement, paid travel time between worksites.
• Life Insurance, Short/Long Term Disability, Catastrophic Sick Leave, Paid Parental Leave.
• Employee Assistance Program (telehealth/in person).
• Referral Bonuses up to $750 per hire.
• College tuition discounts, Credit Union perks, retail discounts.

Access Services is an equal opportunity employer.