Adoption Specialist

 successful in their communities.

General Acknowledgement:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and /or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job Summary:

The primary responsibility of an Adoption Specialist is to evaluate and select adoptive families for children referred to the program for adoption placement.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
• Implements and supports adoption placements.
• Assesses needs and finds resources for children and families.
• Attends case conferences and review hearings.
• Participates in required trainings.
• Attends all scheduled team meetings.
• Assists with emergency situations by covering shift(s) as necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications:
• Experience with resource development for children and families in need.
• Ability to work in a confidential manner, ensuring information is shared with internal and external individuals in an appropriate manner.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel.
• Concise grammatical skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to provide culturally competent services that shows sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

Core Competencies:
• Customer Service – regularly respond to customers in a courteous and timely manner with focus on providing quality services.
• Job Knowledge – demonstrate mastery of basic principles, techniques, and skills related to job, consistently applying technical and procedural competence.
• Professionalism – consistently present a positive image of self and the agency, operating with integrity and credibility.
• Planning & Organization of Work – reliably demonstrate time management skills through advance planning in order to deliver high quality work product within deadlines.
• Relationship / Leadership – exhibit ability to develop cooperative relationships based on mutual respect and trust, treating others fairly, consistently listening, openly and actively encouraging others to express candid and differing views.
• Judgement & Problem Solving – show ability to review facts and information using sound judgment to arrive at the most effective solution and when appropriate seek supervisory assistance.
• Quality & Accuracy – consistently present work product that is thorough, accurate, and effective in accomplishing intended purpose of assignments.
• Initiative & Independence – demonstrate ability to effectively complete work tasks with minimal direction from supervisor and take initiative to increase effectiveness of work and that of the department.
• Reliability / Dependability – exhibit consistency in performance and reliably follows through on tasks and assigned responsibilities.
• Temperament – maintain emotional control, a positive perspective, and effectively respond to stress on the job.

Education, Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
• Bachelor’s degree in a social work or related human services field.
• Must be able to attend and complete 9-week adoption pre-service training through the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Completion is achieving a passing score.
• Valid Michigan Driver’s License, appropriate insurance and use of own vehicle.

Working Conditions:
• Works in an office environment and in the community as needed.
• Possible stressful environment working with families and court system.
• Non-traditional hours occur often due to the need for evening and weekend visitation, events, and trainings, etc.
• Fast paced, enthusiastic and team-oriented workplace.

Physical requirements:

None

Direct reports:

None

This description is intended to describe the type and level of work being performed by a person assigned to this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of a person so classified. The employee is expected to adhere to all company policies and perform other duties as assigned for the good of the consumers, the program, the department and the agency.