Pregnancy and Adoption Counselor

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

The Pregnancy and Adoption Counselor is responsible to the Director of Program Services (DoPS) for carrying out the functions of the agency in helping children and prospective adoptive families to complete legal proceedings and social and emotional adjustments necessary to adoption and pregnancy counseling. This position will be responsible for services provided to pregnancy clients and those families seeking domestic infant, independent, and international adoptions. Specific duties may vary from time to time and would be those assigned by the DoPS.

The full time caseload is eight children in placement supervision, up to ten active home studies, and support service to eight expectant parent cases. The number of cases in each category will be adjusted at times because of the distribution of requested services. The Pregnancy and Adoption Counselor will be responsible for the following specific job functions:

RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary Job Duties:

Adoptive Parent Services

• Recruit and train adoptive homes for waiting adoptive children and prospective adoptive parents
• Plan and lead appropriate orientation and educational group activities to include adoptive parent training as described by agency policy and procedure.
• Accept/complete home studies as assigned by DoPS and present those home studies for approval according to agency policy.
• Respond with adoption information in a timely manner to all inquiries by adoptive parents assigned by supervisor
• Maintain a communication log of all inquiries, their disposition, and assure follow-up services are provided as appropriate to agency procedure.
• Maintain up-to-date case records according to licensure and agency policy
• Remain current in adoption law and best-practice. Comply  and respond appropriately for the legal completion of adoptions
• Be knowledgeable in the adoption subsidy process and the financial resources and services to adoptive families, i.e., adoption tax credits, grants, adoption fund-raising, etc.

Expectant Parent Services

• Respond quickly to inquiries from expectant parent  and follow-up with appointments as appropriate
• Maintain a communication log of all inquiries, their disposition, and assure follow-up services are provided as appropriate to agency procedure.
• Maintain up-to-date case records according to licensure and agency policy
• Provide regular face-to-face sessions with expectant parents to explore parenting and adoption options
• Provide interim care services for infant/children when appropriate and maintain supervision of interim plan.
• Keep interim care homes current and approved according to standards of practice.
• Remain current in adoption law and best-practices. Comply and respond appropriately for the legal completion of adoptions.
• Be knowledgeable in the area of financial, assistance and support resources available to expectant parents
• Maintain communication with referral sources and ensure referral sources have up-to-date information on agency services
• Maintain up-to-date educational resources for expectant parents

Documentation and Compliance

• Keep case files up-to-date in the office (documentation current to within 30 days) and submit the required reports and letters
• Assure that a contract for service is completed and that the case is entered in the computer data base prior to initiating a home study
• Accept only custody case home studies as approved by supervisor
• Comply with all state, federal and international laws specific to each adoptive case and to seek legal counsel upon the instruction of the supervisor.
• Maintain compliance/regulations with Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and the Indian Child Welfare Act, and other required regulations, including USCIS, the Hague Convention, the Universal Accreditation Act, etc.
• Perform duties as prescribed in the agency Policy and Procedure Manual and the International Program Manual and pertinent instructions.
• Meet required training for licensure, accreditation and agency policy.

Communication and Affiliation

• Facilitate communications between the client, governmental agencies, the international placing agency and other U.S. agencies such as but not limited to USCIS
• Seek to develop and strengthen relationships adoptive child resources both locally (doctors, lawyers, social service agencies, and private family) and inter-country placing entities.
• Maintain adoptive child resources
• Maintain a resource listing of international options for distribution to inquiring families.
• Treat clients with respect and promote an awareness of and sensitivity to their cultural background
• Be knowledgeable, maintain information about community resources, and work cooperatively with these groups and individuals such as, but not limited to, Inter-Agency Adoption Coalition, International Medical Clinic, etc.
• Maintain planned, purposeful contacts with other professional disciplines for the purpose of coordinating referrals for clients as needed
• Participate and collect consumer surveys for the purpose of evaluation of services and best practices
• Be knowledgeable about the mission and values of Miriam’s Promise and be able to effectively communicate same to the community
• Complete other duties as assigned by the Director of Program Services or the ED

Additional Job Duties:

• Subject to 24-hour call after normal work hours, which will be rotated with other staff
• Through individual study and participation in professional conferences, remain informed of current issues and developments in the social services field.
• Participate with other local, international, and state councils and associations in child and family advocacy efforts.
• Maintain cooperative working relationships with government, and country agencies, referral sources, schools, juvenile justice authorities, etc.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Knowledge and Experience: The qualified candidate will:

Master’s Degree in Social Work from an accredited program, Counseling or a related field is preferred, minimum requirements of a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, or related field. With a minimum of one (1) year of adoption experience in counseling, foster care, and/or adoption services. Must meet additional Hague accreditation standards for social service personnel.

Key Skills: The ideal candidate for this position must:

• Demonstrate competency in the delivery of adoption preparation and adoption services
• Demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the various cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the clients and staff members
• Have the ability to create relationship quickly to meet program goals
• Abide by the Agency’s Mission Statement and Organizational Values
• Demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills
• Possess professional demeanor and skills in working with staff, clients, volunteers, and members of the community
• Knowledgeable about and committed to core values of the agency and the ability to demonstrate, communicate, and represent those to others
• Be able to use computers efficiently (i.e., word processing [Microsoft Word, Excel], data storage/retrieval, donor tracking systems, etc.)
• Have knowledge of and abide by rules of confidentiality
• Have a vehicle for business use and a valid TN driver’s license and current automobile insurance

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands or finger, handle, or operate business equipment including computers and other electronic communication devices; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: The duties of this job are performed in both an office environment and at times other external environments, thereby experiencing some minor to moderate level of noise due to office equipment, or normal outside environmental noise.