Youth Services Program Director

Regular, full-time	Permanency Specialist – Youth Focused
Regular, full-time	Regular, full time

Positions Supervised             None

Supervised by                        Youth Services Program Director

Resume and Pre-Interview Questions:

To apply, we ask that you send a resume and responses to pre-interview questions at the following address https://ampersandfamilies.mysamdb.com/SAM/Usr/PreInterviewQuestionsForm_Edt.aspx.  We do not require a cover letter.

Once we receive all materials, Program Directors will review and decide whether to extend first interview offers. You should expect to hear back from us within two weeks.  This position will remain open until filled, however an initial review of resumes will begin on Friday, November 17, 2023.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Youth-Focused Permanency Specialist provides a broad array of child-specific recruitment, preparation and support services for Minnesota foster care youth, primarily ages 10-18. This is a professional position requiring a significant amount of self-direction, irregular hours and travel throughout the state of Minnesota. 

Ampersand Families’ programs and services focus almost exclusively on achieving permanency for older youth (10 years and older) in Minnesota’s child welfare system. Our approach to permanency work invites both prospective adoptive families and waiting youth to be deeply engaged in their own process.  For youth in particular, being part of decisions made on their behalf is a key component to meaningful permanency work. Permanency Specialists are the frontline to achieving permanency for youth and families.  The rest of the agency supports the work of Permanency Specialists by strategically addressing systemic barriers to permanency for older youth, youth of color and sibling groups.  An orientation of professionalism and humility that values continuous learning and commitment to give and receive consultation are requirements for successful employment at Ampersand Families.

AGENCY SUMMARY:

Ampersand Families provides permanency and adoption services to older youth and families who face barriers to equity in child welfare, and champions systemic changes that advance belonging, dignity and hope.

We are seeking experienced professionals who understand the profound impact that child welfare intervention has on the lives of children, youth and families. A successful candidate for this position will be curious about the many ways permanency work can restore belonging, dignity and hope.  An orientation of professionalism and humility that values continuous learning and commitment to give and receive consultation are requirements for successful employment at Ampersand Families. As an organization, Ampersand Families strives to strategically address systemic inequity and barriers to permanency for older youth, youth of color and sibling groups.

Ampersand Families is proud to be an employer of choice with an organizational culture of excellence that embraces humor, learning and collegial support. We employ professionals who are accountable for learning the skills, building the relationships and investing the time required to achieve and support real outcomes for youth, families and excellence in the programs designed to support them. 

Ampersand Families is committed to doing our part to create a more equitable child welfare system.  To that end, Ampersand Families provides equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, nationality, ethnic background, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, marital status, socio-economic status, status with regard to public assistance, political affiliation, veteran status, other non-visible differences and other protected attributes. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide outstanding child-specific recruitment services to a caseload of 10 youth who are under guardianship of the Commissioner of Human Services, to achieve permanency through adoption (or sometimes another option).
• Engage strategies to identify prospective families, starting with relatives/kin and others already known to the youth and then moving onto other child-specific recruitment activities to find an adoptive family who is a good fit for the youth based on their interests, culture, personality and needs. Similar strategies are also used to identify natural supports who can provide support to the youth on an on-going basis.
• Prepare and engage youth to find their voice in permanency decisions being made on their behalf, provide support and preparation to help youth understand what permanency and adoption might mean for them; engage them in helping to identify and engage with people currently or previously in their life who may be able to become more involved in supporting them.
• Build effective relationships with the other individuals, professionals, and agencies or resource partners involved in the lives of each youth, and leverage those relationships to achieve permanency.
• Participate as part of a team of professionals to achieve permanency: locating, assessing, and preparing potential adoptive families for a youth, planning and executing a smooth transition into the adoptive home.
• Gather information on a youth’s history to assist them in coming to understand their own life’s narrative, possibly to reconnect with people and places that have been significant to them, and to create a Lifebook with/for the youth.
• Manage the documentation required to meet agency and DHS requirements for client services, including frequent case noting, case plan summaries, managing and redacting large case files, and comprehensive written profiles about a youth’s history, present life, and personality.
• Frequent and in-depth consultation with supervisor and peers to develop strategies, promote creativity and maintain balance in this position which has a potential for higher stress and emotional impact due to constant exposure to stories and painful events in youths’ lives.
• Commit to taking time and asking questions in order to develop a deep understanding of the social and systemic influences that contribute to disparities and over-representation of older youth and youth of color in the child welfare system.  Participate in advancing the Agency’s commitment to anti-racist practices.
• Establish positive relationships with foster parents and other care providers, providing tools for them to act as a bridge for youth when establishing permanency.
• Engaged participationduringa six-month probation/onboarding period, which will include partnering with more experienced peers in order to develop a deep understanding of the role and the practice orientation of Ampersand Families.  During probation, the Permanency Specialist is expected to be present in the office, as much as possible, when they are not in the field meeting with youth, families or professional partners.
• Our current in-office protocol includes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday’s in the office with Monday’s and Friday’s being flexible to work from another location.  Due to the nature of this work, there is a significant amount of flexibility around schedule and work location available.
• Permanency Specialists must be available for monthly travel throughout the state. Permanency Specialists visit each youth client monthly, and youth may be in placements anywhere in the state of MN. Depending on location, between 10%-30% of a Permanency Specialist’s time may be in the field.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s Degree in social work or related field, or Bachelor’s Degree and three years’ experience in child welfare, children’s mental health, adoption or foster care required.
• Professional licensure is required, as applicable. Social work licensure supervision (LICSW, LISW, LGSW, LSW) available on-site and a stipend is provided for external social work supervision if we are unable to offer the needed supervision on-site.
• Experience working toward permanency in Minnesota, foster care, direct family support and crisis intervention, children’s mental health and/or trauma-informed care preferred.
• Men and persons of color are particularly encouraged to apply.
• Personal commitment to anti-oppression work.  Must recognize the ways that race, gender, sexual orientation, ability/disability, and other identities (historically and presently) intersect and impact whether or not youth and families experience child welfare intervention, and what their experience is once they become involved. Willingness to engage in difficult and respectful conversations for the purpose of strengthening the organization, the child welfare field and interpersonal relationships with colleagues.
• Valid driver’s license, insurance coverage, and clean driving record.
• Skills identified by youth for prospective Permanency Specialist: “They have to be able to connect with teens, ability to listen to youth, to be articulate. They can’t be scared of teenagers, and be willing to see ‘the dark side’ like when a teen is angry or stubborn or don’t want to listen or say stuff they don’t mean. They have to have the ability to persevere for permanency even when others on the team don’t believe it.”
• Ability to communicate effectively and develop partnerships with wide range of community members, social service professionals, families and youth.
• Ability to be flexible, take personal initiative, be self-directed, and manage documentation and multiple deadlines, while embracing a work environment that demands collegial support, consultation and accountability.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. This position requires a significant amount of writing, the ability to synthesize large amounts of information into well-written, descriptive documents, and the ability to summarize team communication and case narrative in concise and frequent emails.
• Well-organized, strong attention to detail, and the ability to multi-task.
• Available and willing to travel throughout Minnesota, including occasional overnight work trips.
• Fingerprint background check required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook and a working knowledge of databases.

STARTING SALARY RANGE: $47,000-$56,000. 

As part of our commitment to equitable hiring practices, we offer the highest starting salary based on an applicant’s qualifications that the agency is able to pay.  Therefore, we do not engage in salary negotiations at hiring.  There is a 3% pay increase after the successful completion of the initial 6-month probationary period.

BENEFITS

Ampersand Families has a very competitive benefit package, including Health, Dental, Vision, Life and Long-term Disability Insurance, Retirement Plan, AAA Membership, 20 Days of PTO (accrued per year; increases with each year of employment), 10 floating holidays plus Juneteenth and Election Day paid holidays, Paid Parental Leave, and Short-term Disability Bank (accrue 5 days/year of service). 

Permanency Specialists are provided with a work laptop and work phone. They are also provided with a company credit card to manage expenses in the field. Mileage is reimbursed for local travel, and rental cars are available for longer trips. All staff are provided a budget of $400 yearly for ongoing training and education.

Before accepting an offer, the candidate is given an opportunity to meet with current staff for a candid conversation, to get a further sense of the Agency culture and to ask any questions they may have.                

Ampersand Families acknowledges that this is a time of significantly heightened stress for many in our community, and we recognize that this may impact a candidate’s readiness to apply for a new position. A thorough outline of our agency’s typical hiring process and timeline is included on our website. We encourage interested candidates to submit application materials and indicate if they need accommodations in the hiring process (which may include a different pace for interviews, flexibility in interview times).

Signed___________________________________                             Date_____________

Employee Name (printed) ______________________________________