Permanency Specialist - Seneca Family of Agencies

Overview

The Permanency Specialist works with families whose children have been declared Dependents or Wards of the Court, partnering with the family's assigned wraparound team, Child Welfare Workers and Probation Officers to collaborate on all stages of the Family Finding process. This position works most intensely with families in the Discovery ad Engagement stages and supports the process around Planning, Decision-making, Evaluation and Follow-up stages. The Permanency Specialist supports the goal of reunification of children with t heir parents whenever possible, building a family team for each child, and builds engagement with natural supports so the family team can develop other alternatives to permanency should reunification not be possible.

ABOUT WRAPAROUND

Seneca offers intensive "Wraparound" services to children and youth at risk of placement in a high-level residential treatments or juvenile hall, and to their families. The Wraparound programs are strengths-based, family-driven, flexible, and creative, with the goal of helping the family develop the skills and supports to prevent or reduce the possibility of residential placement of their child. A family-based team addresses the needs of the entire family, not just the at-risk child. This family-based team consists of family members, Seneca's Care Coordinators, Youth counselors, Parent Partners, Permanency Specialist and other community members who have an important role in the family,

ABOUT SENECA 

Seneca Family of Agencies has been nominated among the Bay Area’s Top Workplaces for several consecutive years. We’re committed to providing traditionally marginalized communities with a network of excellent mental health, community-based, and educational services. We are committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourage people of color to apply. Our programs deeply engage in conversations and training on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to bring equity and justice to the youth and families we serve.

Responsibilities

• Participates and leads programmatic training related to discovery and engagement work of family finding.
• Attends trainings related to Family Finding and apply findings from research on Family Finding best practices.
• Receives supervision and consultation from Family Finding experts and Wraparound program supervisor.
• Understands, applies, and guides the principles and stage of Family Finding, from discovery to engagement to planning to implementation to evaluation of results.
• Maintains the primary relationship and collaboration with Child Welfare Workers and Probation Officers on Family Finding efforts with referred clients.
• Provide family finding consultation via internal referral process.
• Participate in CFTs to discuss concurrent planning for youth and families as needed.
• Participate as the lead or point of contact when engaging new natural supports and work collaboratively with the family's assigned Wraparound team to involve these supports in the wraparound process.
• Meets with parents, extended family members, community members and facilitates team meetings on an ongoing basis to build rapport and engage them in planing for permanency for their children.
• Travel around Monterey County, up to a 90 mile radius.

Qualifications

REQUIRED

• Education/Experience Requirements:
  • Bachelor's degree OR
  • Associate's degree or equivalent + 1 year of applicable experience OR
  • High School Diploma/GED + 2 years of applicable experience may be accepted in programs that do not have a written contract requiring a Bachelor's degree as a minimum education level.
  • Applicable experience can include paid or unpaid experience working with youth or families or working in the social service field.
• Master's in Social Work or related field a plus.
• Must show, through a combination of experience and demonstrated interest in helping parents reunify with their children or plan alternative permanency options.
• Must have demonstrated competence in the skill areas of positive client engagement and communication, especially with parents whose children have been removed due to abuse or neglect.
• Must have experience working directly with families and demonstrated understanding of the challenges they are experiencing as a result of recent Child Welfare system involvement.
• Must be willing and able to work flexible hours in the community.
• TB test clearance, fingerprinting clearance, and any other state/federal licensing or certification requirements.
• Valid driver's license, clean driving record, and insurability through Seneca Family of Agencies' insurance policy.
• Proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination or an HR-approved medical/religious exemption.

Schedule

• This is a full-time, hybrid role
  • Travel throughout Monterey county is required to provide services in person. Flexibility to complete documentation remotely.
• Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • On-call shifts required

Benefits

• Starting at $23.51 - $26.01 per hour
• • Actual salary dependent of creditable experience above the minimum qualifications for the role
  • Additional compensation provided upon passing bilingual language proficiency exam
  • Salary increases each year
• Comprehensive employee benefits package, including: 
  • Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, acupuncture, and fertility coverage
  • Long-term disability, family leave, and life insurance
  • 50% paid premiums for dependents 
  • 403b retirement plan
  • Employer-paid Employee Assistance Plan
• Seneca is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer
• 5 weeks of flexible paid time off and 11 paid holidays
• Abundant professional development, scholarship, and promotional opportunities