Dean of Undergraduate Programs jobs in Yakima, WA

Casey Family Programs, an Equal Opportunity Employer, is the nation’s largest operating foundation focused on safely reducing the need for foster care and building Communities of Hope for children and families across America.  Founded in 1966, we work in 50 states, the District of Columbia and two territories and with more than a dozen tribal nations to influence long-lasting improvements to the safety and success of children, families and the communities where they live. Casey Family Programs values diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, anti-discrimination, and respect for individuals in the workplace. We encourage candidates with diverse lived experience and perspectives to apply.

Child and Family Services (CFS) of Casey Family Programs provides direct services and tribal consultation in pursuit of Casey’s mission to provide, improve, and – ultimately prevent the need for – foster care. CFS operates nine field offices in five states and an Indian Child Welfare Programs office that demonstrate direct service and ICW improvement models. We share our experiences and lessons learned with jurisdictions, tribes, providers, and communities in the spirit of mutual continuous learning. Our work is community and family centered, relationship-based, participatory, and culturally responsive. We recognize the dignity and strength of every individual, family, community and culture.

Job Summary

Utilizing a collaborative, innovative, evidence-informed, trauma and healing approach to practice, we engage families and community partners in the urgent, relentless pursuit of legal and relational permanency and well-being for all children and families so that no youth ages out of foster care. Our clinical case management and support activities primarily occur within homes and in the community, with virtual options available, as necessary. The Family Developer, in partnership with Social Workers, is responsible for recruiting, maintaining, supporting, coaching, educating, and retaining a culturally diverse complement of quality caregivers (e.g., licensed, kinship, fictive kin, and court ordered placements) who are available as permanency resources. In compliance with CFS practice standards and state licensing requirements, the Family Developer completes family assessments and home studies. The Family Developer also helps families provide quality family care, and identifies specific needs that will achieve the outcomes of legal and relational permanency and enhanced youth and family well-being. The Family Developer applies these same skills with birth families to prevent entry or re-entry into the child welfare system. This position requires a strong and flexible teaming approach both internally and externally to meet the needs of families served.

Essential Responsibilities

• Develops, in collaboration with other field office and headquarters staff, permanency family resources, recruitment, and retention strategies. Screens and processes inquiries using clinical skills in alignment with the CFS Practice Model. Builds quality relationships with caregivers in order to prepare comprehensive family assessments and home studies of prospective resource parents. Educates, coaches, and supports potential families on the need for legal and relational permanency and on various permanency options. Networks and forms relationships with local community resources and child placement agencies to develop and maintain a culturally diverse array of families that mirrors the field office community and jurisdiction.
• Maintains regular contact and proper documentation with families, adhering to agency practice standards, jurisdictional, court, and licensing requirements. Includes oversight and tracking of licensing documentation necessary for licensure, re-licensure and documentation required for court ordered placements. Manages re-licensing of Field Office as Child Placing Agency (CPA) and licensing reviews. Develops working knowledge of all state and county foster care licensing and/or certification regulations as well as QCR and COA requirements. In collaboration with local community and child placement agencies, develops and implements pre-service orientation and training opportunities.
• Networks with community resources and provides presentations to promote the critical role families provide in meeting the legal and relational permanency needs of youth. Includes outreach and community education about prevention, legal and relational permanency, foster care, kinship care, fictive kin, legal guardianship, and adoptions, including adult adoptions.
• Participates in Demonstration and Spread opportunities locally, across CFS, and nationally in partnership with Systems Improvement.
• Provides, supports and maintains relationships with resource parents with emphasis on those families who have placements pending, or who are experiencing crisis, disruptions, investigations, grief and loss, etc. Utilizing a trauma- and healing-informed approach, maintains close relationship with families and social work staff while transitioning youth into a permanent home, and assists Casey staff in monitoring the dynamics of the placement process.
• Plans and coordinates local, state, and/or national activities and recognition functions for resource families in conjunction with other staff as needed.
• Develops and maintains an array of resource families able to provide respite, interim, and ongoing care for youth in out-of-home and in-home care. Oversees the development, coordination, and delivery of on-going resource parent education and licensing/training requirements that meets parents’ and youth needs. Consults frequently with field office staff responsible for screening and assigning child intakes to plan for permanency placement needs. Works conjointly with field office staff on planned clinical interventions as well as unplanned emergencies with families and youth.
• Provides input into annual budget process and works within budget from Family Developer’s domain to include: parent training, support and development, recruitment, retention, licensing/certification expenditures, and planning for expenses related to the Field Office’s family recognition/appreciation functions.
• Performs other duties as assigned and may include temporary Social Worker assignments.

All of these essential responsibilities necessitate the ability to work and communicate effectively across differences with diverse services, populations, staff and stakeholders to advance diversity, equity and inclusion; to work effectively in a team environment as well as work autonomously and exercise independent judgement as required; to demonstrate effective organizational, analytical, critical thinking, and problem solving skills; to collaborate with management and staff to ensure alignment with organizational values, goals, and directives in all work performed.

Qualifications

•  Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field from an accredited institution and a minimum of five years clinical experience in child welfare or other child and family service-related practice is required.
• Expertise in the areas of permanency, improved well-being outcomes for youth in care, and family engagement, community supports and evidenced based and promising practices aimed at strengthening families’ well-being, and ensuring child safety required.
• Clinical expertise in the area of family systems, trauma- and healing-informed care, and knowledge in the areas of substance abuse, mental health and domestic violence necessary. Experience and skill in parent training and coaching desired.
• Experience in successful community engagement/networking, recruitment and retention of resource families is preferred. Broad knowledge of social work practice and clinical theory, including clinical skills, assessment, and interventions in family systems approaches, is essential.
• Knowledge of local, state, and national laws, policies and procedures governing reunification, foster family licensure, kinship, guardianship, and adoption is preferred.
• This position requires an ability to relate well to children and families of varied cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and socioeconomic status. Requires the ability to educate and coach families around diversity, equity and inclusion principles.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, respect for tribal sovereignty, and respect for cultural, racial, and gender difference is required. Personal qualities demonstrating adaptability, curiosity, collaboration and a capacity for self-reflection and commitment to lifelong learning are a must. Ability to contribute effectively with and across teams and with external partners necessary.
• Ability to protect the confidentiality of sensitive information by learning and following all relevant policies and protocols and using sound judgment in the handling and sharing of that information.
• Strong organizational skills and effective written and verbal communication skills are critical for this position.
• Basic computer knowledge and experience with MS Office (Word, Excel and Outlook) is necessary as well as ability to master technological applications including navigation of electronic case management systems.
• Physical requirements include the ability to lift and reach for light objects; close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data, text, and figures; ability to type utilizing a computer keyboard; ability to travel to outside locations; and the ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time as a primary job function. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
•  Local travel required for home visits, meetings with families, and other required meetings. Driving on Casey business may require use of personal vehicle; adherence to vehicle safety guidelines and qualification for insurance is required. Additional out of town travel for professional development or Demonstration and Spread projects may occur. 
• Bilingual skills in English and another language(s) preferred.

Casey Family Programs requires a COVID-19 vaccination for in-person work. Therefore, all employees will be required to present proof of vaccination status unless they qualify for a medical or religious exemption. 

This position is based at our Yakima, WA office.

The base salary for this role is $71,604 - $84,240 annually.

Casey Family Programs offers benefits including medical, dental and vision coverage, health and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts, eligibility for 403(b) and 401(a) retirement plans, disability, basic life, employee assistance plan and business travel insurance. Additionally, employees are eligible to accrue paid time off, starting at 8 hours per month of annual leave and 8 hours of sick time per month in the first year of employment. Casey Family Programs also observes 10 paid holidays per year and each employee receives one personal holiday to use each calendar year. Employees that meet certain tenure qualifiers are eligible for up to eight weeks of parental leave for the birth or placement of a child for adoption or foster care. After the completion of 10 years of continuous, full-time employment, employees in good standing are eligible for a three-month sabbatical with pay.  Casey Family Programs also offers many opportunities for continued learning, training, and development.