Adoption Coordinator

$30.22 - $34.07 / hour

Position Summary: The Adoption Coordinator works in the Adoption Unit of the Foster Care Program in the Child Welfare and Family Services Division of Children's Aid where the Coordinator's role is to help prepare pre-adoptive foster parents and children for adoption. The Coordinator works in collaboration with agency case planners and supervisors to identify areas where support may be required, to identify and prepare potential adoptive resources, and to support placements while adoptions are pending in the Family Court. Adoption Coordinators work with the Administration for Children Services and the Office of Children and Families and adoption attorneys retained by the adopting foster parents to prepare, update, and maintain agency documents needed for adoption filing. Adoption Coordinators also assist the adoptive family collect the information needed from the case record and that services needed after the adoption are referred to and in place, as required for each child and adoptive family. The Coordinator also may participate in post-adoption service referrals upon request of adoptive families and provide non-identifying information to adults who were adopted through Children's Aid from the sealed adoption records maintained by the agency.

Essential Duties:

• Understand and promote the organization's Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.
• Expedite adoption home studies as per New York State regulations and provide orientation to the applicants on the adoption process. Coordinate the collection of CAS documents to adoption attorneys for complete adoption petitions for freed children.
• Update older adoption home studies and adjust others after a child is adopted and a new adoption application is submitted for another child.
• Be available to case planners and foster parents to answer questions regarding adoption process.
• Troubleshoot retrieval of adoptive foster parents' original marriage, divorce and/or spousal death certificates, especially if from a foreign country.
• Make foster home visits as necessary to obtain documents including the Application to Adopt.
• Coordinate notary and fingerprinting appointments as necessary for adults over 18 in pre-adoptive foster homes.
• Participate in adoptive foster parent and CAS foster care staff and any additional adoption training. Contribute to the development of future trainings/support groups as directed by administrative supervisor.
• Work closely with Homefinding to update any information regarding the foster parent household including finger printing, disposition orders and safety assessment.
• Work closely with the case planner and CA Fiscal to ensure that the child's foster care rate is up to date before and during the adoption process.
• Become Liaison with ACS & OCFS to assist in processing documentation of Title IV-E and opening adoptive homes through ACS.
• Process the State Central Register and Adoption Subsidy through OCFS.
• Assist in taking post adoption inquiries
• Be able to assist in trouble shooting cases with the different CA programs, FCLS, ACS or OCFS
• Assist with the closing of the adoption case once the adoption is finalized.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• BA degree required, BSW a plus.

Key Competencies:

• Must have knowledge of the foster care and adoption field.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Word and Excel competence.
• Must be detail oriented and flexible.
• Bi-lingual English/Spanish preferred

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children's Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children's Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children's Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.