Caregiver Support Specialist

Amara is committed to positive long-term outcomes for children and families. We drive systemic change, promote healing, and advance racial and LGBTQIA+ equity by offering programs and services to families engaged with in the child welfare system.

At Amara, we believe that a supportive, equitable and inclusive workplace, where everyone feels valued, trusted, and nurtured, is key to shaping organizational culture and investing in underrepresented communities. Amara believes that a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace enhances our ability to fulfill our mission. We strongly invite candidates from diverse backgrounds, including communities of color, the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply.

We are seeking to hire a Caregiver Support Specialist to become an integral and valued part of our Resource Care Team to achieve Amara’s vision. The Caregiver Support Specialist will be responsible for providing assessment, case management, and case aide coordination services to a mixed caseload of caregivers and youth as part of the new state Caregiver Support contract supporting children and youths who are placed with foster or kinship caregivers.

Position summary

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the following satisfactorily; other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This summary reflects the current expectations for the role; responsibilities will shift as contractual obligations and programmatic needs evolve.

• Provide Caregiver Support Services to caseload as assigned. This includes, but is not limited to:

o Develop Caregiver Support plans with every assigned caregiver for each placed youth in their care. Collaborate with caregiver and DCYF Social Service Specialist in this development

o Support caregiver in monitoring child’s progress toward the child’s service plan

o Assess for the child and caregiver’s needs for additional services, resources, or community connections and coordinate referrals for those services (cultural, wellbeing, and educational)

o Assess and support youth and families in accessing necessary Case Aide Services and as directed and when caseload allows

o Ensure the physical, emotional, and social needs of foster/kinship youth assigned to your caseload are met

o Support caregiver in creating an individualized resource list (including daycare/after school care, medical/dental services, respite care, cultural supports, mental health services, etc.)

o Assist caregiver and youth in building/maintaining connection to their family and other important individuals in the youth’s life

o Provide caregiver(s) with resources and skills training to increase their child/youth-specific parenting skills (including behavior management, culturally relevant connections/practices, independent life skills, etc.)

o Assist with creation and implementation of child-specific supervision plans as needed

• Liaise with multiple professionals in the child welfare arena

• Meet requirements for timely, accurate, and thorough documentation for case files and required reporting as directed

• Attend and participate in staff meetings, supervision, and trainings as directed

• Participate in the facilitation of family trainings and support groups as directed

• Provide occasional on-call services as a member of the on-call team

• Provide coverage for team members at the direction of Caregiver Support Program Manager

• Flex hours to accommodate family needs on an occasional and ongoing basis (ask that staff provide at minimum one night a week for evening appointments)

• Collaborate with staff in other Amara programs as directed to ensure appropriate cross-program referrals and consistent service delivery.

• Be an active participant on the Resource Care team.

• Represent Amara in community and coalition meetings, events, partner, and donor meetings as directed by Caregiver Support Program Manager.

• Serve on internal and external committees as assigned.

Qualifications: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• A BSW or equivalent (social services, human services, behavioral science, or allied field) is the minimum requirement with an MSW or equivalent preferred

• 1+ year of experience providing healing-centered or trauma informed care (internships and lived experience within the child welfare system can substitute for paid-work experience)

• 1+ year of work experience in child welfare or social services (lived experience can account this requirement)

• Knowledge of child development and family systems, child welfare, foster care, guardianship, adoption, and the needs of families supporting children through transitions and post-permanency

• Ability to demonstrate initiative, discretion, maturity, flexibility, critical thinking skills, and independent judgment

• Ability to work with individuals across the spectrum of age, religion, race, culture, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and gender expressions & identities

• Ability to work collaboratively with an outstanding professional team, DCYF, Tribal Leadership, and other community providers

• Ability to confidently navigate complex conversations with staff and families with a respectful and accessible approach

• Ability to comfortably navigate ambiguous situations

• A highly competent team player who is energized by Amara’s mission and the array of expanded services that the organization is providing

• Strong written and oral communication skills; experience communicating through verbal and written formats with a wide variety of stakeholders while balancing responsiveness, empathy, and directness

• Ability to flex hours to accommodate client and staff needs on an occasional basis and successfully manage competing priorities, triage tasks, and effectively utilize time with colleagues and with clients

• Strong familiarity with resources in King and Pierce Counties

• Must provide proof of current COVID-19 vaccination.

• First Aid/CPR/BBP Certification

• Willingness and ability to work at Amara offices, and travel as needed to other WA state counties.

• Valid Driver’s License, reliable vehicle, current auto insurance

• Must be at least 21 years of age.

Education: BSW or BA/BS degree in social services, human services, behavioral science, or allied field. An MSW or MA/MS in an allied field can substitute up to two years of experience.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position will not directly supervise team members.

Criminal Background Check:

Amara conducts background checks appropriate to the contractual requirements of the position. A previous conviction will not necessarily bar individuals from employment at Amara. Specific clearance requirements can be discussed with the Hiring Manager or Human Resources.

Vaccination Requirement:

Amara requires that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This requirement is designed to prioritize the safety of the children and families we serve. Exemptions may be sought only for documented medical or religious accommodation.

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time position with a rate of pay between $27.40-$33.65 hourly ($57,000-$69,999 annually) depending on experience. Generous personal leave and benefits package, including paid time off, paid sabbatical, health, vision and dental insurance, 401k with a company match, life, and disability insurance. Amara supports a hybrid work schedule with some flexibility to work from home. Occasional travel between our King and Pierce County offices may be required.

To Apply

To express your interest in this position, please send your resume and a one-page cover letter indicating why this position is the right opportunity for you in Smart Recruiters. https://smrtr.io/mS22L

Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. Amara is an Equal Opportunity Employer