Home Study Worker (PRN)

AGENCY SUMMARY
Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc.is comprised of child welfare professionals delivering the highest quality adoption services to adoptees, birth families, adoptive families in the United States and abroad. Our team includes our Executive Director, Associate Director of Clinical Services, Document Specialist, Country Program Managers, Family Intake Coordinator, Hague Compliance Analyst, a team of PRN Home Study Workers in NC and NY, Foreign Supervised Providers in 10 countries, and an Office Manager. Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc.is licensed in two states – NC, and NY.

POSITION SUMMARY
Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc.’s PRN Home Study Worker plays a crucial role in the adoption process by conducting thorough assessments of prospective adoptive parents. Together with the family, will set their own appointments at a mutually agreed upon date, location, and time. This position requires excellent interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and the ability to make informed decisions based on comprehensive evaluations.Responsibilities:1. Conduct home visits and interviews with prospective adoptive parents to gather information about their background, lifestyle, and readiness for adoption.2. Assess the physical safety and suitability of the home environment for a child.3. Evaluate the emotional and psychological preparedness of prospective adoptive parents through interviews and discussions.4. Review personal references, employment history, financial records, and criminal background checks to ensure eligibility for adoption.5. Prepare detailed reports summarizing findings from home visits and assessments.6. Collaborate with other professionals involved in the adoption process, such as social workers, mental health providers, and legal professionals.7. Stay current with relevant laws, regulations, and best practices in adoption procedures.8. Provide support and guidance to prospective adoptive parents throughout the home study process.

As a Hopscotch Home Study Worker, you will play a vital role in ensuring that children are placed in safe and loving homes. Your thorough assessments will provide valuable insights for making informed decisions about potential adoptive parents. Join Hopscotch and be a part of making a positive impact on the lives of children joined to their forever families through adoption!

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
To be completed within timeframes outlined by the Associate Director of Clinical Services

Must determines a family’s ability and capacity to parent an adopted child by conducting pre-home study meetings as requested, reviewing, and assessing agency-requested information, evaluating the family’s knowledge and perceptions of adoption, providing adoption education, psycho-social assessments of family members.

1. Delivers of high quality adoption services by producing adoption home studies and post placement or post adoption reports and all supplemental materials in compliance with current country, agency, state and USCIS requirements.
2. Provides support and case management on all assigned families throughout process, communicating information to the family, referring family to appropriate community support systems when necessary and documenting all correspondence in electronic data management system, SAM. Provides update to immediate supervisor of emergent issues when further assistance is needed for child or family members.
3. Prepares family for an adoption from a specific country and with any relevant special needs, post placement or adoption adjustment by providing training including possible behaviors of the child, identifying resources available to the family while in country and upon their return. Works in conjunction with Associate Director of Clinical Services, as applicable to prepare for placement assignment. The PRN Home Study Worker will contact the family within one week of their assignment, conduct home visits as required by State law and country program guidelines, assist in early identification of problematic issues, and follow agency policy and consult with the Associate Clinical Director or Executive Director if additional intervention is required above and beyond the standard protocol for the state or country, recommending removal of child when appropriate.
4. Supports the child’s physical and emotional well-being. Supports family adjustment in the event of a dissolution or disruption by providing counseling to the child and family and or arranging for counseling with a clinician outside the agency at the direction of the Associate Clinical Director. and maintaining relationships to ensure behavior and contacts with the child. Assist children and families with transition of child.
5. Maintains professional knowledge by attending relevant seminars and course work, keeping informed about State regulations, legislation, adoption issues and child-related issues overseas; maintaining license, if required. Participates in quarterly meetings with Executive Director and Associate Clinical Director as applicable. Submits training log and corresponding certificatesannually to meet licensing and accreditation requirements. NC and NY require 24 credit hours. Ample relevant courses are provided free of charge to each worker.
6. Has excellent listening and comprehension skills including giving and welcoming feedback.
7. Responds to all communication within 24 hours.
8. Provide communication regarding any schedule changes, inclusive of vacation, illness, travel limitations, emergencies and other events that would limit your ability to continue providing services to families. When a Home Study Worker is assigned to a family, it is expected that you will continue to provide the professional social work services during the home study phase, throughout the adoption and post adoption or post placement as applicable to each individual case.

INFORMATION PROCESSING
Ability to organize, set priorities and work independently. Ability to analyze and interpret complex information from multiple sources and work through complex issues with families and children to identify root issues, potential solutions, and options for intervention. Considers information from multiple perspectives and thoroughly weighs strengths and weaknesses of families before making decisions.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
This position requires the application of clinical skills and knowledge in determining the appropriateness of an adoptive placement for a child and whether the placement is in the best interest of the child. Include family recruitment; assessing family dynamics; determining capacity and appropriateness to parent; identifying any adjustment issues and problematic family dynamics; supporting families and children in crisis; providing on-going support and case management to families; completing reports in a timely manner assigned; documenting all contact with family; communicating with families, Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc., staff; treating families and co-workers with respect; exercise good judgment and problem solve in a creative manner.

AT LARGE ROLE
Promote feelings of good will and public support for Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc.by ensuring successful adjustment of child and family, improving effectiveness of adoption process, increasing family recruitment and community awareness of adoption and agency’s services.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
None. Reports to and is evaluated by the Associate Director of Clinical Services or the Executive Director.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
You have strong assessment skills and the ability to establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with families and work cooperatively with agency staff and contacts in the community. You have the ability to identify adjustment issues and problematic family dynamics, report to the direct supervisor and address these with families in a respectful, and supportive manner. You have the ability to problem solve in a creative manner and case manage families and children in crisis. You have strong organizational skills, are detail-oriented, able to work independently, set priorities, and analyze documents. You can utilize the data management system after training.

KNOWLEDGE
Master’s degree in social work or related area of study from a school accredited by the Association of Colleges and Schools or a bachelor’s degree in social work (or equivalent) and two years’ experience working directly with children. Candidates with a human service-related bachelor’s degrees will be considered with commensurate experience. Must be willing to make home visits, travel on a limited basis, and work some evenings or weekends when applicable. Requires the application of clinical skills and knowledge to determine the appropriateness of an adoptive placement of a child and whether that placement is in the best interest of the child. Must have proven clinical and assessment skills and experience in adoption services and processes. Ability to conduct a psychosocial assessment. Comfortable providing counseling to individuals, families and groups. Knowledge of family systems and group dynamics and best practice for adoption. Excellent writing and computer skills. Cultural sensitivity. Knowledge of local adoption laws and regulations.

Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc., seeks qualified Home Study Workers throughout the states of North Carolina and New York to support, assess, counsel and train permanent, loving families for orphaned children from around the world. Possession of excellent listening skills, clinical assessment, organization and strong writing skills are a must for this position.

If this PRN Home Study Worker position is right for you, please Apply Today!