Foster Parent Training and Engagement Specialist
Children's Hope Alliance
Summary
The Foster Parent Training and Engagement Specialist drives the growth of our Foster Parent network within the community. Serving as the primary agency ambassador, this role manages the full lifecycle of prospective foster families—from initial outreach and screening to comprehensive onboarding and pre-service training, including the Teaching Family Model. The specialist strengthens the foster parent pipeline from inquiry through licensure and placement acceptance, contributing to improved conversion of prospective families, reduced drop-off during the licensing process, increased number of licensed foster homes, greater placement capacity, and ultimately census growth.
Job description
Summary
The Foster Parent Training and Engagement Specialist drives the growth of our Foster Parent network within the community. Serving as the primary agency ambassador, this role manages the full lifecycle of prospective foster families—from initial outreach and screening to comprehensive onboarding and pre-service training, including the Teaching Family Model. The specialist strengthens the foster parent pipeline from inquiry through licensure and placement acceptance, contributing to improved conversion of prospective families, reduced drop-off during the licensing process, increased number of licensed foster homes, greater placement capacity, and ultimately census growth.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
- Act as the central hub for all foster parent inquiries, ensuring eligibility screening and follow-up are completed within 48 business hours
- Improve prospective foster parent experience resulting in higher conversion of families from inquiry to licensure
- Identify, plan and execute community-based events to enhance community awareness of Agency and build relationships with community members
- Serve as Agency representative at community forums and committees and facilitate presentations to advocate for the need for Foster Parents
- Monitor and track recruitment efforts, ensuring steady progress toward agency-defined metrics
- Lead informational sessions, provide follow-up calls between info sessions and pre-service to support foster parents moving to next step in pipeline
- Facilitate Foster Parent pre-service training, inclusive of the NTDC Curriculum and Teaching-Family Model (TFM) framework
- Willingness to work non-traditional hours, inclusive of evenings and weekends
- Complete other duties to support foster care recruitment, training and engagement as identified by program supervisor
- Follow up and support licensing challenges and delays encountered by foster parents and/or trainers
Key Performance Indicators / Performance Metrics
- Increase number of inquiries engaging in pre-service foster parent training to a minimum of 25%
- Increase conversion of applicants (inquiries) that complete training to minimum of 15%
- Help improve number of families that become licensed per quarter to minimum of 20 per quarter
- Complete 25 community outreach efforts per month including but not limited to events, presentations, written and verbal communication and follow-up
- Help effect increase in number of licensed homes that accept placement within 30 days to minimum of 80%
Education and Experience Requirements
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in Psychology, Social Work, Marketing, Communications, Human Services, or a related field preferred. A combination of lived experience as a foster parent and professional experience in recruitment, training, marketing, community engagement, or a related field may be substituted for the degree requirement
- Certification in a state-mandated Foster Parent training curriculum or the ability to gain certification
- Experience in recruitment and/or training of Foster Parents preferred
- Must exhibit knowledge of Foster Care and the impact of trauma on children
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Marketing, Communications, Human Services, or related field preferred, or equivalent combination of lived foster parent experience and professional experience
- Certification in a state-mandated Foster Parent training curriculum or ability to gain certification
- Experience in recruitment and/or training of Foster Parents preferred
- Knowledge of Foster Care and the impact of trauma on children
- Valid NC driver's license with insurance
- Ability to work non-traditional hours including evenings and weekends
- Ability to travel 50%
Benefits
- Grant-funded position
- Remote with 50% travel
Company overview
Children's Hope Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing comprehensive mental health and behavioral health services to children, youth, and families. The organization specializes in trauma-informed care, offering a range of therapeutic interventions and support services designed to help young people overcome emotional and behavioral challenges. Their services typically include outpatient counseling, intensive in-home therapy, community-based programs, and specialized treatment for trauma and developmental disorders. As a mission-driven organization, Children's Hope Alliance focuses on creating safe, nurturing environments where children can heal and develop the skills needed for healthy functioning. They work collaboratively with families, schools, and community partners to provide holistic support systems. The organization's approach emphasizes evidence-based practices and individualized care plans tailored to each child's unique needs. Their work addresses critical mental health needs in communities, particularly for vulnerable populations who may face barriers to accessing quality mental health services.