Adoption Social Worker – Part TIme

Job Type: Adoption Social Worker, Part Time.

Location: New Jersey.

This home-based position will require travel to meet with clients to perform the home study, post-placement, or post-adoption services.

Position Summary:

New Beginnings is an international adoption agency finding permanent, loving homes for displaced and orphaned children. The Adoption Social Worker will complete a home study evaluation and report. In preparing the home study, the Social Worker will review the supporting documents (such as medical reports, financial statements, clearance, and references) and make home visits Once a child or children are placed for adoption, the social worker will visit the home to conduct post-adoption or post-placement services for the family and submit the reports.

Requirements:

A master’s degree in social work or a related field. A strong preference for practical experience in international adoption. The position is home-based, and travel will be required. A Social Worker will provide clinical skills and judgment in administering home study and post-placement services. The social worker will represent New Beginnings in delivering services to our clients but is not expected to work exclusively for New Beginnings.

Performing Adoption Services

• Determines a family’s ability and capacity to parent an adopted child by conducting meetings, reviewing and assessing agency-requested information, evaluating the family’s knowledge and perceptions of adoption, and conducting an assessment of family members.
• Establishing a positive, therapeutic relationship with families as they move through the adoption process. Identify challenges to the adoptive placement during the home study process or after placement and discuss these issues with the family in a respectful and supportive manner.
• Contributes to delivering high-quality adoption services by producing adoption home study reports, post-placement reports, and supplemental materials as needed and complying with current country, agency, state, and USCIS requirements.
• Provides support to all assigned families by maintaining contact throughout the process, communicating information to the family, referring the family to appropriate community support systems when necessary, and documenting all correspondence in the client’s file.
• Conduct post-placement home visits required by New Beginnings, state regulations, and country program guidelines. Interview and observe the child to determine attachment, overall adjustment, and development. Consult with the Director of Social Services if additional services are required or recommended.

Attributes for Success

The successful Adoption Social Worker has strong assessment skills and can establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with families. They must identify adjustment issues and problematic family dynamics and address these with families respectfully, openly, and supportively. With the support from our main office, when a placement is in crisis, assist in providing the adoptive family access or resources to long-term counseling or other professional services. They will need to work cooperatively with agency staff and contacts in the community. An Adoption Social Worker should have strong organizational skills, be able to work independently, and set priorities. Working knowledge of current technology to support performance and efficiency in accomplishing assigned responsibilities.

Training Requirements

• A social worker is required to complete the New Beginnings Orientation and the Initial Training in the first year. Elements of the training requirement may be waived where the employee has demonstrated experience with intercountry adoption.
• After the first year, a Social Worker will need 30 hours of training every two years.

Applicants should submit their resumes to Timothy Sutfin at tim@new-beginnings.org.