ABOUT APM & PRADERA
Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM) is a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia, PA providing human services to the community including early childhood education, foster care & adoption, child welfare, mental & behavioral health, community and economic development, housing, violence intervention, and services to community schools.
Pradera Corporation, a subsidiary of APM, has a longstanding history within the child welfare community of providing high-quality, holistic and trauma-informed services. Our focus is to promote healthy lifestyles, protect and nurture vulnerable children and youth and empower them to have a voice in their communities.
Department: Foster Care and Adoption
Job Type: Full Time (40 hours/week)
Work Schedule: Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 am to 5 pm
Location: Philadelphia, PA (On Site)
JOB SUMMARY
The RPSW worker ensures that Resource Parents (RP) receive training, support, and consultation necessary for them to effectively meet the needs of the child or youth in their home. The RPSW ensures that the resource home is loving, stable, trauma-informed, and culturally competent for the care all children and youth, as well as to provide supports that serve to facilitate permanency youth.
Duties and responsibilities
- Participate in supervision at least bi-weekly
- Maintains a maximum case load of 17 homes
- Complete 40 hours of training in the first year and 20 annually thereafter
- Perform initial and quarterly home inspections that may include children or youth, if they are home
- Provide face-to-face support to RPs at a minimum of one time per month, with more frequent and intense contacts for new placements and during periods of crisis
- Provide initial, in-person contact with RP within 3 business days of child being placed in the home
- Ensure that the RP is communicating with the bio parent(s) at least once per month
- Review RP documentation for content and timeliness
- Attend placement stability meetings and assist the RP to develop and implement strategies to resolve issues or other challenges that could ultimately jeopardize placement stability or the child or youth’s well-being
- May be required to attend teaming meetings and coordinate with the CUA Case Manager (CM) to provide updates on RP progress with child/youth and overall stability in the home
- Assist to develop and support activities that may be designated for the caregiver to perform on the Single Case Plan (SCP), in collaboration with CUA
- Support RP with developing plan to meet transportation needs of child and youth, as necessary
- Maintain documentation of supports and interventions provided to RP and ensure that substitute caregiving is in place with up-to-date clearances and childcare services
- Ensure RP completes annual training
- Conduct notification of rights and grievance procedures with child/youth and maintain consent for treatment on file
- Ensure RP remains compliant according to PA chapter 3700
- May be required to attend court hearings
- Must always use the approach “See Something- Say Something- Do Something”
- Must notify management and CUA of any safety concerns/incidents, taking immediate action to ensure the child or youth’s safety
- Other duties as assigned to support the mission of Pradera
BENEFITS
- Health Insurance through Independence Administrators or $100/moth reimbursement with proof of current insurance
- Vision and Dental Plans through SunLife
- Basic Life Insurance (100% Employer Funded)
- 403B Retirement Plan with Company Contribution
- Flexible Spending Accounts for Health, Childcare, and Public Transportation expenses
- Employee Assistance Program including free counseling, trainings, webinars, and other resources
- Could be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program as APM is a non-profit
- Voluntary Plans include Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity
- Short-term and Long-term Disabilities
- Employee Referral Program
- 20 Days of Paid Time Off include Illness, Vacation, Appointments, and Emergencies
- 12 Days of Paid Holidays
- Must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology or related field.
- Minimum of one year of experience providing services to children, youth or families in a behavioral health setting.
- Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearances, Pennsylvania Criminal Record Clearance, Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI), Medical Examination.
- Computer savvy, familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite.
- Knowledge of PA Chapter 3700 preferred, but not required.
Working conditions
- Office
- Field/Community
- Court, visitation, teamings, if invited
APM is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.