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 Outreach and Placement Services Worker acts as a liaison between the Resource Home Program and the Department of Human Services (DHS). The Outreach and Placement Services Worker is responsible for receiving placement referrals and assigning children and youth to the appropriate Resource Home, city wide and in various counties. The Outreach and Placement Services Worker is also responsible for receiving kinship referrals and recruiting resource homes. 

Placements Services Duties and Responsibilities

• Process incoming referrals for placement of children via phone and email from the DHS Central Referral Unit (CRU) and other county referral sources including (Montgomery, Bucks, etc.)
• According to referral documentation identify a suitable resource home for the placement
• Once placement has been confirmed, communicate via email and phone with the referral source and Resource Home Team. 
• Create and complete Pradera’s Change of Placement form and submit to Pradera’s finance department, and upload document to Fund EZ Server
• Create child profile on Fund-Ez including referral information and upload supporting documentation
• Place a copy of child’s C.O.P and Referral in Resource parents file and complete chronological form
• Consult with Outreach and Placement Supervisor for placement concerns including the need of an emergency voucher if applicable
• Create COP form for direct Care case management services and create new case file. 

Respite Placements

• Receive respite request and identify available Resource Home
• Once the respite is secured notify the CUA and Resource Home Team
• If a respite is secured or unable to be accommodated, notification must be made to the assigned CUA team and resource home team.
• Create COP to initiate the respite care and upon completion of respite.
• Review and monitor respite tracking calendar for accuracy and completeness

Removal Placements

• The outreach and placement services worker receives 30 and 90 notices for placement removals from the resource parent support worker and assist with finding an alternative home to accommodate the request submitted 
• If an alternative home is secured or not able to be secured the outreach and placement worker will communicate the information to the resource parent support worker and the assigned CUA.
• Follow up weekly regarding any removal of placement notices

Outreach Services:

• Perform outreach activities to solicit qualified candidates to become resource parents
• Provide accurate, and timely support to assist with completing initial screening of prospective and kinship resource parents 
• Conducting Orientation to disseminate information to prospective and kinship parents in order to determine if they have met initial eligibility 
• Assigning resource parents for training modules necessary to complete certification
• Assist with processing documents for prospective and kinship Resource Parents, including, following disclosures, PA Child Abuse clearances, PA Criminal Record Checks, FBI clearances.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Need to be available to work after normal working hours when the situation warrants
• Must perform after hours on call responsibilities on a rotating basis
• Participate in supervisory meetings with outreach and placement supervisor 
• · Maintain ongoing communication with team and collaborate with other units in the Resource Home Program
• Prepare regularly scheduled reports 
• Assist with transportation as necessary, home studies, initial home inspections and face to face visits
• Complete 40 hours of training in the first year and 20 hours annually thereafter
• 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

• Two-year experience in social services related to administrative areas
• Minimal high school diploma, Preferred Associate Degree in Administration /or Applied Sciences
• Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearances, FBI, Pennsylvania Criminal Record Clearance, Medical examination
• Bilingual/bicultural, Spanish/English
• Preferably Knowledge of PA Chapter 3700 Preferred
• Computer Savvy, familiarity with Microsoft office suite

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.