Description

Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc. dba Upbring

Equal Employment Opportunity/M/F/disability/protected veteran status.


Statewide Placement Specialist

US-TX-Dallas

Job ID: 2025-6885
Type: Regular Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Foster Care & Adoption
Upbring

Overview

At Upbring, our team is united by a shared mission: to break the cycle of child abuse and advance the wellbeing of children, families and communities, empowering them to thrive. As servant-leaders, we lead by example, working passionately to create a brighter future for those we serve. Every day, we strive to embody our core values:

• We are Warriors: Fierce, resilient, and courageous, we face challenges head-on with unwavering loyalty and passion.
• We are Servants: We dedicate ourselves to serving others, empowering those around us to thrive. 
• We are Family: We work together as a supportive, caring community, creating a sense of belonging and strength.

Joining Upbring means becoming part of a family of passionate individuals who are fearless in their pursuit of lasting change. Together, we are making a difference, one life at a time. Your MIssion in ActionThe Statewide Placement Specialist is responsible for assessing children to determine an appropriate match with potential qualifying foster families; analyzing and deploying the current network of foster care parents and community partners to aid in the placement and/or adoption of foster care children in the Foster in Texas (FIT) program.   

Responsibilities

• Provide appropriate social services in accordance with licensing standards, contract terms, agency policies, accreditation standards and funding requirements  
• Respond promptly to placement calls (phone/email) and perform intake/eligibility assessments to match children with foster families 
• Monitor timelines for placements and alert leadership to potential delays or issues 
• Track referrals received for placement, including documenting referral sources, status, and outcomes in the Agency's database 
• Collaborate with the Foster Care & Adoption team to recruit and maintain a diverse pool of certified homes for emergency and long-term placements 
• Represent the agency as a liaison within the foster care and adoption provider network to create and initiate community wide recruitment and placement efforts 
• Respond to inquiries from parents, partner agencies, and staff regarding intake, eligibility, placement, and post-placement processes 
• Record and maintain information and statistics necessary to measure the effectiveness of recruitment and placement efforts 
• Cross-train and provide back-up support for intake-related process, including the completion and/or review of foster and adoptive placements 
• Assist staff with identifying and creating partnerships with other community agencies; establish and maintain relationships to aid in collaboration of recruitment and placement efforts 
• Participate in on-call rotation to ensure timely response to placement and support needs 
• Develop and maintain positive and strong working relationships with the Foster Care and Adoption teams and foster care parents and families, while maintaining professional and ethical boundaries always 
• Work as a team player and exhibit professional behavior and a positive attitude with both internal and external clients that reflects positively on the Agency and is consistent with Agency policies and practices 
• Actively participate in exhibiting cultural awareness and sensitivity when interacting with children, parents (s)/ guardian(s), staff and the community

Qualifications



Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a closely related field
• Child Placement Management Staff (CPMS)
• Three (3) years of relevant experience in foster care, child welfare, or adoption
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines and prioritize competing tasks/projects 
• Strong customer service skills; respond to telephone and in-person inquiries in a pleasant and professional manner 
• Strong people and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact and work with diverse groups of people 
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook 
• At least 21 years of age
• Valid TX driver's license and auto insurance coverage

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a closely related field
• Licensed Child Agency Administrator or eligible within 12 months of hire 
• Bilingual (English and Spanish, based on service area and service population)

Travel

• This position may be required to travel up to 20%

Perks at Upbring 

• Competitive PTO & paid holidays
• Health, dental, vision insurance & more 
• 403(b) Plan
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Discounted Gym Memberships 

 Physical Demands & Work Conditions

• This position requires sitting and looking and using a computer for long periods of time
• Position may haveexposure to children
• Position requires frequent standing and walking 
• Lift, push, pull, move up to 25 lbs.

The physical requirements for this position with or without reasonable accommodation are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. While performing this position the employee with or without reasonable accommodation should have the ability to walk, stand, sit, kneel, speak, and hear with aid, see, read, reach with arms and hands, lift and/or move up to specified weight, and use equipment that is essential to performing the job, such as a computer, copier, fax machine, telephone, and automobile, if applicable. Specific vision requirements of this position may include color vision, seeing things close up, and the ability to adjust focus. Upbring is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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