Job Description
Coach - Child Welfare (KTF/SE) Overview of Kinnect Kinnect is an Ohio-based non-profit organization dedicated to developing KinFirst strategies and delivering programs that strengthen kinship connections and inclusive support networks for families, young people, and children. Kinnect has spent 20 years collaborating with families, public agencies, and private providers to ensure young people and families have the belonging, resources, and relationships they need to thrive. Kinnect’s purpose, vision, and guiding principles center family and kin and promote a KinFirst culture in every aspect of our service delivery and advocacy efforts for families, young people, and children. Kin is family, family is kin, and whether relationships involve relatives or chosen family connections, a KinFirst culture is the way we work and live each day. Kinnect is proud to be a nationally recognized leader and pioneer in the field, which led to the development of KinnectU, a training, consulting, and replication branch of Kinnect, to provide these services to all child- and family-serving organizations. Our programs include the Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator (OhioKAN) program, Kinnect to Family (KTF), and Youth Centered Permanency Roundtables (YCPRT). Kinnect is grateful to receive support from a variety of sources, including contracts with government entities, partnerships with nonprofits, generous grants, and invaluable donations from foundations and private donors. Overview of the Kinnect to Family Program Kinnect to Family (KTF) engages in urgent, diligent family search and engagement to identify and connect youth in foster care or residential treatment with kin-both biological and chosen-who can provide support and permanency. Through innovative tools and best practices, KTF helps ensure that youth remain connected to the people who know and love them. Position Summary The Kinnect to Family Coach is responsible for providing coaching and support for Kinnect to Family Specialists and their Supervisors in counties and partner sites located in a geographical region in which Kinnect to Family operates. The support comes in the form of ensuring fidelity to the model and facilitating communication among assigned sites to develop mutual support and case consultation. The Coach also provides technical assistance to support family searches and genogram development, as well as provides training to support and sustain the program. Essential Functions: Coach Family Specialists and Supervisors in designated counties and partner sites on the program model and best practice strategies Provide direct support to Kinnect to Family Specialists, including: Interpreting and articulating the program model and benchmarks Communication among designated counties to develop mutual support Regular check-in with Specialists and Supervisors for technical assistance, including relative/kin searching to help move service forward, barrier busting, and finding family supports Regular consultation with each Specialist, including review of search tools, genogram, and family engagement tools Conduct regular program reviews for each Specialist Provide technical assistance on the intake and referral process for prospective Kinnect to Family families Accompany Specialist to home visits, meetings and hearings for families, as needed Utilize technology to ensure that all electronic and paper files are properly maintained Identify, develop, and facilitate trainings to Specialists, Supervisors, and stakeholders as needed Capacity to work among child welfare and court teams Demonstrated commitment to the above core philosophies Ability to work outside of a “business as usual” model, including: A “relentless” search for family vigorous search for and engagement of fathers a strength-based approach to engaging family members in a problem-solving process to identify and organize their collective resources to support relative placement Professional maturity to work independently, while also engaging with peers and supervisory staff Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships Superior advocacy skills Skills and Competencies: Strong written and verbal communication Organization and superior time management skills with the ability to meet multiple program deadlines and manage multiple tasks Facilitation and conflict resolution/mediation skills Able to adapt quickly and comfortable working with diverse populations in various environments Understanding of, or ability to learn, Genopro (family tree/genogram software program)<