PRN Foster Parent Recruiting and Engagement Specialist

*This is a PRN position*

Company Overview

Youth Villages has been a national leader in the implementation of research-based treatment philosophies in the field of children's mental and behavioral health. Our commitment to helping troubled children and their families find success spans 30+ years and includes a comprehensive array of programs and services. 

If you are looking for a positive career move where you are meeting the challenges of life and striving to make a positive difference, then Youth Villages is the place for you. We are looking for people with a strong sense of purpose and focus to continually build confidence in yourself and our organization.

Position Summary

The Foster Parent Recruiting and Engagement Specialist is designed to increase the overall number of foster parents within their region. This is accomplished through an increase in awareness in the community for the need for more foster homes, the execution of targeted foster parent recruiting activities, and engagement with potential new foster parents.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Meet or exceed foster home inquiry and certification goals as written in the Tennessee state growth plan regarding your specific region.
• Build positive relationships with strategic partners in the community while pursuing foster parent inquiries through informational meetings, community events, open houses, conferences, and other outreach activities as needed.
• Establish relationships with key community providers and maintain those relationships through continued communication.
• Travel across assigned region for recruiting efforts, trainings, and events.
• Develop and exec foster parent recruiting plans/strategies.
• Keep a flexible schedule and be ready to work non-traditional hours to attend recruiting events for foster
• Be a liaison at community meetings and events as well as member of committees to increase networking and building partnerships for the foster care
• Speak professionally in front of crowds presenting information on becoming a foster
• Maintain regular communication with potential foster parents who have expressed interest in becoming a foster parent through a variety of communication channels such as phone, email, text, and in person meetings.
• Participate in community organizations which support the promotion of foster parenting.
• Maintain data on foster parent inquiries, trends, demographics, and other data points as needed to improve recruitment strategies.

Core Competencies

Customer Focus

Personally demonstrates that external (or internal) customers are a high priority. Identifies customer needs and expectations and responds to them in a timely and effective manner. Anticipates and prevents delays or other things that can adversely affect the customer. Keeps customers informed about the status of pending actions and inquires about customer satisfaction with products or services.

Communication

Communicates effectively and appropriately. Uses good judgment as to what to communicate to whom as well as the best way to get that accomplished. Speaks in a clear and credible manner, selecting the right tone for the situation and audience. Listens to others and allows them to make their point.

Teamwork

Is an effective team player who adds complementary skills and contributes valuable ideas, opinions and feedback. Communicates in an open and candid manner and can be counted upon to fulfill any commitments made to others on the team.

YV Mission and Values

Helps ensures that we offer the very best, most effective help to every child in our care and provides the foundation for our organization's dynamic growth. By adhering to YV Mission and Values and helping children and families live successfully.

Education and experience

• A Bachelor's Degree is required. Degrees in marketing, communication, strategic planning, business, or social services are preferred.

Experience Requirements

• Experience in marketing, recruiting, community outreach, or community development is required
• Recruiting of foster parents is preferred
• Social service agency experience is preferred
• Experience in developing & managing passive candidate pipelines/CRM
• Strong critical thinking and conceptualization skills
• Must have excellent customer service, communication, and written skills.
• Experience with public speaking and presenting is required
• Experience networking with other professionals
• Strong organization and time management skills-ability to manage shifting priorities on daily or weekly basis
• Experienced problem solver

Physical Demands - Additional Information

• Frequently remains in stationary position for periods of time. Person must be able to drive throughout coverage region.
• Regularly needs to move throughout office to access file cabinets and office machinery.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office machinery such as calculator, copy machines, and printer.
• Frequently moves, ascend/descend, and traverse to gain access to community events/external meetings in both rural and metro areas.
• Constantly must be able to communicate, detect, converse with, discern, and exchange information with internal and external customers.
• Frequently needs to be able to recognize safety of surroundings.

Youth Villages is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Youth Villages is committed to not only advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace but also in our work with children and young adults. We know that children, families and young people of color can face inequity in child welfare and justice systems, and we train our employees to build the skills they need to work with the communities that we serve, as well as, other employees from different cultures and backgrounds. Youth Villages is opposed to racism in any of its forms and is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity. We believe that respect for each other is crucial in the work that we do each day.