KEEP Group Leader (0.5 FTE) at Options Counseling and Family Services in Salem, Oregon

Job Description:

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer at recruiting@options.org to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Options Counseling and Family Services, founded in 1991 in Florence, Oregon, has since expanded to serve fourteen counties in western Oregon. Headquartered in Eugene, we provide quality mental health and family preservation services to diverse communities. Committed to supporting health, safety, and empowerment.

Benefits

Options offer these benefits to our full-time employees (full-time is any employee working 30 hours per week) company-paid health/vision and dental, long-term disability, and life insurance; for a full list of all benefits, please view our website: https://options.org/careers/benefits.
 

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they have every one of the qualifications as described. We are most interested in finding the best candidate and our hiring processes are centered on assessing candidates based on diverse experience. Please let us know if you have questions.

General Description:

KEEP is an evidence-based support and skill enhancement program for foster and kinship parents. The program supports foster families by promoting child well-being and preventing placement disruptions. KEEP Group Leaders will lead small groups of foster parents. The group leaders will facilitate, guide, listen, and support foster parents. Participants sign up, and once accepted into the group, they will meet once a week for 16 weeks. The KEEP Group Leader will be responsible for conducting recruitment home visits, scheduling the group sessions, conducting weekly support/training group sessions and in-home make-up sessions, and completing all project data. Prior to running the groups, this person will participate in training and consultation on the KEEP model with consultants from Oregon Social Learning Center Development Inc. (ODI).

To accommodate social distancing guidelines, all KEEP activities are currently being conducted remotely. In-person services may resume in the future.

Schedule/Hours:

Group schedules are based on the foster parents availability. The majority of our foster parents request groups in the evening, Friday and Sunday evenings are common group times. Flexibility to sub for teammates is desired. A part-time KEEP Group Leader working 20 hours per week would be facilitating four 90-minute remote groups.

Minimum Qualifications:

At least a year of relevant experience (work or volunteer) or an equivalent combination of education and experience. The applicant should have an outgoing and friendly personality; time management skills as well as be able to problem solve and have excellent communication skills. The applicant should demonstrate the ability to work with special populations with diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Applicant should be able to accurately record significant information. Finally, the applicant must be willing to adhere to behavioral principles used in parent management training. Pass a ODHS background check and/or fingerprinting. Maintain client confidentiality.

All employees must pass a criminal background check and/or fingerprinting through ODHS. Must have respectful, open, unbiased, accepting attitude toward clients and their families.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience as a foster parent and/or with the foster care system.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Attends all trainings and meetings assigned




• Schedules foster and kinship parents into the program (with less than 10% refusal rate)




• Completes all written material in a timely manner, including receipts, attendance logs, case notes, group session participant ratings, meeting summaries, and other related paperwork and ratings




• Runs KEEP group sessions with foster and kinship parents (90-minute weekly sessions) and in-home make-up sessions

  
  

  • A 90-minute remote group will take, on average, five hours per week to complete all associated tasks

  
  

  • A 90-minute in-person group will take, on average, seven hours per week to complete all associated tasks




• Prepares written materials




• Sets up the room prior to foster and kinship parents arrival, i.e., setting up camera, handouts, treats, drinks, sign in roster, name tags, toys, etc. and greeting foster and kinship parents




• Ensures that group sessions are videotaped




• Works with the paired KEEP Group Leader to ensure that childcare is available for group meetings




• Prepares printed group materials, name tags, pens, etc., including coffee and snacks




• Conducts Parent Daily Report (PDR) calls




• Collects data on child adjustment and foster parent stress and enters data in a timely manner




• Makes weekly telephone contact with all participants to collect data and trouble shoot problems




• Ensures that all needed materials are available to the supervisor and consultant in a timely manner




• Attends and prepares for weekly on-site supervision and telephone consultation meetings

Working Conditions:

• Ability to sit at a workstation for extended periods




• Ability to stand, work, and drive throughout the day




• Occasional ability to lift and carry parcels weighing up to 15 pounds




• Able to make quick accurate day-to-day decisions based only on precedent and/or experience




• For non-remote groups, ability to drive to various locations in the community, including foster parent homes and group sites

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