Youth Engagement Specialist

Join a team that makes a difference in the lives of children and teens in the US foster care system! 

NAA is seeking a passionate and collaborative Youth Engagement Specialist play a critical role in the National Center for Diligent Recruitment at AdoptUSKids.  

Overview

The National Center for Diligent Recruitment (“Center”) operates within AdoptUSKids (AUSK), a multi-million dollar five-year federally funded collaborative project of the Children’s Bureau. The National Center for Diligent Recruitment has the following four goals:

1. Increase states, territories, and tribes (STTs) capacity to effectively collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to guide their targeted recruitment efforts.
2. Provide on-site intensive tailored technical assistance (T/TA) to support the work of STTs in implementing and updating robust DR plans that have significant and strategic outcomes.
3. Develop effective models of diligent recruitment based on evidence-informed and evidence-based research.
4. Further the evidence-base of family finding, relative outreach, reunion support and intensive recruitment and retention services within the communities of origin of the children/youth in the foster care system. 

The National Center for Diligent Recruitment will work with child welfare leaders to promote evidence-informed, best, and promising diligent recruitment approaches to improve the safety, permanency, and well-being of children, youth and families who are involved with the U.S. foster care system., This Center will provide intensive on-site guidance and assistance (TA) to states, territories, and tribes (STTs) to develop and actualize data-informed diligent recruitment plans that result in concrete outcomes for children, youth and families who are being served by the system. The Center’s website will be a repository of knowledge, best practice, and accomplishments of all on-site work in STTs and its dissemination strategy will promote best practices. 

Position Overview: 

The National Center for Diligent Recruitment Youth Engagement Specialist will use their lived experience in the foster care system to support NCDR technical assistance in enhancing state efforts to recruit, train, and support foster families for youth. This role will focus on integrating youth perspectives, supporting the development of innovative strategies, and supporting the fostering of meaningful youth and family engagement to improve outcomes for teens in foster care.  Under close supervision, the Youth Engagement Specialist will provide entry-level support to the development of data dashboards and profiles for states. The Youth Engagement Specialist will assist with the development of automated profiles and reporting related to diligent recruitment. This position is an opportunity to use personal experience and professional skills to make a meaningful impact on foster care recruitment and support for teens. 

Education and Experience Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred.
• At least 3 years of related work experience with a proven track record of administrative support and youth engagement.
• Personal lived experience in the foster care system, preferably as a youth.
• Prior non-profit or child welfare experience highly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• High level proficiency in Microsoft Office—MS Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, Access, and PowerPoint.
• Proficiency with Zoom, Slack, Trello, Google Workspace, Airtable, project management tools and overall familiarity and comfort with navigating and learning new technology.
• Ability to communicate, relate, and work with youth ages 14-26.
• Commitment to improving outcomes for youth in foster care.
• Knowledge of coding with Python and SQL development.
• Results-oriented with a high attention to detail, ability to multi-task, and meet deadlines in a demanding, fast-paced environment.
• Passionate about the children, families and jurisdictions served by National Center for Diligent Recruitment with a commitment to National Adoption Association’s mission.
• Ability to contribute to a strong team-based environment.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse teams and agency partners. 

Additional Notes: 

Work is performed remotely within the United States. This position may require occasional evenings and weekends. NAA conducts child protective services and sex offender registry checks on all employees.  

Requirements

Role and Responsibilities

1. Community Engagement. Build connections with youth and community partners to promote youth-led initiatives in the foster care system.  Collaborate with youth, state agencies, and foster care organizations to support the development of effective strategies for engaging foster families.  Support jurisdictions with the preparation of young people engaged in feedback opportunities. Facilitate focus groups, listening sessions, or workshops to elevate the perspectives of youth in foster care.  Maintain cross-collaborative communication and partnerships within the National Center for Diligent Recruitment to support the collaborative.

2. Data Coordination. Assist in the collection and coordination of the compilation of the National Center for Diligent Recruitment data as needed for the Data Dashboard, state profiles, agency audits, response to requests from the Children’s Bureau, and other data shared externally.  Assist in the development of automated profiles and reporting necessary for diligent recruitment. Assist with data pulls from programming partners’ systems as well as validation of data collected and entered by program partners.

3. Youth Advocacy. Advocate for the inclusion of youth voices in foster parent recruitment, training, and support initiatives.  Under close guidance and in support of the Director of Tailored Technical Assistance, provide feedback and recommendations to partners on how to improve support systems for foster families and teens. Help to create opportunities for youth voices to be shared, received, and acted upon in foster care and adoption decision-making.

4. Administrative Support. Assist the team with organizing and process-tracking webinar and project development, creation, and implementation. Ensure a high level of customer service to internal and external stakeholders. Support the National Center for Diligent Recruitment’s Universal and Intensive Technical Assistance teams by providing high quality customer service and support to States, Tribes and Territories.

Benefits

As a member of our team, you will receive a competitive salary of $50,000 - $55,000 and a generous benefits package including a gold health plan, dental & vision insurance (100% employer paid for employees!); employer retirement plan contribution; and professional development opportunities, among others. You will also enjoy your work - knowing you are a part of a dedicated group of professionals making an impact. 

NAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.  

How to Apply:  

No phone calls please. Apply online here Youth Engagement Specialist with a cover letter and resume.

Resumes without cover letters will not be considered.

About NAA and AdoptUSKids: 

Founded in 1982 under the name Adoption Exchange Association, the National Adoption Association is the country's premier national association of adoption professionals and organizations. NAA is the only national association focused exclusively on supporting the educational needs of those in the adoption profession. The organization serves adoption exchanges, private child-placing agencies, and public child welfare systems by engaging members in national discussions to eliminate barriers to foster care adoption and share best practices. Our mission is leaders advancing best practices in adoption from foster care. Our vision is to build the premier network of professionals and agencies to create innovative strategies and solutions so that every child has a permanent loving family. www.adoptnaa.org  

AdoptUSKids educates families about foster care and adoption and gives child welfare professionals information and support to help them improve their services. We also maintain the nation’s only federally funded photo listing service that connects waiting children with families. Our mission is to: raise public awareness about the need for foster and adoptive families for children in the public child welfare system; and assist US states, territories, and tribes to recruit, engage, develop, and support foster and adoptive families. www.adoptuskids.org  

NAA Racial Equity Statement: 

As leaders in child welfare, we recognize systemic racism creates disparities that negatively impact our staff as well as the children and families we serve. NAA is committed to listening, learning, and taking actions to advance racial equity by:  

• Continually and intentionally recruiting, hiring, and supporting diverse staff, including consultants and vendors; 
• Using a racial equity lens in all of our programmatic work; 
• Evaluating our organizational policies and procedures to ensure that they are antiracist1;  
• Allowing staff to be their authentic selves.