FT Counselor - Pregnancy, Parenting & Adoption
LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES NEBRASKA
NORTH PLATTE, NE
Full-time
Consulting
Posted on February 1, 2020
Job title Pregnancy, Parenting, & Adoption Therapist / TOP Facilitator
Reports to Permanency Services Supervisor
Salary Grade F
Job purpose
- Provide counseling, education, referral, assessment, and support services to birth and adoptive families.
- Provide community education and outreach about pregnancy, parenting, and adoption.
- Facilitate the Teen Outreach Program
Key Accountabilities
Provide Services for Pregnancy, Parenting, and Adoption Program
- Provide pre and post counseling services regarding pregnancy options
- Assist with placement of children in adoptive homes including preparing legal documents and taking relinquishments
- Recruit, evaluate, and supervise prospective adoptive homes
- Assist in the planning and leadership of group education and preparation for prospective adoptive parents.
- Provide report writing services to pre and post adoptive families
- Provide pregnancy and adoption related education to churches, schools, organizations and communities.
Facilitate the Teen Outreach Program
- Facilitate lessons according to the Teen Outreach Program curriculum
- Attend trainings as required to maintain fidelity of the Teen Outreach Program
- Maintain professional relationships with Wyman, the State of Nebraska, and the Lexington Middle School in regards to administering the Teen Outreach Program
Connect with and Educate the Community
- Develop and implement recruitment and educational activities for all programs.
- Market the programs through identification of key contacts in the community and throughout the state and the development of positive working relationships with key persons/organizations.
- Provide professional support to appropriate community committees and projects to strengthen the Agency’s image and quality of community life.
- Maintain positive relationships and network with other adoption agencies, public and private human service organizations, providers, churches, schools, and other referral sources appropriate to the programs.
Program Documentation and Data Collection:
- Complete written documentation and report writing as required for each program
- Comply with all agency policies, Nebraska laws, licensure standards, and program model requirements regarding documentation
- Collect data for each program as required by agency, program model, grants, state licensure, or any other entities
Professional Growth and Development:
- Read/broaden knowledge on therapeutic approaches, techniques and research, workshops, and seminars
- Seek information concerning pregnancy, adoption, and parenting resources
- Participate in regular supervision sessions
- Attend all trainings and meetings required for each program
Professionalism and Confidentiality:
- Keep all client names and information and other agency business confidential.
- Guard client confidentiality
- Insure all office and record security procedures are followed.
- Maintain a positive, respectful demeanor on all contacts with staff and the public.
- Seek needed guidance in handling difficult client situations and establishing priorities for the job.
- Work to build positive, productive relationships with other staff
- Demonstrate effective communication skills
- Practice conflict resolution
- Possess good observation skills and model best practices for working with young children
Office Management (Lexington office only)
- Answer front door for prospective and current clients as able and provide information for enrollment in services and referral information
- Open and close office as allowed by schedule
- Sort and distribute incoming mail
- Coordinate and assist with purchase of needed office and program supplies
- Coordinate with Director of Property and Risk Management to conduct appropriate drills and arrange for needed property improvements and repairs.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Human Service field from accredited college
- Minimum two years experience in services to children and families.
- Provisional license or eligible for licensure to practice Mental Health in the state of Nebraska
- Valid driver’s license, proof of liability insurance and ability to drive for organization business and possible child transportation
- Ability to work in multi-cultural environment.
- Bi-lingual (Spanish) preferred
- Successfully pass required background checks
- Excellent oral, written communication skills, interpersonal skills, and organizational skills
- Ability to communicate using technology, develop reports and track data
- Knowledge of infertility, parenting, adoption and pregnancy issues
- Knowledge of family system and therapeutic interventions for individuals and families experiencing adjustment difficulties
- Knowledge of developmental stages and the psychological aspects of child and adolescent development
- Knowledge of parenting techniques and the impact of psychological trauma such as out-of-home placement, divorce, child abuse & neglect, and incest on the lives of children and adolescents
- Knowledge regarding developmentally appropriate practices
- Commitment to the mission of Lutheran Family Services
Working conditions
- Office environment is professional, professional attire is required
- Regular and predictable attendance required
- Occasional evenings & weekends
- Ability to travel to appointments, meetings and training sessions which may require an overnight stay
- Available to provide emergency services for clients as necessary. Includes “on-call” duty
- Company cell phone required