Dependency Specialist - Independent Living

Children's Home Society of Florida

*** ANNUAL SALARY OF $54,000.00 ***

Since opening our doors in 1902, CHS became a part of Florida's history. 

CHS has been committed to growing and evolving to provide the right services and solutions to address the needs of children and families throughout the changing times.  Every day, our team works with parents and kids to empower them and encourage them. With innovative technology solutions and a dedicated, experienced team throughout the state, we’re changing the face of foster care and positively impacting children and families’ lives for generations to come.

Join our team to continue to do good and create history serving Florida's children and families!

The Dependency Specialist provides specialized assistance to Dependency teams and the children and families in care. Overall, the Dependency Specialist contributes to the CHS high performance culture by exhibiting our values and providing quality results that position CHS as the leader in delivering proactive behavioral health, case management, community and early childhood solutions for children and families.

 WHY JOIN CHS?

• Uplifting mission-driven work culture
• Make an impact in your community and become a part of Florida's history!
• Growth and professional development opportunities
• Great benefits package, including generous paid time off and holidays 

Primary Job Functions

1. Provide specialized assistance to Dependency teams and the children and families in care.

• Coordinate planning strategies and maintain positive relationships with agencies and community members as applicable.
• Maintain close contact with approved providers of care and secure daily reports of bed availability.
• Receive and review referrals for placement in CHS homes.
• Assist with approving placement of children into CHS homes.
• Receive/process requests for re-placement, respite, or step-down/step-up in level of care for children in care or sheltered.
• Complete calls and document all efforts to secure placement for child.
• Secure required approvals prior to finalizing placement arrangements.
• Assist with assessment of client’s behavioral and emotional needs to determine the best possible home match.
• Facilitate placement needs of children (Medicaid/Social Security card, Blue Book, medical information).
• Assist with physical placement of child.
• Negotiate payment with providers.
• Complete placement forms and distribute as necessary for timely and accurate completion of data input and payment.
• Provide on-site support to prevent placement disruption.
• Attend related meetings and inform necessary parties of procedural problems, changes, and placement issues.
• Act as a liaison with the case manager, school and other parties relevant to a child placed in a CHS home.
• Conduct home visits.
• Monitor and evaluate cases where a child has been in a shelter setting longer than 30 days.
• Attend placement staffings (step-down staffings, MDT, CBC placement meetings, etc.), as needed.
• Review and follow up on incident reports pertaining to incidents in CHS foster or adoptive homes.
• Complete any necessary file documentation and process data through FSFN and other required data systems.
• Prepare documentation for and attend/testify in court hearings.
• Work with child welfare legal team members on required documentation.
• Prepare TPR worksheet, which includes exhibits, witness lists, diligent searches, appropriate affidavits and verifications to support legal presentation of case.
• Track judicial requirements and timeframes.
• Manage legal performance (JR timeliness, filings, petitions, communication, reports).<