The Kinship and Adoption Navigator is a full-time position dedicated to supporting kinship caregivers and adoptive parents in accessing the services, resources, and social support they need to care for themselves and the children in their homes. The Kinship and Adoption Navigator reports to the Special Olympics and Special Projects Director and meets weekly with the OhioKAN Regional Coach for case consultation and support in delivering OhioKAN services with fidelity. The primary functions of this role include providing direct services to families and children, participating in continuous quality improvement activities, community outreach, collaboration, and continued learning of emerging best practices in serving kinship and adoptive families.
- Responds to inquiries about participation in the OhioKAN program, determines eligibility, provides referrals, and follows up in a timely manner.
- Partners with kinship and adoptive families to assess their needs, identify their goals, and provide individualized supportive services to achieve their goals.
- Collaborates with diverse families and organizational partners with an empathetic strengths-based orientation that prioritizes dignity and respect.
- In partnership with the Regional Director, builds and maintains relationships with public and private partners to support referrals.
- In partnership with the Regional Coordinator, builds and curates a list of services and resources across the region to serve kinship and adoptive families.
- Advocates alongside kinship and adoptive families for access to services to achieve their goals.
- Organizes and hosts events for outreach, public education, and to support kinship and adoptive families.
- Meets with the family at home, in the community or in partnering agencies to support the achievement of families’ goals and accommodates families’ schedules.
- Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Continued Learning
- Meets regularly with assigned OhioKAN Coach to monitor fidelity to the OhioKAN model, review cases, and set goals.
- Maintains a full and complete family record in the OhioKAN database as specified by the model and in procedure.
- Identifies trends across cases and shares common barriers and facilitators that kinship and adoptive families are experiencing.
- Participates in Learning Collaboratives to problem-solve and exchange knowledge with other Kinship and Adoption Navigator sites across the state.
- Associate’s or Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Public Health, Education, or related field preferred.
- Experience working directly with families and/or case management experience preferred.
- Lived experience as an adoptee or raised in a kinship family, kinship caregiver, adoptive parent or foster parent preferred.
SUBMIT A LETTER OF INTEREST AND RESUME TO
BRADY RATZLAFF,
HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR
