Statewide Placement Specialist

Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc. dba Upbring

Equal Employment Opportunity/M/F/disability/protected veteran status.

Statewide Placement Specialist

Location:

US-TX-Dallas

Job :

Type:
Regular Full-Time

# of Openings: 1

Category:
Foster Care & Adoption

At Upbring, our team is united by a shared mission: to break the cycle of child abuse and advance the wellbeing of children, families and communities, empowering them to thrive. As servant‑leaders, we lead by example, working passionately to create a brighter future for those we serve. Every day, we strive to embody our core values:

• We are Warriors
  :
  Fierce, resilient, and courageous, we face challenges head‑on with unwavering loyalty and passion.
• We are Servants
  :
  We dedicate ourselves to serving others, empowering those around us to thrive.
• We are Family
  :
  We work together as a supportive, caring community, creating a sense of belonging and strength.

Joining Upbring means becoming part of a family of passionate individuals who are fearless in their pursuit of lasting change. Together, we are making a difference, one life at a time.

The Statewide Placement Specialist is responsible for assessing children to determine an appropriate match with potential qualifying foster families; analyzing and deploying the current network of foster care parents and community partners to aid in the placement and/or adoption of foster care children in the Foster in Texas (FIT) program.

• Provide appropriate social services in accordance with licensing standards, contract terms, agency policies, accreditation standards and funding requirements.
• Respond promptly to placement calls (phone/email) and perform intake/eligibility assessments to match children with foster families.
• Monitor timelines for placements and alert leadership to potential delays or issues.
• Track referrals received for placement, including documenting referral sources, status, and outcomes in the Agency's database.
• Collaborate with the Foster Care & Adoption team to recruit and maintain a diverse pool of certified homes for emergency and long‑term placements.
• Represent the agency as a liaison within the foster care and adoption provider network to create and initiate community‑wide recruitment and placement efforts.
• Respond to inquiries from parents, partner agencies, and staff regarding intake, eligibility, placement and post‑placement processes.
• Record and maintain information and statistics necessary to measure the effectiveness of recruitment and placement efforts.
• Cross‑train and provide back‑up support for intake‑related process, including the completion and/or review of foster and adoptive placements.
• Assist staff with identifying and creating partnerships with other community agencies; establish and maintain relationships to aid in collaboration of recruitment and placement efforts.
• Participate in on‑call rotation to ensure timely response to placement and support needs.
• Develop and maintain positive and strong working relationships with the Foster Care and Adoption teams and foster care parents and families, while maintaining professional and ethical boundaries always.
• Work as a team player and exhibit professional behavior and a positive attitude with both internal and external clients that reflects positively on the Agency and is consistent with Agency policies and practices.
• Actively participate in exhibiting cultural awareness and sensitivity when interacting with children, parents (s)/ guardian(s), staff and the community.

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a closely related field.
• Child Placement Management Staff (CPMS).
• Three (3) years of relevant experience in foster care, child welfare, or adoption.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines and prioritize competing tasks/projects.
• Strong customer service skills; respond to telephone and in‑person inquiries in a pleasant and professional manner.
• Strong people and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact and work with diverse groups of people.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• At…