Amara is committed to positive long-term outcomes for children and families. We drive systemic change, promote healing, and advance racial and LGBTQ+ equity by offering programs and services to families engaged with foster care and to adoptees and families, post-adoption.

At Amara, we believe that a supportive, equitable and inclusive workplace, where everyone feels valued, trusted, and nurtured, is key to shaping organizational culture and investing in underrepresented communities. Amara believes that a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace culture enhances our ability to fulfill our mission. We strongly invite candidates from diverse backgrounds, including communities of color, the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply.

We are seeking to hire a Family Support Specialist to work with adoptive families and youth adoptees.  The Family Support Specialist will have a variety of responsibilities, including supporting the complex relationships between birth families, adoptees and adoptive parents. A common factor complicating these relationships is due to socioeconomic and racial disparities between the parties, as well as the historical underpinnings of adopting through foster-care. Our permanency support services will encompass kinship care, reunification and adoption. The Family Support Specialist must be able to recognize these dynamics and address the issue in a compassionate and empathic manner by facilitating meaningful conversations. Our work is formed by The Inclusive Family Support model which provides support for adoptive parents in creating a spirit of openness for the benefit of their children. The Family Support Specialist will need to be highly organized, have strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to hold firm boundaries while also acting with a high level of compassion for the families we serve, and community members they will interact with.

Amara believes that a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace culture enhances our ability to fulfill our mission. We strive for equality and justice in the way people are treated and the opportunities they have to succeed by working to address racism, unequal treatment, and other barriers to inclusion. We strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds (including communities of color, the LGBT community, veterans, and people with disabilities) to apply and join us in our work.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Support adoptive families utilizing the Inclusive Family Support Model
• Support the development of youth adoptee programing
• Administration of all physical correspondence between birth and adoptive families
• Communicate with all members of the triad via phone, text, email or in-person regarding supportive services
• Facilitate post-adoption visits with adoptive families, birth families and adoptees when necessary
• Implement and offer pre-visit and post-visit debrief sessions for all members of the triad
• Understand and help maintain the integrity of Official Communication Agreements
• Discern impact and provide psychoeducation when socioeconomic factors, racial disparities and power differentials effect the triad relationships.
• Meet regularly with supervisor to consult on cases, to review case plans and evaluate progress
• Occasionally represent Amara at community and outreach events

Assist with reports, documentation, and administrative tasks.

Qualifications

• Education/Experience Requirement –
  • Master’s degree in Human Services or related field and one year of social services experience
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field with a minimum of 2 years of experience
  • Associates Degree in Human Services or Social Work with 3 to 5 years related experience
• Experience with social services, specifically with youth and families.
• Experience coordinating and managing programs or services.
• Experience working with diverse families (variety of religions, races, cultures, ages, and socioeconomic levels).
• Initiative, independence, flexibility, and maturity.
• Highly organized with good communication and problem-solving skills.
• Strong writing skills with ability to remain neutral and unbiased in reporting.
• Experience with MS Word, Outlook, and Excel a plus
•  Ability to pass a background check
• Must provide proof of current flu, Tdap and COVID-19 vaccinations
• Must have current or be able to provide within 90 days of hire date CPR/First Aid Certification and BBP within the past 5 years
• Must be at least 21 years of age

Criminal Background Check 

Because this position has access to confidential client, employee, or financial information OR direct interaction with children any final candidate hired into this position must successfully pass a criminal background check performed by the State of Washington. Any job offer is contingent on successfully passing this background check.  A list of disqualifying convictions for this position is available at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/FSA/bccu/documents/Secretary%27sCrimesListforALLPrograms.pdf.  

Salary and Benefits

$50,000 to $52,890, DOE. Generous personal leave and benefits package, including paid time off, paid sabbatical, health, vision and dental insurance, 401k with a company match, life and disability insurance.

To Apply

To express your interest in this position, please send your resume and a one-page cover letter indicating why this position is the right opportunity for you in Smart Recruiters. Resumes submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.

Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.

Amara is an Equal Opportunity Employer