Adoption Navigator/Family Recruitment Assistant

Position: Adoption Navigator/Family Recruitment Assistant

Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE)

Status: Full Time, Non\-Exempt or Part Time, Exempt

Reports to: Program Supervisor

Job Summary

Adoption Navigators are experienced foster, adoptive and/or kinship parents who provide information, support and guidance to families throughout the state. The Adoption Navigator/Family Recruitment Assistant is responsible for developing and implementing strategic recruitment efforts to increase the number of prospective adoptive families for youth photolisted through MARE. This role focuses on public speaking, community partnerships, outreach events, and marketing initiatives to generate family inquiries, which are then referred to Adoption Navigators for individualized support and navigation.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Adoption Navigators must have experience as an adoptive parent.
• Provide direct, personalized guidance and support to prospective and current adoptive families.
• Build rapport with families, offering resources, information, and encouragement.
• Participate in recruitment activities and public awareness efforts to promote adoption from foster care.
• Identify and cultivate partnerships with community organizations, faith communities, employers, colleges, service clubs, and civic groups.
• Develop and deliver engaging presentations tailored to diverse audiences.
• Deliver virtual and in\-person training sessions to families and professionals as needed.
• Attend monthly and quarterly team meetings in Ann Arbor and support statewide events/trainings.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation through data entry and reporting.
• Very organized, detail oriented, meets deadlines, adheres to contract requirements, can multi task, works well on a team and has a positive outlook about adoption from foster care.
• Ability to work independently and meet job requirements.
• Sensitive to the concerns of current and potential adoptive parents and ability to establish rapport quickly and effectively with families.
• Ability to identify resources available to adoptive families statewide.
• Willing to share personal experiences with adoption in a professional manner with the public.
• Complete 25 hours of yearly required trainings.
• Completes all mandatory trainings, as required by contract and Judson Center.
• Attends all scheduled meetings, including supervisions, program meetings, and all staff.
• Provides MARE Hotline coverage as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills \& Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Communications, recruitment, marketing, and/or sales experience would be helpful.
• Valid Michigan Driver’s License, appropriate insurance and use of own vehicle.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, evenings and weekends and travel/work statewide.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with the process of joining a Zoom or Microsoft Teams meeting is essential.
• Personal experience with the child welfare system as a foster, adoptive, relative, or kinship caregiver.
• Involvement in the local foster/adoptive family community and foster/adoptive family groups.
• Ability to relate to current and prospective adoptive, foster and kinship families.
• Ability to relate to local DHHS and private agency personnel.
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to provide culturally competent services that shows sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Ability to engage diverse families (kinship, LGBTQ\+, BIPOC communities, rural families)

Working Conditions

• Works mostly at home or in the community, office environment as needed.
• Position will most likely require evening and weekend hours to cover events, recruitment activities, and presentations within the state of Michigan.
• Full\-time position, 40 hours per week or possible part time position is 20 hours a week.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to pass Central Registry Clearance, Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) check, and National/State Sex Offender Registry check.

This description is intended to describe the type and level of work being performed by a person assigned to this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of a person so classified. The employee is expected to adhere to all company policies and perform other duties as assigned for the good of the consumers, the program, the department and the agency.

*I HAVE READ* *AND* *UNDERSTAND THE ABOVE POSITION DESCRIPTION* *AND* *HAVE RECEIVED A* *COPY* *OF IT. IN ADDITION, I UNDERSTAND THAT MY SUPERVISOR WILL FURTHER EXPLAIN THE DUTIES* *AND* *RESPONSIBILITIES TO ME DURING MY PROGRAM ORIENTATION. IF I NEED FURTHER CLARIFICATION, I WILL ADDRESS QUESTIONS TO MY SUPERVISOR.*