Community Relations Specialist - Child Welfare

JOB SUMMARY:

The Community Relations Specialist is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with key community partners, civic groups, faith-based organizations, and media outlets to promote fostering and adopting in the five-county area. The Community Relations Specialist will be also be responsible for the organization and tracking of foster and adoptive parent recruitment activities including marketing, analyzing client needs and demographics to determine recruitment goals, researching target populations and locations to determine where best to initiate recruitment initiatives, and seeking opportunities to conduct presentations and participate in speaking engagements that enhance community awareness and increases recruitment potential. Partner with Community Affairs and leadership to implement and track recruitment activities, including but not limited to presentations, media interviews, social media initiatives, events, web-based, and earned media opportunities. 

 ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Conducts data and market analysis, interviews with key informants, determines needs and reports findings to the Senior Director of Out of Home Care and Chief of Operations. 

Identifies:

• Potential foster homes that can serve specific age ranges, special needs (behavioral, medical, etc.), large sibling groups, and special population groups.
• Potential foster homes that have one stay at home parent or retired caregivers.
• Potential homes in areas where children go to school.
• Potential foster parents with educational background with children who might be developmentally delayed, autistic or other mental health diagnosis.

1. The Recruiter shall develop a Recruitment Plan for the purpose of recruiting individuals who have previously held public safety and services positions, such as former law enforcement officers, first responders, military service members, teachers, health care practitioners, and emergency management professionals.
2. The Recruiter shall complete the recruitment plan and submit quarterly outlining efforts to target the population to the Department of Children and Families.
3. The Recruiter will submit a recruitment plan monthly as to new contractual requirements to the Senior Director of OHC.
4. The Recruiter will submit an Annual Recruitment Plan to the Senior Director per the contractual obligations with the Department of Children and Families.

1. Conducts foster parent orientation monthly as a pre-requisite to interested parties participating in the PRIDE Training for foster and adoptive parents.

1. The Recruiter Understands the qualities desired in a foster and adoptive parent and the expectations that Kids Central has for these parents. The Recruiter will accurately articulate needs and expectations of the population we serve.
2. Conducts recruitment activities with community partners, to include foster parents.
3. Develops tracking and reporting documents that demonstrate trends, patterns, and outcomes that are produced monthly.
4. Creates, organizes, and completes speeches and presentations to community groups, businesses and churches discussing the need for foster and adoptive parents.
5. Partners with Community Affairs Director to write media advisories and press releases and participates in media interviews as deemed appropriate. 
6. Writes news stories, blogs, and success stories for various outlets.
7. Kids Central represents public forums consistent with the brand and company’s mission, vision and values. 
8. Builds and maintains relationships with key partners throughout the five counties in the interest of recruiting and supporting foster and adoptive families. 
9. Become proficient in the various areas of Kids Central in the interest of building knowledge to speak on all programs depending on the needs and interests of the audience. 
10. Participates in community events within circuit 5 to include but not limited to churches, schools, festivals and recruitment events for the target population.
11. Occasional weekends and evenings 

This list of essential functions is not intended to be exhaustive. Kids Central, Inc. reserves the right to revise this job description as needed to comply with actual job requirements. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

 QUALIFICATIONS:

 Education/Experience

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Communications Advertising, or related field and a minimum of 4 years’ experience. Member of Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) preferred. Accredited in Public Relations by FPRA highly desired. Experience in Child Welfare is preferred as well. Additional years of experience may be substituted for education.

• Other Requirements

Ability to clear a Level II Background Screen

Valid Florida driver’s license and insurable by agency’s current insurance carrier

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

•  Ability to meet Organizational Required Competency standards. 
• Excellent facilitation skills
• Demonstrate effective conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to communicate Kids Central’s policy and procedures to partner agencies.
• Skills in strategic planning and short and long-term goal development.
• Formulate ways to identify trends, interpret, and monitor data in order to establish best practices as well as implement quality improvement and corrective action.
• Knowledge of computer programs and ability to learn internal systems.
• Can work flexible hours, including occasional evenings or weekends.
• Excellent follow-up and communication skills.
• Demonstrates strong initiative, sense of urgency and ability to work independently.
• Demonstrates the ability to be agents of change in supporting Kids Central’s mission, vision, and strategic plan.
• Perform other business duties as assigned by management.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This job operates in a professional office environment and off-site venues. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects up to 5 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 15 pounds.

Our mission is, “Protecting Children, Supporting Families, and Engaging Communities”. Kids Central, Inc. is the lead Community Based Care agency for child welfare in Circuit 5, which encompasses Marion, Lake, Hernando, Sumter, and Citrus Counties. We maintain a system of care for children and families that have experienced or are at-risk of experiencing child abuse or neglect. Kids Central, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, disability, or veteran status as those terms are defined under applicable law. Kids Central is a Drug-Free Workplace, Equal Employment Opportunity and E-Verify Employer.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

Kids Central, Inc. provides a comprehensive compensation package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) with company match, and a generous paid time off allotment.

Employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V