The work of the Placement and Resource unit is about supporting foster families and facilitating placements of children in foster homes to ensure the children are provided with a nurturing, stable and protective environment. Supervisor Karen Roberts answers a few questions about the unit.
Foster Family News: What is your background as a manager?
Karen Roberts: I started as a supervisor approximately one year ago with the Placement and Resource unit. Prior to that I worked as a resource specialist in the unit which provided me with an understanding of the complexities of child placements and the rewarding and sometimes difficult work performed by our foster parents.
FFN: What is your philosophy of social work?
KR: Working as a team in Child Welfare to meet the permanency needs of families and children.
FFN: How long have you worked in the field of social work?
KR: I have worked in the field of social work for 18 plus years. I initially started working at a therapeutic foster care agency as a case manager. I was then hired by Fairfax County and started working for Juvenile Court as a probation counselor at Stepping Stones (formerly Boys Probation House). I then moved on to Fairfax DFS where I have worked as a Foster Care and Child Protective Services specialist, court liaison and as a resource specialist. I have been in my role as supervisor for approximately one year.
FFN: What is the name of your unit?
KR: Placement and Resource Unit
FFN: What is the structure of your unit?
KR: We are a unit of ten individuals; the supervisor, four placement coordinators, four resource workers and an admin assistant.
Placement coordinators work to secure placement options for youth separated from their biological families, respites when a planned respite is needed and placements for youth needing a higher level of care such as residential and group homes. The placement coordinators assist the foster families in setting up initial supports such as day care or SACC for families who request the service. They arrange transportation for older children to get to and from their community school if needed. Placement coordinators respond to after-hours emergencies and help to support a resource family or respond to separations by Child Protective Services.
Resource specialists work collaboratively with our foster parents and the case carrying specialists to support the children we serve in their placements. Additionally, they assist by matching a child’s needs with a family’s strengths. Resource specialists support foster families in providing a nurturing setting in which children can have success. They help foster parents address any emotional, developmental, and educational needs the children may have. Resource specialists aid foster parents to Bridge the Gap with biological parents and their children in order to support the goal of returning home. Resource specialists respond to after-hours emergencies and help to support a resource family or respond to separations by Child Protective Services.
The admin assistant helps the unit and the supervisor with the day to day running of the unit and conducts many other services behind the scenes.
FFN: What does your unit do, and what is the main goal of your unit?
KR: We support foster families and facilitate placements of children in foster homes to ensure the children we serve are provided with a nurturing, stable and protective environment. Additionally, we make every effort to make the first placement the last placement. We strive to change the lives of children one at a time.
FFN: Do you provide other supports to families?
KR: We educate families, work to maintain stable placements, provide crisis intervention, work to empower foster families, promote foster family’s advocacy for themselves and their foster child(ren) and actively support the families through their foster care journey.
FFN: Who does the unit serve, and approximately how many people does that include?
KR: Children, Youth and Families as a whole, the community, foster children, biological parents, relatives and Therapeutic Foster Care agencies.
FFN: What is one thing you want people to know about your unit?
KR: We are very dedicated staff who strive to provide permanency, safety and well-being through a teamwork approach.
FFN: How can they reach the unit?
KR: Families can reach out to their resource worker or the placement coordinators by phone, text or email. During the day the number to call is 703-324-7639 and for after-hours emergencies contact the Foster Parent Support Line at 703-257-3974. You can always reach out to me at Karen.Roberts@fairfaxcounty.gov or at 703-324-7448, if you need help getting in touch with your resource specialist.
FFN: When should they reach out to your unit?
KR: Foster families should reach out to our unit when they have questions, concerns, to seek support, to check-in or just to say “Hi.”
FFN: Is there any other question that you wish I had asked about your unit? If so, please provide an answer.
KR: How do you get to know the foster families?
Through introductions following the completion of training, home visits, building of ongoing relationships with their resource workers, and when foster families are contacted for placement, even in the middle of the night.
FFN: What is your favorite thing about the work you do?
KR: Working as a team with our foster families, appreciating foster families who open their homes to the children we serve, working with a dedicated group of professionals, the rewards of seeing children achieve permanency, safety, and well-being, and expanding access to services for the families and children whom we serve.
This article posting is part of the Foster Family News monthly newsletter designed to keep foster parents informed about all the new and notable happenings in Fairfax County.
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