Description We're seeking a compassionate, organized, and relationship-focused professional with experience working with children and families. The ideal candidate is comfortable conducting home visits, facilitating training, managing detailed documentation, and working independently in a field-based environment. Position Overview- The Resource Development Specialist guides prospective foster, kinship, and adoptive families through the licensing process. This role facilitates pre-service training, conducts home study and renewal assessments, and ensures compliance with Missouri licensing requirements. The position is primarily field-based and involves home visits, interviews, documentation, and regular travel throughout the service area. The ideal candidate is organized, relationship-focused, and passionate about helping children and families. Day in the Life- As a Resource Development Specialist, you'll work closely with prospective foster, kinship, and adoptive families throughout the licensing process. Your day may include facilitating pre-service training, conducting home visits and interviews, completing home study assessments, and reviewing required documentation. This is a primarily field-based role that involves regular travel throughout the service area and occasional evening or weekend training sessions. You'll build strong relationships with families while ensuring compliance with Missouri licensing requirements. Success in this role requires strong communication, organization, assessment, and documentation skills, along with a passion for helping families provide safe and supportive homes for children. Work Schedule- Standard Schedule of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with flexibility required for occasional evening and Saturday training sessions. The role is primarily field-based and includes regular travel to family homes, training locations, community sites, and DSS offices throughout the assigned service area. Mileage reimbursement is provided in accordance with agency policy. This position does not require on-call coverage or after-hours crisis response responsibilities.

EDUCATION, CREDENTIALS

&

EXPERIENCE- Required :

• Bachelor's degree in social work, Human Services, Psychology, Child Development, or a closely related behavioral science field from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working directly with children and families in child welfare, foster care, social services, or a closely related field.

Preferred :

• Master's degree in social work or a related field.
• Prior experience facilitating MO C.A.R.E., TIPS-MAPP, or comparable state-required pre-service foster parent training curriculum.
• Prior experience completing foster care or adoption home study assessments.
• Experience working in Southwest Missouri or familiarity with the child welfare landscape in the Joplin, Nevada, or Kansas City service areas.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred given the demographics of the southwest Missouri service region.

CERTIFICATIONS

& LICENSES-

• Current, valid Missouri driver's license with an acceptable driving record; reliable personal transportation required for field travel throughout the service area.

MO C.A.R.E.

Trainer Certification (required; if not held at hire, must be obtained within 90

• All required background checks — state and federal fingerprint-based criminal history, Missouri CANTS child abuse and neglect registry — must be completed and cleared before any client-facing activity.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

- Primarily field-based with regular travel throughout the assigned service area. Frequent home visits, training facilitation, and meetings in community and office settings. Ability to drive regularly and spend extended periods standing, walking, and conducting home assessments. Ability to lift and carry training materials up to 25 lbs. Work is performed in a variety of environments, including homes, community facilities, schools, and government offices. Reasonable accommodations provided in accordance with the ADA and applicable laws.