New

Adoptive Parent Consultant- Kalamazoo County

D.A. Blodgett

18 To 20 (USD) Hourly

United States, Michigan, Grand Rapids

2172 Dean Lake Avenue Northeast (Show on map)

Nov 22, 2025

Adoptive Family Support Network

Adoptive Parent Consultant- Level I

Job Summary & Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

Job Title: Adoptive Parent Consultant Kalamazoo County

Department & Division: AFSN

Reports To:

Beginning Pay Range: $18.00-20.00 per hour

Classification: Part time- Non-Exempt

Location: Kalamazoo County

D.A. Blodgett- St. John's

MISSION STATEMENT: To help children and empower families by providing safety, advocacy, and support.

VISION: A safe, nurturing home for every child, a supportive community for every family.

VALUES:

Exceptional Service: Client-focused and teaming at the center of our work.
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion: All are welcomed, valued, and belong.
Excellence: Ongoing commitment to learning and improvement.
Integrity: Responsibility and ownership of our actions and results.
Creativity: Imagination, innovation, and intelligent risk taking.
Passion: Relentless positive energy toward our mission and vision.

SANCTUARY COMMITMENTS:

Nonviolence: Maintaining safety for all members of the community.
Emotional Intelligence: Managing emotions so we don't hurt ourselves or others.
Social Learning: Together we accomplish more, we care for one another.
Democracy: Everyone has a voice, not necessarily a vote.
Open Communication: Respecting and sharing ideas of our team.
Social Responsibility: Say what you mean, don't be mean when you say it.
Growth & Change: Creating hope for ourselves and the people we serve.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Adoptive Parent Consultant partners with adoptive parents to access support, information, community resources needed to support the lifelong wellbeing of adoptive families. Support services are provided via phone, text, direct messaging, email, video conferencing, and/or in person with families and community partners. The primary functions of this role are providing direct services including but not limited to: moderation of virtual support groups, facilitating and/or assisting parent partners and agencies to develop support groups, reflective listening and responsivity to needs presented by the adoptive parents, community outreach and collaboration, and ongoing learning to best serve adoptive families. This is a part-time, 18-20 hours per week, hybrid position with limited travel to Grand Rapids and throughout Michigan as required. This position is grant funded and delivered by the Adoptive Family Support Network (AFSN) program at D.A. Blodgett - St. John's. The Adoptive Parent Consultant reports to the AFSN Supervisor.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Responds to contacts, provides support and/or resources, and follows in a timely manner.
In partnership with AFSN, cultivates inclusive and equitable working relationships with diverse groups of adoptive families, community partners, colleagues, and public and private agencies.
In partnership, organizes and hosts recruitment and retention activities that are client driven, culturally relevant, and accessible to all adoptive families.
In partnership, facilitates or develops community-based support groups.
Collaborate with team members to ensure culturally responsive care and programming is offered
Identifies local and regional resources relevant to the needs of adoptive families.
Participates in ongoing learning opportunities to problem-solve and exchange knowledge with other APCs and/or parent leaders located throughout Michigan.
Demonstrate sensitivity to cultural, ethnic and linguistic differences in all interactions with youth and families.
Participates in AFSN team meetings twice per month virtually and in person twice annually.
Participates in bi-weekly supervision with AFSN Supervisor virtually twice per month.
Documents client data and contacts as specified by AFSN.
Maintain a monthly log of community events and activities hosted or attended.
Acts as a cultural bridge between youth, families and community groups from different backgrounds.
Participates in boards or committees to collaborate, network, and build community partnerships.
Ability to travel to scheduled mandatory meetings or training, as necessary.
Ability to travel to provide or attend scheduled in person community events and activities.

Supervision Received: General direction- plans and arranging own work. Uses a wide range of procedures to accomplish assigned objectives.

Supervisory Responsibilities: No supervisory responsibilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

High school diploma or equivalent
Three years direct lived experience participating in at least one of the following processes: adoption of a child in Michigan, another state, or internationally; partial, full, or juvenile guardianship of a child in Michigan. Exception may be given to individuals with three years of experience that also included time as a foster parent or relative caregiver.
Knowledge of community resources and support for adoptive parents in their communities.
Access to reliable transportation, possesses a valid driver's license, positive driving record, and proof of automobile insurance.
Possess an understanding and sensitivity to the client's socioeconomic characteristics with personal qualities of warmth with the ability to establish meaningful relationships with people from various cultures.
Knowledge of cultural values, norms and practices for key populations served to effectively address disparities.
Ability to work flexible hours based on the needs of the families served, including nights and weekends if necessary.
Ability to provide high-quality customer service, handle multiple priorities simultaneously, and prioritize activities to meet deadlines of the position.
Proficiency or the ability to become proficient with Microsoft Office suite, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Share Point, Teams, and Outlook, and SalesForce software.
A personal commitment to the Agency's mission, philosophy, and values.
Prior to final offer, ability to pass all Internal Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) National, State Sex Offender Registry and Central Registry Clearance documenting that there is no record of child abuse or neglect.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Communication: Ability to effectively receive and express ideas, both written and verbal; using clear and concise vocabulary and active listening skills. Ability to communicate with small and large groups and ability to communicate with all.
Customer Service: A desire to serve others by focusing efforts on listening and responding effectively to questions, providing services, and evaluating customer satisfaction.
Resource Management: Ability to decern appropriate use of company resources to accomplish goals, considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Decision Making: Ability to select and commit to an effective course of action by understanding issues, comparing solutions, and drawing conclusions to resolve problems.
Working Under Pressure: Ability to maintain composure when exposed to stress.
Planning and Organizing: Ability to set priorities and allocate resources properly in order to effectively achieve work responsibilities and objectives.
Accountability: Acceptance of responsibility and one's own actions.
Detail Orientation: Pay attention to detail, accuracy, and completeness.
Teamwork: Effectively interacts with people by being able to share and receive information that supports team goals.
Cultural Responsiveness: Ability to recognize, respect, and adapt to cultural differences, promote equity and inclusion in all aspects of care.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Average Daily Physical Requirements	None	Less than 2 hours	2 to 5 hours	5+ hours
Work in stationary position
Move about work area
Use hands/fingers to handle or feel
Reach with hands and arms
Ascend/Descend (stairs/ladder/etc.)
Bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
Communicate with various parties
Detect flavors or smells
Move containers up to [x] pounds
Visual acuity
Read and understand written word
Drive/Travel
Operate computer and general office machines
Operate machines or material handling equipment

Environmental Conditions:

Average Daily Environmental Conditions	None	Less than 2 hours	2 to 5 hours	5+ hours
Office Environment: No exposure to extreme heat, cold, noise, chemicals or hazardous equipment.
Manufacturing Environment: Exposure to dust, oil, various chemicals, solvents, or fumes.
Medical Environment: Exposure to body fluids, radiation, medical equipment, solvents or chemicals.
Noise: Exposure to constant or intermittent extreme sounds.
Temperature: Exposure to extreme heat or cold either indoors or outside.

DABSJ strives to be a fully inclusive organization as we support a diverse group of children and families. We are building a diverse team that represents our customers and our community and recognize that each of us brings a unique perspective to the organization. We welcome differing thoughts, faiths, beliefs, groups, and lived experiences. The diversity and differences of each team member, foster parent, adoptive parent, child, and family make us #DABSJstrongertogether for children and families.

DABSJ is an equal opportunity, at-will employer, and will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment. DABSJ does not discriminate on the basis of race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists; culture, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, height, weight, marital status, veteran status, socio-economic status, disability, or other legally-protected characteristics as required by law.

This job description does not list all duties of the job. Employees may be asked by management to perform other duties as needed. The Company reserves the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description is not a contract for employment and does not infringe upon the Company's at will employment status.