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How to hire an adoption specialist

Adoption specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring adoption specialists in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire an adoption specialist is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new adoption specialist to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire an adoption specialist, step by step

To hire an adoption specialist, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a adoption specialist:

Here's a step-by-step adoption specialist hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an adoption specialist job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new adoption specialist
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring an adoption specialist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    An adoption specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, adoption specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of adoption specialists.

    Type of Adoption SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Adoption SpecialistSocial workers help people solve and cope with problems in their everyday lives. One group of social workers—clinical social workers—also diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional issues.$13-27
    Service CounselorService counselors provide guidance to couples, individuals, groups, and families who are going through issues that influence their well-being and mental health. They comprehensively approach their clients by utilizing a "wellness" model that focuses on and motivate the client's potentials... Show more$11-24
    Family CounselorA Family Counselor treats married couples or family members in order to help them overcome mental or emotional problems. They provide effective treatment measures to help the family members resolve their issues.$12-29
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Foster Care
    • Social Work
    • Adoption Process
    • Mental Health
    • Child Welfare System
    • Social Services
    • PET
    • Phone Calls
    • Support Services
    • Court Hearings
    • Kids
    • Compassion
    • Family Assessments
    • Community Resources
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Lead a special DSS project to give pre and post adoptive services to families.
    • Lead presentation and training sessions to community and inter-agency groups.
    • Mediate conflicts between patients, handle medical emergencies, assist patients in developing and implementing positive and cooperative living skills.
    • Work within various Michigan court systems, along with DHS, and various area agencies as needed.
    • Follow all legal, licensing, DHS, and agency requirements and policies regarding adoption and adoption best practices.
    • Conduct case management services for children in DSS custody.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your adoption specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An adoption specialist can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, adoption specialists' average salary in mississippi is 54% less than in new jersey.
    • Seniority. Entry-level adoption specialists 49% less than senior-level adoption specialists.
    • Certifications. An adoption specialist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an adoption specialist's salary.

    Average adoption specialist salary

    $41,070yearly

    $19.75 hourly rate

    Entry-level adoption specialist salary
    $29,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 23, 2026
  4. Writing an adoption specialist job description

    An adoption specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an adoption specialist job description:

    Adoption specialist job description example

    $1,00 Sign-On Bonus after 3 months of Hire!!

    Our vision is for Spectrum Child & Family Services: to be the leader in the community known for exemplary programming that protects, advocates, treats and educates the consumers we serve & excellence in training, mentoring & development of the individuals we employ.

    If you have a passion for working with children that have experienced abused and neglect to ensure that a forever home is found, Spectrum Child and Family Services’ Adoption Specialist position is for you. Working with individuals that will open their homes and hearts to children that have experienced trauma is an exceptional skill and SCFS provides you the opportunity to share your unique strengths with families while providing you the opportunity to grow in your own professional development.

    GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES: The Licensing Specialist recruits, licenses, supervises and trains foster family homes for youth needing out-of-home placement; works a non-traditional, flexible work week including evenings and weekends when necessary, transports foster children using own vehicle when necessary, responds to family crisis in efforts of maintaining family member's safety and reinstating family stability, coordinates the provision of collateral services as required by the State of Michigan laws, Division of Child Welfare Licensing (DCWL) requirements and applicable Service Standards.

    QUALIFICATIONS :

    A. Education: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree one of the following human services areas: social work, sociology, psychology, forensic psychology, interdisciplinary studies in social science, education, community development, law enforcement, behavioral science, gerontology, special education, education of the emotionally disturbed, education of the gifted, family ecology, community services, family studies, family and/or child development, counseling psychology, criminal justice, human services or in a human services-related counseling major.

    B. Experience: Two-years experience working with families and assessment skills preferred, Child Welfare Training Institute training required.

    C. Skills: interpersonal skills, time management skills, conflict resolution skills, computer skills, and documentation skills Licensing Specialist NAME Page 2 of 2

    D. Knowledge: strength based family work, solution focused treatment, adoption process/ policies and procedures, child development, child welfare laws, foster care process

    E. Transportation: Reliable and ongoing as required to make home visits, court attendance and provide transportation to youth and families, valid un-restricted driver’s license, good driving record, proof of automobile insurance.

    F. Other: State of Michigan Licensing Requirements: Satisfactory DHHS Central Registry Clearance and State Police Record Check, negative TB Test, satisfactory physical exam.


    BENEFITS OFFERED :

    A. Medical/Dental/Vision

    B. 403B

    C. Flexible Spending Account

    D. Day Care Spending Account

    E. Paid Time Of

  5. Post your job

    To find adoption specialists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any adoption specialists they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level adoption specialists with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your adoption specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit adoption specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with adoption specialist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new adoption specialist

    Once you've found the adoption specialist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new adoption specialist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an adoption specialist?

Before you start to hire adoption specialists, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire adoption specialists pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $41,070 per year for an adoption specialist, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for adoption specialists in the US typically range between $13 and $27 an hour.

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