MICHELLE SCHMITZ
1HOPE for Kids
St. Hedwig
1
Language
1
Certification
10
years of professional experience
Director of Family Home Development leading Christ-centered foster home verification, licensing, and training for family-based care programs. Oversees 5–6 home studies per month, 13+ foster parent training sessions per quarter, and regulatory documentation while guiding 4 licensing staff members and supporting placement decisions. Strengthens foster family retention through agency collaboration, ongoing education, and consistent technical support.
Work History
Director of Family Home Development
3 Years 7 Months- Oversaw verification process for foster homes in Foster Care programs to ensure compliance with regulatory standards
- Reviews and approves any corrective action plans for team
- Reviews and approves all prospective foster parents’ documentation (e.g., assessments, Home Studies, Risk Evaluations, backgrounds etc.)
- Awareness of all legislation and other requirements concerning training and licensing of foster families
- Serve as a technical resource for new and existing foster homes and employees
- Oversee foster home evaluations on all foster homes in accordance with regulatory standards
- Supervises licensing team including planning for the employee’s professional development and taking any other appropriate action in regard to licensing decisions in conjunction with the COO and CEO
- Plans, implements, and reviews of potential disruptions with licensing in conjunction with the COO and CEO
- Provides information to families, professionals, colleagues, and others in order to maximize good decision-making processes
- Developed and maintained collaborative relationships with social service agencies to enhance inter-agency service delivery
- Informs the COO and CEO of any potential family and/or child concerns
- Oversee the supervision of foster-adoptive homes both administratively and programmatically
- Provides and coordinates training
- Ensure all foster home agency home reports and foster home verifications are submitted according to contract and licensing standards
- Ensure monthly foster home statistics on bed availability are maintained
- Ensure that all family files are up to Minimum Standards and Contract Regulations
- Research, develop and participate in methods of recruitment & retention of foster homes
- Oversee, support, and maintain open lines of communication with foster families throughout the training and licensing process
- Ensure all initial licensing documentation packets are reviewed and submitted as required by Minimum Standards and Contract Regulations
- Ensured ongoing support for licensed foster families by facilitating positive relationships and assessing needs of families and children
- Ensure the provision of continuing education classes for licensed foster parents in accordance with licensing and contractual requirements
- Assist in the decision-making process of identifying appropriate placement decisions of children into 1HOPE licensed foster homes upon referral from DFPS
- Oversee in-service training of foster parents
- When needed, work in conjunction with Development projects in representing 1HOPE at community events
- Completed additional tasks directed by the COO and CEO
Family Home Developer
3 Years 2 Months- Completed documentation for application and home studies for foster families prior to licensure
- Ensure that all family files are up to Minimum Standards and Contract Regulations
- Maintained family files in compliance with Minimum Standards and Contract Regulations
- Ensure ongoing support for licensed foster families - facilitating positive working relationships between families and 1HOPE while assessing and re-assessing needs of families and their children
- Ensure the provision of continuing education classes for licensed foster parents in accordance with licensing and contractual requirements
- Provided ongoing support for licensed foster families, fostering positive relationships with 1HOPE while assessing and addressing needs of families and their children
- Attend in-service trainings in accordance with contractual and licensing requirements
- Collaborated with Development projects to represent 1HOPE at community events
Case Manager
1 Year 2 Months- Apply case management knowledge to develop Individual Service Plans to establish that appropriate services are provided for each child in placement and to ensure compliance with Minimum Standards, contract regulations and 4KIDS policies
- Facilitated placement of children into foster/adoptive homes or alternative living arrangements, ensuring suitability and stability.
- Facilitate the service planning process and document the child’s progress in relation to the Service Plan goals and assist with recommendations for modification of treatment
- Works in conjunction with the treatment team to decide the most effective services needed to benefit the child and communicates those decisions to the foster family, the school, the referral agency and community resources
- Monitors, maintains contact, and supports foster/adoptive families including the initiation of development plans, corrective actions or adverse actions
- Apply knowledge of case management techniques to assess the quality and appropriateness of services being provided to each child in placement.
- Identify and target problem behaviors and measure progress for use during treatment team meetings
- Determine, with input from the treatment team, appropriate diagnostic testing and evaluation to ensure that all services specified in each program description are completed
- Schedules and coordinates testing and evaluations.
- Monitored and evaluated foster homes for compliance with minimum standards, contract regulations, and 4KIDS policies, ensuring child safety and well-being.
- Monitored progress and ensured health and safety of children in care, advocating for their needs and well-being.
Family and Community Coordinator
2 Years- Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with prospective families and community members based on trust and respect.
- Raised awareness of the school by planning and hosting events and engaging families in discussions about the school’s mission and vision.
- KIPP Parent Organization liaison and partner for the school. Manage all communication, attend all meetings, and prepare school leadership for any participation in the meeting, inclusive of presentations and school documents.
- Actively seeks out new community partnerships based on the needs and wants of community members.
- Established and leveraged a community network to enhance student recruitment efforts.
- Recruits and orients volunteers for the purpose of accomplishing assigned functions.
- Develop and lead an internal recruitment committee comprising of various staff functions.
- Host Open Houses, Block Walks, and any events recruitment events to get the best return of applications.
- Meet monthly recruitment goals; lead all application data entry efforts.
- Ensures that communication between the school and home is strong and troubleshoots areas of need as necessary
- Prepares written materials for the purpose of communicating information to our families, including regular newsletters, providing written reference, and documenting activities.
- Coordinates educational opportunities for the purpose of promoting student achievement, student attendance and school-home partnerships.
- Developed programs and activities that encouraged parental involvement with children, promoting active participation in all phases of school life.
- Makes home visits for the purpose of acquiring information regarding parent needs and communicating school vision and expectations.
- Connects families with resources in the community to support family needs as they arise.
- Assists in planning meetings with parents for the purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of relationships between parent, school, and students.
- Embraces feedback and constructive criticism in the spirit of constant improvement.
- Took on additional roles and responsibilities to support team objectives.
Education
Bachelor of Arts Degree - Youth Work/Music Minor
Skills
Spanish
Microsoft Word
Outlook
Excel
Presentation skills
Foster home licensing
Home studies
Child welfare compliance
Case management
Staff supervision
Affiliations
Comal Welfare Board
Foster Care Initiative with Texas State Representative John Lujan
Certification
- CPR First Aid Training
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Interests
Fundraising Events
Working with local advocacy groups to promote positive change in the community
Church Volunteer Work
Music
Cooking
Timeline
Director of Family Home Development
1HOPE for Kids
01.2023 - CurrentRead More
Family Home Developer
1HOPE for Kids
10.2019 - 12.2022Read More
Case Manager
1HOPE for Kids
08.2018 - 10.2019Read More
Family and Community Coordinator
KIPP of San Antonio
07.2016 - 07.2018Read More
Bob Jones University
Bachelor of Arts Degree from Youth Work/Music Minor
Read More