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Foster Care Specialist

Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan
Traverse, MI Full Time
POSTED ON 8/13/2025 CLOSED ON 9/13/2025

What are the responsibilities and job description for the Foster Care Specialist position at Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan?

If you believe that…

children are our future

everyone deserves a fair shot in life

people can learn, grow, heal, and change....

…then this Foster Care Specialist position is for you!

Become a part of the dynamic team at Child & Family Services that makes a difference in the lives of children every day. If you have a bachelor’s degree in a child-related or similar field and a strong desire to help abused or neglected children get the family and services that they need to thrive, this is the workplace you are looking for.

Full job description:

The Foster Care Specialist is primarily concerned with the placement and supervision of children in foster homes and with corresponding efforts with the legal parents in an attempt to return children to their own homes. Foster Care is to be considered a temporary plan for the child and to that end, the Foster Care Specialist will focus treatment and goals for the child(ren) and his or her family that expedite effective permanency plans. In the event that a child’s return to his/her legal parent(s) is not feasible, the Foster Care Specialist will seek to develop & implement long-term plans for such a child (i.e., adoption, guardianship, APPLA, independent living, placement with relatives, etc.).

Reliable transportation is necessary and the caseworker must have a valid, unrestricted Michigan driver’s license, a good driving record, and insurance as required by law.

Qualifications: The Foster Care Specialist shall possess a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in: Behavioral Science, Community Services, Counseling (Psychology), Criminal Justice (Administration), Early Childhood Studies, Family Ecology, Family Life Education, Family Studies, Family and/or Child Development, Guidance/School Counseling, Human Development and Family Studies, Human Services, Psychology, Social Work, or Sociology; with background experience in foster care or adoption preferred.

Effective written and oral communication skills are essential and the successful candidate must be able to promote a positive image for the agency in the community and in relationships with other people. They must have the ability to work with a diverse population, understand and interact well with children in all stages of development, make sound decisions and have a working knowledge of community resources. Positive acceptance of supervision in order to acquire training in casework, diagnostic, and treatment skills is essential. Competence and success in handling personal life situations, assertiveness, flexibility, self-organization, and self-direction are also required in addition to high moral character, evidence of no criminal record, and a high stress tolerance. Experience as a volunteer, knowledge of differing lifestyles and cultures, experience or training in work with children or adults, training and/or practice in individual and family counseling, interviewing, family assessment, and crisis intervention, Child Welfare experience, and computer literacy are desired as well.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 per hour

Benefits:

  • 401(k)
  • Dental insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Flexible schedule
  • Flexible spending account
  • Health insurance
  • Health savings account
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Professional development assistance
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20

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