Foster Care Coordinator - Part - Time

POSITION SUMMARY The Social Worker - Alternate Care licenses, supports, trains, and recruits foster and respite families in Eau Claire County. This position supports and licenses kinship homes, kin-like homes and other child specific homes for children placed out-of-home with resources identified in the Child Protective Services (CPS) process. The Alternate Care Social Worker assists with child matching, training, and support and retention for foster families and other providers.

Kin-First & Family Find Focus: This position plays a critical role in advancing Eau Claire County's Kin-First philosophy by actively partnering with Family Find, CPS, and ongoing case management staff to identify, engage, and support relatives and kin-like connections as primary placement resources. The Social Worker - Alternate Care supports the identification, licensing, and stabilization of kinship and child-specific homes, ensuring children are placed with family whenever safely possible and that ongoing relational and concrete supports are provided to sustain placements. QUALIFICATIONS Adheres to approved social worker principles, methods, and practices, including the National Association of Social Worker's (NASW) code of ethics; provides social services per Wisconsin Statutes, court policies, and/or requirements of the program, state, or federal guidelines; accepts requests and referrals for agency services.

Complies with the Eau Claire County Standards of Conduct; maintains respectful treatment of clients through empathetic and unprejudiced behaviors and communication. Works to protect children, preserve families, or to keep out-of-home placement at a minimum. Completes timely licensing/relicensing for foster homes, and timely certification/re-certification of respite homes and kinship homes; monitors the Department of Children and Families (DCF) 56 Regulations and ongoing compliance for licensed/certified homes.

Identifies and recruits foster and respite families through thorough investigation and assessment; coordinates placements for children needing respite/foster cares; collaborates with the child, family, foster family, schools, Juvenile Court, health care providers, and other appropriate community resources in resolving problems. Demonstrates successful case management utilizing best practices or evidence-based practices; conducts regular case evaluations; develops and updates service plans; accordingly, maintains case records containing pertinent, accurate, and current information. Maintains awareness of resources and support services available; explains the scope of the agency's services with clients; discusses the client's rights and responsibilities in relation to the use of such services; advises families when services are either not available or inappropriate; educates the family about available community of resources and how to independently gain access to needed services.

Demonstrates motivational leadership to achieve services and treatment objectives without duplication of effort and with maximum effective use of staff and resources; identifies and/or provides ongoing training opportunities to Alternate Care Providers; monitors and records the Alternate Care Providers' training hours. Adheres to strict record-keeping and reporting guidelines and laws; fully completes required documentation in timely fashion and in accordance with program requirements; maintains confidentiality of client-related information; completes required written assessments, reports, and other related paperwork, as necessary; prepares correspondence, reports, and other records as required. Develops professional knowledge and skills by attending training events, conferences, and workshops.

Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with internal and external partners; provides public education to the community and other organizations; coordinates or participates in multidisciplinary team meetings and consults; attends and participates in weekly staff meetings, supervision times, and other regularly scheduled meetings participates in committees and task forces as assigned. Partners with Family Find and case management staff to conduct diligent relative searches and engagement efforts early in a child's placement episode to prioritize kin-first placement options. Utilizes family engagement strategies and strengths-based practice to build trusting relationships with relatives and kin-like supports, addressing barriers to licensure and placement through education, coaching, and resource connection.

Supports timely assessment, licensing, and certification of kinship and child-specific foster homes in alignment with DCF regulations and agency permanency goals. Provides ongoing support, consultation, and stabilization services to kinship and child-specific placements to promote placement durability, minimize disruption, and advance permanency outcomes. Collaborates in permanency planning efforts, including participation in family team meetings, case consultations, and multidisciplinary staffing to ensure kin-first options are fully explored and supported.

Promotes equity and cultural humility in family search and engagement efforts, recognizing the importance of relational, cultural, and community connections in a child's life. Applies trauma-informed and trust-based relational principles in engagement with kinship caregivers and foster families to promote healing, connection, and long-term placement stability. Performs other related duties as required or assigned.

TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor's degree in social work, sociology, psychology, criminal justice, special education, or related field. Appointment will be conditional upon successful completion of criminal and caregiver background checks. Certified Social Worker or possess or ability to obtain a temporary certificate permitting the use of the title "social worker" with two (2) months of hire and become fully certified within the specified time limits of the temporary certificate and maintain certification thereafter during employment.

Must have valid driver's license, an acceptable driving record, and access to private transportation for work-related duties. Must possess and maintain personal automobile insurance in the amount of $100,000/$300,000.

Salary : $29 - $33