Foster Care Worker - Gaylord Office (Crawford County & Surrounding Areas) (66860)

BE THE ANCHOR OF HOPE AND CHANGE AT HOLY CROSS SERVICES

Working for Holy Cross Services isn’t just a job, it’s a mission! We believe in the safety and joy of family. Our work is family-focused, as are our benefits: Holy Cross offers free health insurance for our employees AND their family members.

Position Overview

Provides case management services to children/youth in care and their families with the goal of achieving permanency. Will work with children/youth and families in creating treatment goals in pursuit of permanency. Provides outreach assistance by coordinating connections with schools, courts, referring agency and other service providers. Prepares comprehensive reports, court reports and provides court room testimony. Provides support, assistance, and consultation to foster families. Provides case management and life skill instruction for youth placed in independent living programs.

Responsibilities:

• Provides case management services to children/youth and their families, as deemed appropriate, with the goal of achieving permanency.
• Provides outreach assistance by coordinating connections with schools, courts, referring agencies and other service providers.
• Conducts monthly face to face home visits with children, foster parents, and relative caregivers. Will meet with biological families as required by policy. Conducts monthly face-to-face home visits with all youth in independent living.
• Completes comprehensive, accurate and professional individualized service plans, court reports, home studies and other documents as required per policy. Will attend court and provide testimony as to the assessments in each report.
• Implements Mi-TEAM practices in daily activities including teaming, engagement, assessment and mentoring.
• Will perform job duties in accordance with MDHHS policy, licensing, contractual standards, CARF and agency policy and procedures.
• Provides supportive services that fosters life skill development and independence for youth in independent living programs.
•  Will maintain a caseload of up to 13 clients.
• Coordinates parenting time and sibling visitation. May be required to supervise.
• Facilitates family team meetings as required.
• Encourage engagement of client’s connections with extended support systems, families, and service providers.
• Will be required to travel, and transport clients and their families as needed.
• Explores relative placement options for children in foster care.
• Meets with direct supervisor at a minimum of once per month to review caseload, performance improvement plans, training needs as well as other needs the worker may have.
• Provides 24-hour crisis on-call availability to clients and family on a rotating basis.
• Will attend staff meetings and all other mandatory trainings as required by HCS.
• May be required to work shifts (only applicable for those covering the independent living plus program).
• Maintains a flexible working schedule to accommodate the needs of families.
• Will be provided with training opportunities to encourage development and support of professional growth.
• Responsible for teaching, modeling, practicing, supporting, and articulating the Agency’s treatment philosophy.
• Performs other duties related to the essential duties of the position and within the individual’s capabilities as assigned by one’s supervisor.

Benefits:

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer:

• Employer-Funded
  • Health Benefit Options
  • Wellness Benefits
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Virtual Mental Healthcare
  • Public Loan Service Forgiveness Program (Student Loan Forgiveness)
  • Generous time off including paid holidays and personal days.
  • Employer paid short- and long-term disability & life Insurance.
  • Employee Assistance Program
• HCS also offers employee-paid benefits at group rates:
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Health Care and Dependent Care
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) Health Care and Dependent Care
  • Voluntary Life Insurance (you, your spouse, and/or child(ren)
  • Accident, Hospital Indemnity, and Critical Illness Insurance
  • College Tuition Rewards Program
  • Identity Protection
  • Pet Insurance

JOIN OUR TEAM & HELP BRING HOPE TO MICHIGAN FAMILIES!

Holy Cross Services maintains a policy of nondiscrimination regarding all employees. The Agency desires to handle all aspects of employment on the basis of merit, competence and qualification. Employment is not influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Agency makes all decisions with respect to recruiting, hiring, and/or promotions for all job classifications based on individual’s qualifications related to the requirements of the position. All other personnel matters, such as compensation, benefits, transfers, reduction in workforce, recall, training, education and social/recreation programs, are to be administered free from any illegal discriminatory practices.

Holy Cross Services further recognizes that deep systemic inequities disproportionately overrepresent children of color and children who identify as LGBTQ within the child welfare system yet underrepresent these populations within the child welfare workforce. Because we believe the people served must be centered in the work we do, applicants with lived experience in the child welfare system or homelessness, BIPOC applicants, and applicants who identify as LGBTQ are strongly encouraged to apply.

Additionally, Holy Cross Services acknowledges the studies indicating applicants of color and women applicants may be less likely than others to apply for a job without meeting 100% of the preferred qualifications. If you are passionate for this work and meet the minimum requirements, your application is welcomed.

• Bachelor’s degree in one of the following:
  • Interdisciplinary Studies  in Social Sciences; Education; Community Development; Law Enforcement; Forensic Psychology; Gerontology; Special Education; Education of the emotionally disturbed; Education of the gifted; Behavioral Science; Community Services; Counseling (Psychology); Criminal Justice (Administration); Early Childhood Studies; Family Ecology; Family Life Education (Spring Arbor University); Family Studies; Family land/or Child Development; Guidance/School Counseling; Human Development and Family Studies (Michigan State University); Human Services; Psychology; Social Work; Sociology
    • (OR)
  • Bachelor’s degree of another major with at least 30 semester credits in one or a combination of the approved degrees.  Experience working in child welfare is preferred. 
• Lived experience with the child welfare system and/or experienced child abuse strongly preferred.
• Meet State Good Moral Character guidelines.
• Valid and Current Driver’s License with acceptable driving record.