ILP Foster Care Worker

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, court, 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. Duties & 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, court, 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.

Education and/or Experience: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in social work or a related human services field. Experience in working in a child welfare agency, a child caring institution, or in an agency performing a child welfare function is preferred. Accepted fields of study: 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) a Bachelor’s degree of another major with at least 30 semester credits in one or a combination of the approved degrees. Certification: Will be required to attend Child Welfare Pre-Service Institute training. Licenses Needed: Valid driver’s license Special Skills: Must be organized, have good written and communication skills. Can work collaboratively with children, families, collaborating agencies, community professionals and other HCS team members. Effectively manage significant amount of documentation, be a self-starter and capable of performing duties with minimalsupervision. Ability to organize, multi-task and prioritize duties and responsibilities. Must be able to problem solve and respond to crisis situations. Physical Effort: Driving for long periods of time, physical ability to stand and/or walk during scheduled shifts; to lift, carry and/or push 25 pounds. Equipment Used: Automobile, telephone, computer. Work Environment: Agency office setting, court, MDHHS office, community, and family homes