FOSTER CARE CASE MANAGER

Job Overview

Responsibilities

The Foster Care Case Manager works under the supervision of the Program Manager. They are responsible for the delivery of case management services, individual and family counseling and training and supervision of foster families. The Foster Care Case Manager assists the Program Manager in developing individual treatment plans for troubled children and their families. They maintain weekly contact with the foster families, children, and bio-families and monitors the progress of the child and family throughout the placement. They assist with training, home studies, and evaluation of foster parents. The Foster Care Case Manager uses standardized tools to measure social and emotional progress and outcomes and prepares written treatment plans and progress reports.

PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIP: The Foster Care Case Manager makes decisions regarding the placement and treatment of neglected, abused, disturbed, and medically complex children. He or she will have good verbal and writing skills. They will be capable of working with children, parents, foster parents, client agencies and the courts. The Foster Care Case Manager will be creative, pragmatic, assertive, and know when to act independently and when to seek the advice of others.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES. The position includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Reviews referrals and matches children with appropriate foster families.
• Places children in state licensed or state certified foster homes.
• Obtains all state and agency required documentation for child in care.
• Provides weekly documented contact and at bi-weekly visits to child and foster home.
• Visits each assigned child at least once each month away from the foster home.
• Prepares a treatment plan for the child within 21 days of placement and quarterly thereafter.
• Prepares monthly progress reports for assigned children.
• Provides Independent Living training and monthly ILP progress reports for assigned clients.
• Provides reunification services to the biological families when required by treatment plan.
• Coordinates visitation of children with biological parents, siblings, and relatives.
• Provides supervised visits with parents, siblings, and relative when required by court.
• Acts as liaison person with placing agencies, schools, and other community agencies.
• Attends court hearings and review hearings.
• Attends staff meetings and treatment planning meetings as required.
• Completes interviews, training and home studies on prospective foster parents as needed.
• Attends conferences and seminars as required for annual training requirement.
• Conducts/participates in two or more foster parent support group meetings each year.
• Maintains flexible working hours and works weekends or holidays as needed.

Qualifications

The Foster Care Case Manager has a bachelor’s degree in social work, sociology, psychology, counseling, or related human services field and two years’ experience working with children and families. A bachelor’s degree in social work, sociology, psychology, counseling, or related human services field and five years’ experience with a placing agency working with troubled children and families may be consider in lieu of a graduate degree.