Foster Care Case Manager

Overview

Work for Indiana. Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering opportunities across 60+ agencies. The state provides competitive compensation, a robust benefits package, and a commitment to work-life balance. You will have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

Department
:
Department of Child Services (DCS). Join a group of dedicated public servants to support one of Indiana’s most critical missions. The DCS helps children who are victims of abuse or neglect and strengthens families through services focused on family support and preservation. We pursue permanency for children and families through reunification, guardianship, and adoption. Our services also include foster care, child support, and transitional support for those adjusting to adulthood.

Our culture is built upon our MVP foundation:
Mission, Vision, Purpose.

Mission
:
Champion Indiana’s future by protecting children and strengthening families with compassion and determination.

Vision
:
Every child in Indiana thrives in a safe, loving, forever home.

Purpose
:
Ignite hope. Cultivate joy.

The Foster Care Case Manager improves foster care services by licensing foster families and providing support to Family Case Managers in making placement determinations for children. They use screening methods to understand and match the needs of children to foster families, enhancing appropriate placements.

You will recruit, license, train, and support families to increase foster retention, and seek to decrease placement moves and increase local placements. This includes expanding the number of foster caregivers and homes, expediting training and licensure of relatives, providing excellent customer service, and using targeted recruitment strategies to meet regional needs.

Please note:

this position primarily serves Central Indiana counties (Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Morgan, Shelby), with residency in the service area preferred.

• Recruit, license, train, and support foster families; match children to appropriate placements.
• Utilize screening methods to assess needs and determine placement options.
• Provide case management support to Family Case Managers in placement decisions.
• Maintain foster caregiver retention and expand local foster care capacity.
• Coordinate expeditious training and licensure of relative caregivers.
• Deliver excellent customer service and use targeted recruitment strategies to meet regional needs.
• Conduct home studies and family histories; recommend placement for adoption when appropriate.
• Visit children in out‑of‑home placements to coordinate reunification, adoption, or independent living efforts.
• Maintain data to help management evaluate trends in family and child needs.
• Accept on-call responsibilities as needed to receive and investigate allegations of child abuse or neglect.

The job profile is not designed to cover all activities or responsibilities and duties may change at any time.

Credentials
:

• Bachelor’s degree, or
• Associate degree with at least two (2) years of human services experience, or
• Thirty (30) college credit hours with at least four (3) years of human services experience, or
• Four (4) years of human services experience.

Additional qualifications
:

• Advanced knowledge of social work, casework, sociology, and counseling, including current treatment theories.
• Thorough knowledge of state and/or federal laws and standards affecting child protection, foster care, family preservation, and adoption.
• Ability to coordinate work among related social services programs.
• Ability to investigate and interview alleged victims and perpetrators of child abuse or neglect.
• Ability to formulate and monitor project guidelines or treatment plans; prepare clear reports.
• Ability to work with diverse families and children with sensitivity to differences in child rearing practices and needs.
• Ability to work with children with special needs and collaborate with foster families and service professionals.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in crises,…