Kinship Navigator

Relative Support Case Manager

Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.

About the Department of Child Services:
Join a group of passionate, dedicated public servants to support one of Indiana's most critical missions! The Department of Child Services helps children who are victims of abuse or neglect and strengthens families through services that focus on family support and preservation. We pursue permanency for children and families through reunification, guardianship, and adoption. Our services also encompass foster care, child support, and transitional support for those adjusting to adulthood.

Our culture is built upon our MVP foundation:
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.

Role Overview:
The Relative Support Case Manager provides targeted and timely services related to kinship placement and support to improve and sustain youth placement. You will work to decrease kinship disruptions, increase the availability of kinships, educate kinships on the policies and procedures of DCS, and establish resource connections to sustain them through the life of the case. You will work to enhance kinship understanding of children's needs, as well as their own needs, to create a more successful placement and decrease disruption.

You will offer customer service and provide support to Family Case Managers (FCM) to help create a kin-first welfare culture. This position works primarily from Indianapolis, Indiana, and will serve Marion and surrounding counties. Residency in the service area is preferred. Mileage is reimbursed. Augmented pay is provided for on-call hours. Salary:
The salary for this position traditionally starts at $47,320.00 but may be commensurate with education and work experience. Use our Compensation Calculator to view the total compensation package.

A Day in the Life:

Responsibilities include:

Investigate reported incidents of child abuse, neglect, or dependency, make determinations of whether incidents are substantiated, and develop recommendations to a Juvenile Court or County Director for disposition. Assess level of risk to a child for additional injury or harm, including whether a child is in imminent danger, and may remove a child from their family as the situation warrants, then requiring placing a child in a protected environment.

Perform needs assessments to determine treatment options for families and children reported to be abused/neglected. Testify and prepare pre-dispositional and progress reports, maintain case files and develop briefing reports for the community child protection team. Develop "informal adjustment" plans with families and children to divert children from the juvenile justice system. Develop case plans to assist families and children to become more self-sufficient in a safe and nurturing environment and to ensure a permanent home for the child.

Develop discharge/transition programming to assist families and children to attain and maintain self-sufficiency in a safe environment. Monitor and assess the service capability treatment programs and providers to ensure consistency with the case plan. Accept on-call responsibility as needed to receive and investigate allegations of child abuse/neglect. Conduct home studies, family histories and recommends placement for adoption to an adoption team.

Visit children in out-of-home placements to coordinate family reunification, adoption, or independent living efforts. Maintain data which provides management an opportunity to evaluate family and children needs on a trend analysis basis. Kinship Navigation:
Identify and engage relatives and kinship caregivers as placement options. Assist kinship families in accessing resources, financial assistance, and support programs. Facilitate family meetings and maintain ongoing communication to strengthen family connections.

What You'll Need for Success:
Credentials:
Bachelor's degree, or Associate degree with a minimum of two (2) years of human services job experience, or Completion of thirty (30) college credit hours from an accredited institution with a minimum of four (4) years of human services job experience, or A minimum of at least five (5) years of human services job experience.

Additional qualifications:

Advanced knowledge of principles and practices of social work, casework, sociology and group and individual counseling including new methods and theories of treatment. Thorough knowledge of state and/or federal laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards…