TO Child Welfare Prevention Specialist

Job Title

Open To The Public

Shift: Mon-Fri

8am-5pm will vary depending on community outreach activities

Wage: $21.73

Eligible Employer for Public Student Loan Forgiveness as a non-profit

Position Summary:

Under the supervision of ACFS Supervisor, perform a wide range of duties assisting with out of home foster care home placements, and work with the Tribal community through the Social Services programs at Anishnaabeg Child and Family Services (ACFS). Serve as a liaison between the ACFS and the Indian Child Welfare Committee. Collaborate with other agencies to assist with prevention programs for the Tribal Community.

All ACFS staff must adhere to mandated reporting laws.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide intensive intervention for high risk Tribal families including differential response cases where prevention services are offered as an alternative to court ordered services.
• Coordinate with Child Protective Services Caseworker. Carefully monitor CFS and assist with DR cases when necessary, and report any allegations of abuse or neglect to Social Services Caseworker. Support the transfer of cases from voluntary to court ordered services when necessary
• Recruit relative and foster care homes, conduct home studies and background checks on prospective relative and foster care homes, and coordinate with the Indian Child Welfare Committee (ICWC) for foster care homes to service SCIT Members, SCIT eligible for membership, and SCIT descendants within the state of Michigan.
• Serve as an advocate and liaison for tribal families with appropriate service agencies and assist with completing related forms for services.
• Serve as a liaison between Committee and the Social Services Case Workers for juvenile court ward cases.
• Consult the Committee in child welfare matters pertaining to prevention case planning.
• Ensure that appropriate adjunct services which improve all household members functioning are put in place.
• Attend Care Coordination Team meetings on an as needed basis to review and present case service planning and status.
• Conduct home studies for the purpose of foster care licensing, and for Tribal Court Guardian ships.
• Conduct home visits to provide services necessary to reduce risk factors of abuse and neglect.
• Develop treatment plans for families at-risk of breakup.
• Design and implement community child abuse/neglect prevention/ truancy efforts.
• Conduct random alcohol and drug screens.
• Conduct foster care licensing parent training.
• Develop and maintain professional relationship with the State of Michigan to assure compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act agreement between the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of MI and the Michigan Department of Human Service and execute borrowed bed agreements.
• Executive borrowed bed agreements.
• Testify as a qualified Indian expert witness in the State Court.
• Participate in appropriate conferences, meetings and training related to foster care and Indian Child Welfare along with regular training and staffing.
• Monitor and maintain all case files including case notes and written reports for all files.
• Submit monthly reports and statistics.
• May assist with transporting clients in order to access resources.
• Adhere to client confidentiality and comply with ACFS policies and federal regulations under the Privacy rules of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Provide excellent customer service for all internal and external customers of the operations at all times. Provide solutions for customer concerns and continually focus on customer service as our top priority.
• Must maintain strict confidentiality and present a positive, professional demeanor and image at all times.
• The above duties and responsibilities are not an all-inclusive list but rather a general representation of the duties and responsibilities associated with this position. The duties and responsibilities will be subject to change based on organizational needs and/or deemed necessary by the supervisor.

Contacts/Purpose of Contacts:

• Empowered to interact with all levels of personnel in order to communicate operational decisions.
• Frequent contact with administrative staff, the Tribal community, and members…