Family Case Manager

Family 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.

Role Overview:
The Family Case Manager is a caseworker specialist in social services within a Local County Office of the Department of Child Services. You will protect families and children from abuse and neglect, maintain or reunify families whenever possible, and, when in the best interest of the child, achieve a permanent home or independent living for children unable to be reunited with their families.

You will conduct home visits, develop case plans, coordinate with community resources and external providers, attend and testify at court hearings, and prepare documentation for case files, court proceedings, and agency reporting.

This position is in South Bend, Indiana, and will serve St. Joseph County, and surrounding counties as needed. Salary:
The salary for this position traditionally starts at $47,320.00 but may be commensurate with education or 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, determine whether the incident is substantiated, and develop recommendations to a Juvenile Court or County Director for disposition. Assess the level of risk to the child for additional injury or harm, including whether the child is in imminent danger, and may remove the child from the family as the situation warrants, 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. Develops "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 of 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 and family histories and recommend 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 to help management evaluate trends in family and child needs.

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 (3) 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 affecting child protection services, foster care, family preservation and adoption. Thorough knowledge of related social services programs and ability to coordinate work among programs. Specialized knowledge of the interrelationships of the various behavioral sciences as they affect care and treatment of patients/clients and/or objectives of social work projects.

Ability to investigate and interview alleged victims and perpetrators of child abuse or neglect in an appropriate and effective manner. Ability to formulate and monitor project guidelines or treatment plans. Ability to prepare clear, accurate reports. Ability to work with families of diverse cultural/ethnic backgrounds with sensitivity to differences in child rearing practices, relationships and…