Foster Care Case Manager

Lutheran Child & Family Service of Michigan, Inc.; Gaylord (MI); On-site; USD 39,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Retirement Plan

Employer Matching

Mileage Reimbursement

Professional Development

Supportive Team

Job summary

Wellspring Lutheran Services in Gaylord, MI, seeks a Foster Care Case Manager to support safety, stability, and permanent futures for children in Alpena and Otsego counties. This full-time role partners with foster families, birth families, schools, courts, and community providers to ensure access to needed services and ongoing advocacy.

Responsibilities include coordinating services, maintaining relationships, and promoting reunification whenever possible.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field required.
• Experience working with children and families preferred.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and auto insurance.
• Strong assessment, communication, documentation, and organizational skills.
• Commitment to child-centered, family-focused practice.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for safety, well-being, and permanency for children in foster care.
• Coordinate services with foster families, birth families, schools, courts, and providers.
• Develop individualized plans and support family engagement and reunification efforts.
• Visit foster homes, attend school meetings, and participate in court hearings.

Skills

Assessment skills

Communication skills

Documentation

Organizational skills

Crisis engagement with compassion

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work or related human services field

Job description

Job Description: Foster Care Case Manager | Supporting Safe, Stable, Permanent Futures Wellspring Lutheran Services - Gaylord | Alpena and Otsego counties | Full-time | Salary $43,888+ Accepting applications through October 1, 2026

You chose social work or child welfare because you believe every child deserves someone in their corner. You understand that children entering foster care are navigating some of the most difficult transitions of their lives. They may be carrying the weight of trauma, uncertainty, loss, and change. They need someone who can see beyond the circumstances and recognize their strengths, their potential, and their need for connection. You entered this field because you wanted to help. To advocate for children. To strengthen families. To help create pathways toward healing, permanence, and hope. At Wellspring Lutheran Services, we're looking for a Foster Care Case Manager who is passionate about helping children achieve safety, stability, and lifelong connections. In this role, you'll walk alongside children and families during some of the most important moments in their journey. You'll partner with foster families, birth families, schools, courts, community providers, and child welfare professionals to ensure every child receives the support, resources, and advocacy they need to thrive. Most importantly, you'll help children move closer to permanency, belonging, and a future filled with possibility.

What Your Impact Will Look Like

You’ll become a trusted advocate for the children and families you serve, helping them navigate challenges while identifying strengths and opportunities for growth. You’ll develop individualized plans focused on safety, well-being, and permanency while helping children maintain important relationships and connections throughout their foster care journey. You’ll work closely with foster parents, birth families, schools, courts, therapists, and community partners to coordinate services and create stability for children experiencing significant life transitions. You’ll encourage family engagement and help families access resources that support long-term success, healing, and reunification whenever possible. You’ll advocate for children’s educational, medical, emotional, and social needs while helping ensure their voices are heard throughout the decision‑making process. Some days you’ll be visiting a foster home, attending a school meeting, facilitating parenting time, coordinating services, or participating in a court hearing. Other days you’ll be helping a family overcome barriers, celebrating progress toward reunification, or supporting a young person as they move closer to a permanent home. Every day, your work has the potential to change the course of a child’s future.

Why This Role Matters

Children in foster care often have many people involved in their lives, but they still need someone who can bring all the pieces together. They need someone who understands their story, advocates for their needs, coordinates support and remains focused on what is best for them. As a Foster Care Case Manager, you'll play that role. Your work helps children remain connected to important relationships, access critical services, and move toward safe, stable, and permanent living situations. Through your advocacy and guidance, you'll help create opportunities that can impact a child’s life for years to come.

The Professional We’re Looking For

• You believe every child deserves safety, stability, and opportunity.
• You are passionate about strengthening families and supporting positive outcomes.
• You approach people with empathy, respect, and a strength‑based mindset.
• You are comfortable navigating complex situations while remaining focused on solutions.
• You enjoy building relationships and collaborating with others.
• You are organized, adaptable, and able to balance multiple priorities.
• You want work that makes a meaningful difference in your community.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related human services field.
• Experience working with children and families preferred.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and auto insurance.
• Strong assessment, communication, documentation, and organizational skills.
• Ability to engage families experiencing crisis with compassion and professionalism.
• Knowledge of community resources and family support services preferred.
• Commitment to child‑centered, family‑focused practice.

Why Wellspring Lutheran Services?

At Wellspring Lutheran Services, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to feel safe, valued, and connected. Our Foster Care teams work every day to help children achieve permanency while supporting families through challenging circumstances. As a Foster Care Case Manager, you'll be part of a mission‑driven team dedicated to helping children build brighter futures and stronger support systems. This is more than a case management role. It's an opportunity to be the person who helps a child find stability, a family find hope, and a future become possible.

We Offer

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching
• Employee Assistance Program (SupportLinc)
• Mileage reimbursement
• Professional development and ongoing training
• Supportive, collaborative team environment
• Meaningful work that impacts children and families every day

Schedule

• Full‑time
• Primarily daytime hours with evening and occasional weekend responsibilities to support family engagement, visits, and service coordination.
• Regular travel throughout the community for home visits, school meetings, court hearings, and family appointments.
• Participation in after‑hours and on‑call responsibilities as required.

About us

For more than 130 years, Wellspring Lutheran Services has been a trusted partner for families across Michigan, providing compassionate support and critical services to help people thrive during times of challenge and change. With deep roots in communities statewide, our team is united by a shared vision of changed lives, strong families and transformed communities. Our mission: Motivated by Christ's love, we engage people as they experience and embrace their God‑given potential. Full job description available during the interview. We have a bold vision at Wellspring. We truly believe that through the way we serve and love others, we can change lives, strengthen families and transform communities. We also believe each person who walks through our doors has purpose. One of the most rewarding gifts we receive daily is the opportunity to embrace that purpose, by using our God‑given gifts to transform the lives of others. This may be the people we serve - or it may be through our interaction with each other as coworkers. And we'd love to have you join our team.