Foster Care Case Manager

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

Job summary

Wellspring Lutheran Services is seeking a Foster Care Case Manager to serve Kent, Muskegon and Kalamazoo counties. You will partner with foster families, birth families, schools and service providers to help children find stability and belonging.

You will travel within West Michigan, develop individualized plans, and advocate for each child’s well‑being while maintaining thorough case records and collaborating with a supportive Kentwood team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work or related field.
• Valid Michigan driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Strong empathy, accountability and professional ethics.
• Ability to balance independence with teamwork.
• Clear communication and thoughtful problem-solving skills.
• Experience in foster care or child welfare is helpful.

Responsibilities

• Walk alongside children and families to develop individualized plans.
• Maintain monthly home visits and consistent communication.
• Help families access healthcare and community supports.
• Coordinate with schools, therapists, foster parents and courts.
• Prepare for hearings and advocate for the child’s voice.
• Coordinate visits between children and parents/siblings.
• Provide calm, capable support during crises.
• Keep clear, accurate records to inform decisions.

Skills

Empathy

Communication

Problem Solving

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related field

Job description

Foster Care Case Manager Kent, Muskegon and Kalamazoo Counties | Wellspring Lutheran Services | Full-Time, Salaried

There's a reason you chose this field. Maybe it was the belief that every child deserves to feel safe. Maybe it was the moment you realized families don't need perfection - they need support, compassion, and someone who won't give up on them. Or maybe it's simply that you know how powerful it is when someone shows up, consistently, when it matters most. At Wellspring Lutheran Services, that's the work we do every day.

What This Role Really Means

As a Foster Care Case Manager serving Kent, Muskegon and Kalamazoo counties and the surrounding West Michigan communities, you'll become a steady, trusted presence in the lives of children and families navigating incredibly difficult seasons. Your days will take you out into the community - down familiar roads and into neighborhoods where resilience and hope are being rebuilt, one step at a time. You'll sit across from children in foster homes, listening, encouraging and reminding them they matter. You'll partner with foster parents, birth families, schools, and service providers to create a circle of care that helps every child move toward stability and belonging. You won't just manage cases; you'll help write new chapters. And you won't do it alone from day one. As you begin, your training, onboarding, and early support will come from our experienced Kentwood-based team - giving you a strong foundation, consistent guidance, and a team you can rely on as you transition into serving families in Kent, Muskegon and Kalamazoo counties.

What You'll Do

• Walk alongside children and families as you develop thoughtful, individualized plans that build on their strengths
• Stay closely connected with monthly home visits and consistent communication, so no one feels alone in the process
• Help families access the right resources at the right time, from healthcare to community supports
• Serve as the thread that connects everyone involved - schools, therapists, foster parents and courts
• Advocate for each child's well-being by preparing for hearings and giving them a voice when it matters most
• Support meaningful connections by coordinating visits between children and their parents, siblings and loved ones
• Step in during moments of crisis, offering calm, capable support when it's needed most
• Keep clear and accurate records so every decision is informed, and every step forward is intentional

This work is structured, but it's also deeply human. It calls for both organization and heart.

What You Bring

• A bachelor's degree in social work or a related human services field
• A valid Michigan driver's license, with reliable transportation
• A strong sense of empathy, accountability and professional ethics
• The ability to balance independence with teamwork
• Clear communication and thoughtful problem-solving skills
• Experience in foster care or child welfare is helpful - but your passion for the mission is what matters most

What You'll Receive

• Starting salary of $43,888+ based on experience
• Health, dental and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
• DailyPay access to your earnings when you need it
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Regular supervision and a team that truly collaborates
• Employee assistance support through Wellspring SupportLinc

You'll also participate in a shared on-call rotation - because supporting families sometimes means being there beyond the typical workday.

Why Wellspring

Wellspring Lutheran Services is a statewide nonprofit with one purpose at its core: helping people experience and create a better future. When you join this team, you're not doing this work alone. You're surrounded by people who believe in showing up - for each other and for the families we serve.

If This Sounds Like You

People who understand that progress isn't always linear, but it's always worth it. If you've been looking for a role that reconnects you to why you started this work in the first place, this is it. Join us in Kentwood and help children and families find safety, stability, and a way forward.

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.