Foster Care Case Manager — Shape Safe, Loving Homes

State of Indiana; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 43,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mileage reimbursement

On-call pay

Job summary

The State of Indiana, Department of Child Services, is seeking a Foster Care Case Manager to license foster families, support Family Case Managers, and improve placement outcomes for children in Indiana. Primary duties include recruiting and training foster families, expanding local placements, and coordinating services to ensure child safety and permanency.

Residency in the service area is preferred; role primarily based in Indianapolis North DCS Office, serving Marion County and surrounding

Qualifications

• 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.
• 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 need.
• Ability to work with children with special needs such as mental or emotional conditions, the foster families, or the home willing to accept those children and the professionals who can appropriately provide services to them.
• A degree is not required. However, at least 5+ years of human services experience applying the outlined knowledge, skills, and abilities in a similar role may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Investigate reported incidents of child abuse, neglect, or dependency, determine whether substantiated, and develop recommendations to a Juvenile Court or County Director for disposition.
• Assess risk to the child for further injury or harm and may remove the child from the family as warranted.
• 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 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 help families and children attain self-sufficiency in a safe environment.
• Monitor 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 or 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.

Skills

Strong communication

Case management

Analytical assessment

Education

Associate degree

30 college credits

5+ years human services experience

Job description

The State of Indiana, Department of Child Services, is seeking a Foster Care Case Manager to license foster families, support Family Case Managers, and improve placement outcomes for children in Indiana. Primary duties include recruiting and training foster families, expanding local placements, and coordinating services to ensure child safety and permanency.

Residency in the service area is preferred; role primarily based in Indianapolis North DCS Office, serving Marion County and surrounding