Social Worker

Lutheran Child & Family Service of Michigan, Inc.; Missouri; Hybrid; USD 43,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Wellspring Lutheran Services in Michigan is seeking a MFT Advocate in Jackson County for a full-time, hybrid role with a $48,000 yearly salary. You will work with families to keep them safe, together, and moving forward.

The MiFamily Together program focuses on preserving families, reducing out-of-home placements, and strengthening family well-being through coordinated, whole-family supports. You will build trusted partnerships, address safety concerns, and connect families to community

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work or related human service field or education (or An associate's degree with two years of experience acceptable) toward a bachelor's within six months.
• Experience working with children and families in child welfare or related settings.
• Strong communication and organizational skills; ability to engage diverse families with dignity and hope.

Responsibilities

• Build trusting relationships with families to identify goals and navigate challenges.
• Strengthen family safety and stability by developing plans and teaching skills.
• Connect families to community resources, healthcare, education, housing, and benefits.
• Collaborate with schools, providers, and agencies to coordinate support and promote lasting outcomes.

Skills

Compassionate

Adaptable

Resilient

Rapport-building

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or related field

Associate's degree + 2 years' experience

Job description

MFT Advocate Jackson County | Full-time | Hybrid | $48,000 / year Accepting applications through October 1, 2026

Help families stay together. Help them move forward. Most people choose a career in human services because they believe people can grow. They believe families can overcome challenges. They believe children deserve the opportunity to thrive in safe, stable, and supportive environments. The MFT Advocate role is an opportunity to put those beliefs into action every day.

As part of Michigan’s MiFamily Together program with Wellspring, you'll work alongside families who are navigating some of life's most difficult moments. MiFamily Together was designed to help preserve families, reduce unnecessary out-of-home placements, support reunification, and strengthen family well‑being through a coordinated, whole-family approach. Rather than asking families to navigate multiple disconnected services, the program focuses on building trusting relationships, addressing the needs of both children and caregivers, and helping families create lasting stability and success.

What You'll Do

As an Advocate, your work centers around four key areas: Building trusting relationships. You will establish meaningful partnerships with families, helping them identify goals, navigate challenges and build on their existing strengths through a respectful, strength-based approach.

Strengthening family safety and stability. You will work alongside caregivers to enhance protective factors, develop plans that address safety concerns, build parenting and life skills, and support families in creating stable environments where children can thrive.

Connecting families to resources and opportunities. You will help families access services and supports that address immediate needs while promoting long‑term self‑sufficiency, including community resources, healthcare, education, housing, transportation, and public benefits.

Collaborating for lasting change. You will partner with schools, healthcare providers, child welfare professionals, referral sources, and community agencies to ensure families receive coordinated and effective support that promotes positive outcomes long after services end.

Who Thrives in This Role

Successful MFT Advocates are compassionate, adaptable and resilient. They are skilled at building rapport with diverse families, maintaining professional boundaries and remaining calm during challenging situations. They are comfortable balancing independence and collaboration, managing changing priorities, and working creatively to help families achieve their goals. Most importantly, they never lose sight of why they entered this field in the first place: to support people, strengthen families and improve outcomes for children.

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or related human service field or education OR An associate's degree with two years of experience working with families is acceptable, provided the candidate is actively working toward a bachelor's degree in human services or education to be completed within six months.

Experience

Experience working with children and families. Familiarity with child welfare systems, community resources, and protective factors frameworks.

What You'll Bring

You believe in the strength and potential of families—even during difficult circumstances. You are skilled at building trust, engaging people from diverse backgrounds, and helping families navigate challenges while maintaining dignity and hope. You bring knowledge of child welfare and community resources, strong organizational and communication skills, and a willingness to adapt to the needs of families.

Applicants must meet all position requirements, including required screenings, licensure and insurance requirements, technology expectations, and the ability to maintain a flexible schedule that supports family needs.

Work Environment

This position involves a combination of work performed from a home office or other designated workspace, along with in‑home visits and community outreach. The MFT Advocate travels throughout the assigned service area with mileage paid, including extended travel for multi‑county contracts. Because families are best served where they live and interact, advocates work in a variety of home and community environments that may include animals, smoke, strong odors, clutter, and insects. Evening, weekend and holiday availability is required, and with supervisor and team support to manage schedules. The role is subject to frequent interruptions, schedule changes based on family needs and driving in all weather conditions.

Why Join Wellspring?

This role is more than a job. It is an opportunity to help families remain safely together, support parents in creating brighter futures for their children, and be part of a program that is transforming the way services are delivered across Michigan. Every conversation, every visit and every relationship has the potential to create lasting change. If you believe families deserve hope, support and the opportunity to succeed, this role offers the chance to make a meaningful difference every day.

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.