Support Caseworker - Foster Care and Adoption

Lutheran Services in Iowa; Fort Dodge (IA); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

401(k)

Paid time off

Health, dental, life, and vision

Job summary

Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) is seeking a compassionate full-time Support Caseworker for the Foster Care and Adoption team serving Shenandoah and surrounding western Iowa counties.

The role covers ongoing support—from recruitment and inquiry to licensing, matching, placement, and post-placement follow-up—with occasional travel to homes across western Iowa. A bachelor’s in social work or related field and at least one year in child welfare are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, or behavioral health with minimum one year of experience in child welfare.
• Ability to communicate effectively and collaborate with foster and adoptive families.
• Willingness to travel to western Iowa homes.

Responsibilities

• Recruitment
• Inquiry
• Training
• Licensing
• Matching
• Placement support
• Following the child leaving the home
• Complete home study renewals and updates for licensed resource families.

Skills

Communication

Team collaboration

Cultural competence

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work / human services

Job description

• THIS POSITION IS ELIGIBLE FOR A SIGN-ON BONUS!***

If you have a passion for making a positive change in your community, LSI is looking for you.

The LSI Foster Care and Adoption team is looking for a compassionate, dedicated full-time self-motivated Support Caseworker to make an impact in the lives of Iowa children and families in communities near Shenandoah, Iowa (with potentially caseloads in the Page, Fremont, Montgomery, Mills, Cass and Pott counties). As part of the LSI team, it is our job and our privilege to walk alongside the families we serve and empower them toward success. This position has work from home flexibility. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply!

What You'll Do

The Support Caseworker is the single point of contact for foster and adoptive families in their area. Families rely on them to answer questions, concerns, or needs they may have. The Support Caseworker is responsible for providing ongoing, proactive support in these areas:

• Recruitment
• Inquiry
• Training
• Licensing
• Matching
• Placement support
• Following the child leaving the home

The Support Caseworker must provide all services in a culturally competent manner. In addition, the person in this role will collaborate with a team to match the best home for each child we serve. The Support Caseworker will be responsible for completing home study renewals and updates for currently licensed resource families within a set timeline.

This position requires the individual to be familiar with all licensing and adoption rules through the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and the Iowa Code. To best serve our Iowa families, some travel to homes across western Iowa may be required.

What You'll Need

Qualified applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, or behavioral health with a minimum of one year of experience within the child welfare field.

In order to improve family retention, the Support Caseworker must have the ability to communicate effectively and possess the skills, energy, and desire to collaborate with foster and adoptive families with children in their care.

How We'll Support You

• Competitive salary and benefit package at LSI
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Health, dental, life, and vision insurance

Who We Are

LSI is an equal opportunity employer. At LSI we respect diverse life experiences, cultures and heritages, and strive to provide that all voices are heard and valued. You can learn more about our commitment at https://lsiowa.org/who-we-are/