Family Case Manager

About the role

The Family Case Manager represents DCS and supports families in a local or central DCS office. You will protect families and children from abuse and neglect, maintain or reunify families whenever possible, and, when in the best interest of the child, achieve a permanent home or independent living for children unable to be reunited with their families.

Responsibilities

• Investigate reported incidents of child abuse, neglect, or dependency, make determinations of whether incidents are substantiated, and develop recommendations to a Juvenile Court or County Director for disposition.
• Absorb level of risk to a child for additional injury or harm, including whether a child is in imminent danger, and may remove a child from their family as the situation warrants, then requiring placing a child in a protected environment.
• Assess level of risk to a child for additional injury or harm, including whether a child is in imminent danger, and may remove a child from their family as the situation warrants, then requiring placing a child in a protected environment.
• 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 “informal adjustment” plans with families and children to divert children from the juvenile justice system.
• 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.
• Maintain data which provides management an opportunity to evaluate family and children needs on a trend analysis basis.
• Monitor and assess the service capability 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/neglect.
• Conduct home studies, family histories and recommends placement for adoption to an adoption team.
• Visit children in out-of-home placements to coordinate family reunification, adoption, or independent living efforts.
• Identify and engage relatives and kinship caregivers as placement options.
• Afford kinship families in accessing resources, financial assistance, and support programs.
• Facilitate family meetings and maintain ongoing communication to strengthen family connections.
• Guide prospective foster and kinship caregivers through the licensing process.
• Conduct home studies and ensure compliance with state and agency standards.
• Provide ongoing support, training, and monitoring for licensed foster homes.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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 learn and navigate digital case management systems 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.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment while managing crises situations including those involving confrontational, aggressive adults being investigated for child abuse or neglect.

Qualifications

• At least 4 years of human services experience applying the outlined knowledge, skills, and abilities in a similar role may be considered.
• A degree is not required.

Skills

• Knowledge of state and federal laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards affecting child protection services, foster care, family preservation and adoption.
• 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 learn and navigate digital case management systems 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.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment while managing crises situations including those involving confrontational, aggressive adults being investigated for child abuse or neglect.

Benefits

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans.
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards.
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution.
• Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match.
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options.
• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
• 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers.
• Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave.
• Coupled 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off.
• 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years.
• Education Reimbursement Program.
• Group life insurance.
• Referral Bonus program.
• Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits.
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Free Parking for most positions.
• Free LinkedIn Learning access.

Pay

The salary for this position traditionally starts at $47,320.00 but may be commensurate with education and work experience. Use our Compensation Calculator to view the total compensation package.

Schedule

This position is in Princeton, Indiana, and will serve Gibson County, and surrounding counties as needed.