Family Case Manager

About the role

The Family Case Manager position within the Department of Child Services supports the mission of protecting children and strengthening families through compassionate and determined efforts. This role serves families and children in Boone County and surrounding areas, focusing on prevention, intervention, and permanency.

Responsibilities

• Investigate reported incidents of child abuse, neglect, or dependency, determining if the incident is substantiated and recommending disposition to Juvenile Court or County Director.
• Assess the risk to the child for additional injury or harm, and remove the child from the family if necessary, placing them in a protective environment.
• Conduct needs assessments to determine treatment options for families and children reported to be abused or neglected.
• Prepare and present 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 avoid involvement in the juvenile justice system.
• Create case plans to help families and children become self-sufficient in a safe and nurturing environment, and facilitate a permanent home for children who cannot be reunited with their families.
• Develop discharge/transition programming to assist families and children in attaining and maintaining self-sufficiency in a safe environment.
• Maintain data to help management evaluate trends in family and child needs.
• Accept on-call responsibility to receive and investigate allegations of child abuse or neglect.
• Conduct home studies and family histories to recommend placement for adoption to an adoption team.
• Visit children in out-of-home placements to coordinate family reunification, adoption, or independent living efforts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, or a related field, or 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 five (5) years of human services job experience.
• Advanced knowledge of principles and practices of social work, casework, sociology, and group and individual counseling.
• 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 prepare clear, accurate reports.
• Ability to work with families of diverse cultural/ethnic backgrounds with sensitivity to differences in child rearing practices, relationships, and needs.
• Ability to work with children with special needs such as mental or emotional conditions, foster families, and professionals providing services to them.
• Able to exercise sound judgment while managing crises situations including those involving confrontational, aggressive adults being investigated for child abuse or neglect.

Qualifications

• Must maintain a valid driver's license.

Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of child welfare systems and procedures.

Benefits

The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees that includes:

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans.
• A wellness rewards program.
• A health savings account with bi-weekly state contribution.
• A 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match.
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plans.
• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs.
• Group life insurance.
• Free parking for most positions.
• Free LinkedIn Learning access.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role.