Family Preservation Services (FPS) Case Manager

About the role

Family Preservation Services (FPS) provides intensive in-home services and case management to families with one or more children at risk of out-of-home placement or who will be at risk at birth.

Essential Functions

• Ensure the safety, stability, and well-being of children and families during the referral period
• Deliver culturally competent, strengths-based case management consistent with evidence-based practice models
• Make decisions guided by supervisor direction, family preservation standards, evidence-based models, and DCCCA policies
• Meet DCF timelines:
  • Connect with the family within 24 hours of referral
  • Facilitate initial family meeting within 48 hours of referral
  • Complete assessment-based case plan within 20 days of referral
  • Close case within 3–6 months of referral
• Engage families to complete assessments and develop case plan goals and objectives
• Meet with the family in the home weekly and monitor progress toward case plan goals
• Meet monthly with each child individually to assess safety
• Assess each child’s safety with every family contact and report suspected child abuse or neglect
• Monitor family progress and service provision using assessment tools; update case plan based on assessments
• Provide weekly home-based family skills training covering:
  • Nutrition
  • Hygiene
  • Household and time management
  • Home and child safety
  • Basic parenting
  • Transportation
  • Problem solving and communication
• Work closely with the Family Support Worker to deliver services and make decisions about child well-being
• Prioritize problems, establish goals and objectives, utilize resources, and make decisions appropriate to the family
• Complete and analyze initial and ongoing family assessments related to safety, stability, and well-being, including:
  • Mental health
  • Substance abuse
  • Education
  • Emotional, social, and physical well-being
  • Parenting and parent–child relationships
• Use assessments to develop the case plan with the Family Support Worker/Family Mentor, child(ren), and family; make community referrals as necessary
• Complete and submit timely court reports; appear and testify in court as required
• Collect drug screens as necessary
• Document case information weekly, including court reports, emails, and activities
• Respond promptly to family crisis situations; document incidents and be available 24/7 to clients
• Drive to various DCCCA and other business locations as required throughout the day or night
• Promote and practice teamwork in all activities
• Foster and maintain professional relationships with families, community partners, and peers
• Participate in relevant professional development