CHILD WELFARE SOCIAL CASE WORKER

Mesa County, CO•Peoria, IL

1d•$26 - $29•Onsite

About The Position

Mesa County Department of Human Services is hiring a Child Welfare Social Case Worker for its Child Welfare Division. For the first 12 months, this is a professional training-level position with intensive supervision and/or coaching. Assignments are limited to no more than 50% of the county’s average workload or 10 assessments and/or cases at a time, whichever is less, and are designed to develop professional social casework techniques and foundational knowledge. The role provides case management and assessment services to children and families, working collaboratively with families, service providers, community partners, and courts. Depending on assignment, work may include specialized assessments, permanency, family empowerment, adolescent permanency, youth transition, Chafee program coordination, family search and facilitation, professional development coaching, adoption, or placement resource management. The position requires home and community visits, court participation, daily travel, and some evening and weekend hours. Work is generally performed in a standard office environment, with possible exposure to communicable diseases and occasional hazardous situations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a higher education institution, with coursework related to child welfare social casework responsibilities, such as human behavior, child development, family intervention, diagnostic measures, or therapeutic techniques.
Professional, internship, or volunteer work experience in a human-services-related agency.
Bachelor’s degree transcripts must be attached to the application for consideration.
Valid driver’s license; out-of-state hires must obtain a valid Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of hire.
No major driving violations, including DUI, DWI, or DWAI convictions, in the past three years.
Successful completion of criminal history, motor vehicle record, and education verification checks as a condition of employment.
Ability to meet physical requirements including standing, stooping, sitting, bending, twisting, and lifting up to 50 pounds.
Ability to work some evening and weekend hours and travel daily, including periodic travel throughout and outside Colorado.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English/Spanish skills are desired.
Prior Child Welfare Case Management experience is preferred for Professional Development Coach, Facilitator/Diligent Search, and Family Empowerment Social Caseworker positions.
Prior Child Welfare Permanency Case Manager experience is preferred for the Adoption Social Caseworker position.

Responsibilities

Provide case management services in accordance with agency, state, and federal guidelines and laws, with a caseload of no more than 10 cases.
Conduct family, safety, and risk assessments and, depending on assignment, initial abuse and neglect assessments or specialized assessments.
Gather assessment information and jointly develop, establish, and monitor treatment plans with families and service providers.
Use solution-focused practice to mitigate risk, enhance child safety, and move cases toward resolution.
Complete comprehensive reports and extensive case documentation.
Conduct home visits, attend community meetings, participate in court hearings, and provide testimony as needed.
Authorize and coordinate supportive services, make community service referrals, and collaborate with partner agencies.
Work with and advocate for families in crisis or affected by trauma, substance abuse, mental health issues, domestic violence, poverty, child abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse.
For specialized assessment assignments, answer the Child Protection Hotline, screen referrals, complete specified abuse assessments, provide training on identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect, and represent Child Welfare at interdisciplinary community meetings.
For assessment assignments, engage families to maintain children safely at home and facilitate removal when safety cannot be maintained.
For permanency assignments, collaborate with families, providers, community members, and courts to establish permanency through reunification, allocation, guardianship, or adoption, and identify barriers to treatment-plan progress.
For family empowerment assignments, work with families and community partners in non-court cases to mitigate risks, maintain child and youth safety, support well-being, and address barriers through intensive in-home engagement.
For adolescent permanency assignments, manage cases primarily overseen by the juvenile delinquency court system and oversee youth in residential treatment facilities.
For youth-in-transition assignments, complete training in coach-like youth engagement, support youth in locating housing, and help them develop independent living skills.
For Chafee program assignments, promote youth and agency participation in the program and assist youth with independent living skills.
For facilitator/family search assignments, use family engagement models, conduct Permanency Roundtable meetings, and search for kinship supports and potential placements.
For professional development coach assignments, develop and present group coaching and training, conduct individual coaching, oversee the mentorship program, and support structured staff learning plans.
For adoption assignments, coordinate concurrent planning, manage cases after termination of parental rights, prepare adoption documents, establish adoption assistance eligibility, and recruit adoptive families.
For placement resource manager assignments, assess and certify or recertify foster, kinship, and adoptive families; provide training; monitor provider compliance; and participate in recruitment and retention events.
Demonstrate proficient writing skills and perform other related duties as assigned.