Community Outreach Caseworker Early Steps

University of South Florida•Tampa, FL

About The Position

The Community Outreach Caseworker for Early Steps works as part of a multidisciplinary team to identify patients’ medical and developmental needs. The caseworker develops Family Support Plans and helps families meet their goals through short-term parenting interventions and community referrals. The role may involve home visits and requires documenting all related work. A Level II background check is required. This position is time limited. The role conducts intake and eligibility assessments for children and families entering the Early Intervention Program, including gathering psychosocial histories and demographic information and assessing program eligibility. It supports families in scheduling initial medical and developmental assessment appointments and conducts intakes in homes, clinics, and community settings. The caseworker reviews children’s medical histories to determine Part C Program eligibility and develops and implements Family Support Plans in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team. Intervention may include teaching families positioning, recognizing infants’ stress cues, and feeding techniques until appropriate community services are arranged. The role also provides targeted case management and care coordination to Part C-eligible children and families, completes required CMS and EIP forms, and bills Medicaid as required. The position coordinates appointments and recommended evaluations, arranges transportation when necessary, communicates appointment information to team members, and serves as a telephone liaison with healthcare and insurance providers under physician supervision. It documents contacts in patient EIP records and Family Support Plans and coordinates periodic in-service education about Part C issues for hospitals and community providers served by the EIP Program. Minimum qualifications include a high school diploma or equivalent and three years of experience in office, administrative, or customer service positions. Appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate. Preferred qualifications include at least two years of professional experience in the relevant discipline, knowledge of community resources, English/Spanish bilingual ability, and a bachelor’s or master’s degree in public health, social work, special education, or a related clinical discipline. The posting also describes degree equivalencies under Florida Senate Bill 1310, subject to employment eligibility requirements.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Three years of experience in office, administrative, or customer service positions; appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate.
A Level II background check is required.
Employment eligibility requirements in the United States apply as described in the posting.

Nice To Haves

At least two years of professional experience in the respective discipline.
Knowledge of community resources.
Bilingual English/Spanish ability.
A bachelor’s or master’s degree in public health, social work, special education, or a related clinical discipline.
Degree equivalency may be applicable under the provisions described for Florida Senate Bill 1310.

Responsibilities

Conduct intakes for children and families entering the Early Intervention Program, assessing eligibility and gathering psychosocial history and demographic information.
Help families schedule initial medical and/or developmental assessment appointments.
Conduct intakes in homes, clinics, or community agencies and organizations.
Review and document medical history forms for children from birth to age three to determine Part C Program eligibility.
Develop Family Support Plans with the Early Intervention Program multidisciplinary team.
Implement interventions to teach families positioning techniques, recognition of infant stress cues, feeding techniques, and other plan-related practices until community services are arranged.
Provide targeted case management and care coordination for a caseload of Part C-eligible children and families.
Complete required CMS and EIP forms with patients and bill Medicaid as required.
Coordinate and assist parents with clinic and agency appointments and ensure recommended medical and developmental evaluations are completed.
Arrange transportation when necessary.
Report scheduled appointments to team members as needed and document them in the chart.
Serve as a telephone liaison with healthcare and insurance providers under physician supervision.
Document contacts in patient EIP records and Family Support Plans.
Coordinate and implement periodic in-service teaching about Part C issues for hospitals and community providers served by the EIP Program.
Complete other duties as required by the EIP Program.