Family Evaluator I

State of Montana • Kalispell, MT

9d

About The Position

Work includes assessing needs and best interests of children in divorce cases, aiding in reducing parental conflict, assisting in negotiating and developing an appropriate interim and long-term parenting plan, determining and making necessary referrals, and preparing reports of findings and recommendations to the court. The nature of cases handled include, but are not limited to, parenting plan disputes, parent and grandparent access, and underage marriage applicants. Work is performed with considerable independent judgment, discretion, and decision making. Work is performed under the general supervision of a professional supervisor and in accordance with court orders, professional social worker practices and procedures, and Title 40, 41, and 42 of the Montana Code Annotated. Work is evaluated through meetings, reports, and annual review of performance for the quality of services provided to clients and the thoroughness of reports prepared.

Requirements

• The minimum qualifications are a Bachelor’s Degree in human services or related field and one-year of social service/criminal justice experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in domestic relations, conflict resolution, and report preparation is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Reviews questionnaires and references submitted on behalf of the parties; assesses the need for additional information; obtains information from several agencies or professionals; conducts in-depth investigations of backgrounds of clients and all parties involved; conducts comprehensive interviews and determines need for and makes referrals to community and state agencies; follows up on cases with agencies.
• Conducts home visits/parent-child observations to observe interactions of parents and children; meets with the parties jointly when necessary.
• Reviews information and prepares a report to the court with recommendations for a parenting plan and/or counseling, parenting classes, or treatment regarding areas of concern.
• Attends settlement conferences and confers with attorneys; attends meetings of community social agencies.
• Coordinates case management after parenting plan is finalized; guides the implementation of the parenting plan by working with the parents to resolve misunderstandings; conducts dispute resolution sessions to help the parties reach consensus; assists the parties in any mutually agreed modification of the original parenting plan.
• Works with couples who have applied for conciliation under Montana’s conciliation law; prepares a report to the court with findings and recommendations.
• Meets with underage marriage applicants to determine whether the underage person or persons have the ability to take on the responsibilities of marriage; prepares a report to the court with findings and recommendations.
• Researches new referrals at district court and files copied information in files; supervises visitations as necessary or refers parties to qualified supervisors in cases where supervision is ordered.

Benefits

• Work/life balance
• Family friendly policies
• Dedicated and caring colleagues
• Health coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and Holidays (combination of up to 38 per year)
• Opportunities and room for professional growth
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness - Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees