Foster Care & Adoption Case Manager

Oakland Family Services•Pontiac, MI

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Foster Care and Adoption Case Manager provides services to children placed in Foster Care who are legally available for adoption. This position is a dual role in which the worker assumes Adoption and Foster Care responsibility for their assigned children. As a dual worker, the responsibilities include provision of services to children who are legally free for adoption and the families who wish to adopt them. The foundation of the role is to ensure a safe and stable home for the child(ren) and satisfactory adjustment for the child(ren) and the adoptive family. The Foster Care and Adoption position reports to the Adoption/Foster Care Supervisor. This is a community-based position that includes driving to and from home visits, court appearances, attending meetings with other community partners, etc.

Requirements

Master’s or bachelor’s degree in social work or related field.
Demonstrated competence in the issues of separation and loss as they relate to the foster care population.
Must have experience in child welfare and successful completion of Child Welfare Training Institute (CWTI).
Must be willing to attend the appropriate adoption training by MDHHS.
Flexibility in work schedule to accommodate the needs of the agency and the program.
Selected candidates for this position must possess a sensitivity to the diversity of the agency’s service population including (but not limited to) differences of culture, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and socioeconomic.
Special abilities and skills necessary to perform the required tasks and that best meet the needs of the agency also will be considered. There may be some standards above that may be waived when compensating specifications or circumstances exist.
Although employees have use of the Agency vehicle fleet to conduct business and are covered under our insurance, employees must provide documentation of personal vehicle liability insurance with minimum coverage of $100,000 per person/ $300,000 per incident. Employees also must provide documentation of a valid driver’s license on an annual basis as well as proof of registration. In some instances, depending on the nature and frequency of driving, a chauffeur’s license must be obtained. (may obtain within sixty days of hire).

Responsibilities

Assist in intake, community-based placement and replacement of children who are referred to the Agency by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
Develop, implement, document and review behavioral goals, methodology of service delivery and objectives as listed in a Parent Agency Agreement.
Monitor and document all progress related to behavioral goals and objectives as listed in the service plan.
Maintain responsibility for children at an individual caseload ratio of no more than 13:1.
Conduct home visits per program requirements.
Recruit and interview prospective adoptive parents to assess their suitability and commitment to be an adoptive parent.
Evaluate children who are legally free to be adopted to assess their needs and develop a plan that meets all best interest criteria.
Provision of pre-placement assessments of prospective adoptive applicants to insure safe, appropriate adoptive placements for children
Coordinate prospective parents and the child’s compatibility and assess their ability to meet the needs of the child through case conferences, supervision and liaison with the Court, including pre-placement visits. Provide supervision and liaison with adoptive family until final order of adoption occurs.
Coordinate all paperwork pertaining to the adoption including adoption subsidy information.
Attend case review meetings, staff meetings, and conferences for professional development.
Provide family and individual counseling in coordination with the service plan.
Consult regularly with other community services and interagency programs to serve the client more effectively and make referrals as appropriate.
Provide crisis intervention and case management services to the child, the family and the foster parents.
Link and advocate with other agencies to ensure that the client receives needed services and arrange for transportation as necessary.
Document that all efforts have been made to work toward a speedy permanency plan for the child.
Prepare all necessary reports as required by MDHHS and the legal system according to prescribed guidelines.
Active and ongoing exploration of appropriate alternative placements with family members or kinship care to ensure the least restrictive environment and best interest placement for the child.
Attend a variety of community-based activities, including but not limited to court hearings, child transportation, other agency meetings.
Facilitate aftercare services when a child has returned to family care or becomes a Permanent Ward to ensure that the placement is stable and timely.
Assist in support groups for foster parents, birth parents and kinship or sibling groups.
Provide seminars and training for foster parents, birth parents and staff.
Represent the agency in a positive manner.
Participate in outreach and recruitment efforts.
Responsible for incorporating principles of diversity, equity and inclusion in work processes and in job functions. Responsible for promoting a feeling of welcoming, belonging, and acceptance to all clients and staff.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Competitive compensation.
Comprehensive medical, dental, prescription, and vision coverage.
Flexible Spending Accounts and HSA options.
Retirement plan with a company match.
Long-term disability insurance.
Voluntary short-term disability.
Life insurance and AD&D.
Malpractice insurance.
Paid time off benefits, including generous vacation, sick, personal, and bereavement days.
Twelve (12) paid holidays, including a floating holiday of your choice!
Annual pay increases, as approved.
Employee assistance program for you and immediate family.
Network of support for your health & well-being.
Verizon cellular plan discount.
Mileage reimbursement at the IRS rate.
Loan forgiveness programs.
Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Family friendly practices and support.
Flexible work schedules, as appropriate.
Hybrid and virtual work options, as appropriate.
Highly robust and comprehensive onboarding and training program.
Paid professional development.
Free online trainings that count toward continuing education credits.
Employee assistance programs.
“Dress for Your Day” approach to dress code.
Financial literacy education and workshops.
Collaborative annual performance appraisals.
“Dollars for a Difference” program for clients and staff in need.
And more!