Foster Care Case Manager

Wellspring Lutheran Services • Traverse City, MI

4d

About The Position

Wellspring Lutheran Services is seeking a Foster Care Case Manager to support children and families across Grand Traverse County and surrounding areas. The role focuses on helping children in foster care achieve safety, stability, lifelong connections, and permanency. The Case Manager advocates for children, recognizes their strengths, and supports families through challenging transitions, with reunification pursued whenever possible.

The position involves developing individualized plans focused on safety, well-being, and permanency; coordinating services; helping children maintain important relationships; and ensuring their educational, medical, emotional, and social needs and voices are represented. The Case Manager collaborates with foster parents, birth families, schools, courts, therapists, community providers, and child welfare professionals. Work includes home visits, school meetings, parenting-time facilitation, service coordination, court hearings, family appointments, and support for families overcoming barriers.

This is a full-time role with primarily daytime hours, plus evening and occasional weekend responsibilities to support family engagement, visits, and service coordination. It requires regular travel throughout the community and participation in after-hours and on-call responsibilities as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related human services field.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and auto insurance.
• Strong assessment, communication, documentation, and organizational skills.
• Ability to engage families experiencing crisis with compassion and professionalism.
• Commitment to child-centered, family-focused practice.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with children and families.
• Knowledge of community resources and family support services.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for children and families and help them navigate challenges while identifying strengths and opportunities for growth.
• Develop individualized plans focused on children's safety, well-being, and permanency.
• Help children maintain important relationships and connections throughout their foster care journey.
• Coordinate services and collaborate with foster parents, birth families, schools, courts, therapists, community partners, and child welfare professionals.
• Encourage family engagement and help families access resources that support long-term success, healing, and reunification whenever possible.
• Advocate for children's educational, medical, emotional, and social needs and ensure their voices are heard in decision-making.
• Conduct foster-home visits, attend school meetings and court hearings, facilitate parenting time, and participate in family appointments.
• Support families in overcoming barriers and support children and young people as they move toward reunification or a permanent home.
• Participate in after-hours and on-call responsibilities as required.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching
• Employee Assistance Program (SupportLinc)
• Mileage reimbursement
• Professional development and ongoing training
• Supportive, collaborative team environment
• Meaningful work that impacts children and families every day

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level