Foster Care Case Manager

State of Indiana•Indianapolis, IN

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Foster Care Case Manager improves foster care services by licensing foster families and supporting Family Case Managers in making placement determinations. The role uses screening methods to understand children’s needs and match them with appropriate foster families. It recruits, licenses, trains, and supports foster and kinship caregivers to improve retention, reduce placement moves, increase local placements, and meet regional needs. Responsibilities also include child protection casework, investigating allegations of abuse or neglect, assessing safety and treatment needs, developing plans toward a safe and permanent home, and coordinating services and placement-related efforts. The position works primarily from Indianapolis and serves Marion and surrounding counties in central Indiana: Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Morgan, and Shelby. Residency in the service area is preferred. Mileage is reimbursed, and augmented pay is provided for on-call hours.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree; or an associate degree and at least two years of human services job experience; or 30 college credit hours from an accredited institution and at least four years of human services job experience; or at least five years of human services job experience.
Advanced knowledge of social work, casework, sociology, group and individual counseling, and treatment methods and theories.
Thorough knowledge of state and/or federal laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards affecting child protection, foster care, family preservation, and adoption.
Thorough knowledge of related social services programs and ability to coordinate work among programs.
Specialized knowledge of how behavioral sciences relate to client care and treatment and social work project objectives.
Ability to investigate and interview alleged victims and perpetrators of child abuse or neglect effectively and appropriately.
Ability to formulate and monitor project guidelines or treatment plans.
Ability to prepare clear, accurate reports.
Ability to work sensitively with families from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds and differing child-rearing practices, relationships, and needs.
Ability to work with children with special needs, foster families or homes willing to accept those children, and professionals who can provide appropriate services.
Ability to exercise sound judgment while managing crises, including situations involving confrontational or aggressive adults investigated for child abuse or neglect.
Ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
Must maintain a valid driver's license.
A degree is not required when the candidate has at least five years of human services experience applying the outlined knowledge, skills, and abilities in a similar role.

Nice To Haves

Residency in the service area is preferred.

Responsibilities

Investigate reported incidents of child abuse, neglect, or dependency, determine whether incidents are substantiated, and recommend dispositions to a Juvenile Court or County Director.
Assess risks of additional injury or harm to children, determine whether they are in imminent danger, and remove and place children in a protected environment when warranted.
Assess the needs of families and children and determine treatment options.
Testify; prepare pre-dispositional and progress reports; maintain case files; and develop briefing reports for the community child protection team.
Develop informal adjustment plans with families and children to divert children from the juvenile justice system.
Develop case plans to help families and children become self-sufficient in a safe, nurturing environment and to ensure a permanent home for the child.
Develop discharge and transition programming to help families and children attain and maintain self-sufficiency in a safe environment.
Monitor and assess treatment programs and providers to ensure services are consistent with case plans.
Accept on-call responsibility as needed to receive and investigate allegations of child abuse or neglect.
Conduct home studies and family histories and recommend adoption placements to an adoption team.
Visit children in out-of-home placements and coordinate family reunification, adoption, or independent-living efforts.
Maintain data to help management evaluate trends in family and child needs.
Guide prospective foster and kinship caregivers through the licensing process.
Conduct home studies and ensure foster homes comply with state and agency standards.
Provide ongoing support, training, and monitoring for licensed foster homes.
Perform other duties, responsibilities, and activities as assigned; the job profile does not provide a comprehensive list.
Maintain a valid driver's license.

Benefits

Three medical plan options, including prescription coverage, plus vision and dental plans.
Wellness Rewards Program with gift card rewards for completed wellness activities.
Health savings account with a bi-weekly state contribution.
Deferred compensation 457(b) account with employer match.
Two fully funded pension plan options.
Leave policies, including 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers.
Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave.
Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave.
12 paid holidays, or 14 in election years.
Education Reimbursement Program.
Group life insurance.
Referral Bonus program.
Employee assistance program with covered behavioral health visits.
Eligibility as a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Free parking for most positions.
Free LinkedIn Learning access.
Mileage reimbursement.
Augmented pay for on-call hours.