Foster Care Licensing Worker

Wellspring Lutheran Services•Gaylord, MI

About The Position

Wellspring Lutheran Services is seeking a full-time Foster Care Licensing Worker serving Traverse City and Gaylord. The role partners with prospective and licensed foster families throughout the licensing journey, helping them understand requirements, complete home studies, prepare to care for children in foster care, and access ongoing guidance and support. Through assessment, training, relationship-building, and advocacy, the worker helps ensure children have access to safe, nurturing, and stable homes. The position includes foster parent recruitment and retention, family assessment and licensing support, compliance monitoring, resource coordination, placement collaboration, and participation in training and orientation activities. Work is community-based throughout the service area and includes home visits, meetings, recruitment activities, and training events. Primarily daytime work may also include evening and occasional weekend responsibilities. Local travel is required using a personal vehicle. Wellspring Lutheran Services describes itself as a Michigan-based organization with more than 130 years of service to families. Its mission is: “Motivated by Christ's love, we engage people as they experience and embrace their God-given potential.”

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related human services field.
Experience working with children and families.
Valid driver’s license, good driving record, and auto insurance.
Strong assessment, communication, and documentation skills.
Ability to evaluate family strengths, needs, and readiness for foster care.
Strong organizational and time management skills.
Commitment to strength-based, family-centered practice.
Empathy, respect, and a strength-based perspective.
Ability to build relationships, guide others through important decisions, balance multiple priorities, and collaborate as part of a team.

Responsibilities

Build relationships with individuals and families considering foster care and explain the potential impact of fostering.
Guide families through licensing paperwork, training requirements, home assessments, and fostering decisions.
Conduct comprehensive home studies to assess family strengths, readiness, and ability to provide safe, nurturing care.
Provide ongoing guidance to licensed foster homes and monitor compliance requirements.
Help families access resources and training opportunities.
Participate in foster parent recruitment and retention efforts.
Collaborate with foster care teams, community partners, and licensing agencies to support appropriate child-family matches.
Conduct home visits, facilitate orientation sessions, complete home studies, support foster parents, coordinate placements, and provide training.