ICPC Specialist

DePelchin Children’s Center•Houston, TX

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The ICPC Specialist manages a high-volume caseload involving children at multiple stages of service, including parent reunification, licensed and non-licensed kinship care, relative foster and adoption placements, and non-relative foster and adoption placements. The specialist completes required monthly announced and unannounced face-to-face visits in accordance with permanency guidelines. The role routinely interacts with children and families, representatives of organizations, out-of-state agencies, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, and the general public. The specialist receives and manages cases from out-of-state agencies and other catchment areas or legacy regions for courtesy supervision and visits involving parents who live in Region 6. The role assesses children’s safety, well-being, and permanency needs; coordinates services; engages families and potential permanency resources; supports caregivers; maintains communication with sending agencies and primary caseworkers; and completes required reports and case records. The specialist participates in case meetings and proceedings, supports reunification and transitions home, and supervises adoptive placements through finalization as assigned. This is a full-time, non-exempt, office-based position serving Regions 6a and/or 6b, with specific work locations to be assigned. The schedule is Monday through Friday during standard business hours. Frequent travel is required across Harris County and the 12-county service region, and reliable transportation is required. Work involves frequent interaction with children, families, stakeholders, providers, and government agencies, and may include emotionally challenging, crisis-oriented, or high-stress situations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, or a related field; relevant experience may be considered in lieu of the education requirement.
At least two years of relevant work experience in child welfare, foster care, adoption, or permanency services.
Prior experience with ICPC processes.
Knowledge of child welfare and placement practices that promote safety, well-being, family connections, and permanency.
Knowledge of applicable agency policies, procedures, laws, and regulations related to child welfare, abuse, and neglect.
Skill in preparing and supporting children, youth, and families through permanency and placement transitions.
Skill in developing and maintaining professional relationships with children, families, caregivers, and community partners.
Skill in assessing child and family strengths, needs, safety, well-being, and progress toward permanency.
Skill in identifying and coordinating services and resources to address needs and support case goals.
Skill in gathering, analyzing, and applying information to case planning and decision-making.
Ability to support children and families experiencing separation, loss, attachment, and transition challenges using strengths-based practices.
Ability to manage assigned responsibilities and maintain clear, accurate, and timely case documentation.
Ability to understand and consider the impact of race, poverty, and systemic inequities on children and families, and provide culturally responsive services.
Ability to travel as needed to meet with children, families, caregivers, and community partners.
Reliable transportation required.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).

Responsibilities

Receive and manage cases from out-of-state agencies after children are removed from their homes, placed in conservatorship, and placed in care outside their homes; manage courtesy supervision and visits from other catchment areas and legacy regions for parents living in Region 6.
Assess children’s needs, safety, well-being, and permanency needs, and coordinate appropriate services, evaluations, assessments, and referrals.
Work with children, parents, families, caregivers, and community partners to develop and advance permanency plans.
Identify and engage potential permanency resources, including relatives, kinship caregivers, and other individuals important to the child and family.
Complete and review home studies for relatives and other potential kinship caregivers.
Meet with parents and prospective caregivers to assess safety and risk, identify needed behavioral changes, coordinate services, and monitor progress toward permanency.
Conduct required visits with children to assess safety, well-being, placement stability, needs, wishes, and progress toward permanency.
Meet with children, parents, caregivers, and others in homes, community settings, and other locations as needed.
Participate in case meetings, conferences, hearings, and other proceedings, coordinating with the primary caseworker as required.
Maintain communication with the sending agency or primary caseworker about the child’s circumstances, placement, well-being, and significant case developments.
Prepare required supervision reports and documentation about the child’s well-being, caregiver capacity, placement status, and identified concerns.
Support kinship caregivers and foster parents by providing case information, addressing concerns, and coordinating resources needed to meet the child’s needs.
Coordinate with the primary caseworker to support reunification and the child’s transition home, and provide case support through legal case closure as applicable.
Supervise adoptive placements through finalization, as assigned.
Maintain complete, accurate, and timely case records, forms, narratives, and reports in accordance with established requirements.
Manage assigned caseload and priorities to complete required activities and deadlines on time.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with sending agencies, DFPS, law enforcement, courts, legal representatives, healthcare professionals, service providers, and other community partners.