Kinship Navigator

State of Indiana•Indianapolis, IN

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Kinship Navigator provides targeted, timely services related to kinship placement and support to improve and sustain youth placements. The role works to decrease placement disruptions, increase kinship placement availability, educate kinship caregivers about Department of Child Services policies and procedures, and connect caregivers with resources throughout the life of a case. The Kinship Navigator helps caregivers understand children’s needs and their own support needs, provides customer service, and supports Family Case Managers in creating a kin-first child welfare culture. The position is based primarily in Indianapolis and serves Marion County and surrounding counties in central Indiana. Residency in the service area is preferred. Mileage is reimbursed, and augmented pay is provided for on-call hours. The salary traditionally starts at $47,320, with compensation potentially adjusted based on education and work experience. The role may also perform broader child welfare casework, including investigating abuse, neglect, or dependency reports; assessing risks and needs; developing and monitoring plans; coordinating services and placements; maintaining case records and reports; and supporting reunification, adoption, or independent living efforts. The job profile is not comprehensive, and duties may change or be assigned as needed.

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 the ability to coordinate work among programs.
Specialized knowledge of how behavioral sciences affect client care and treatment and social work project objectives.
Ability to investigate and interview alleged victims and perpetrators of child abuse or neglect appropriately and effectively.
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, recognizing differences in child-rearing practices, relationships, and needs.
Ability to work with children with special needs, foster families, homes willing to accept those children, and professionals providing appropriate services.
Ability to exercise sound judgment while managing crises, including situations involving confrontational or aggressive adults being 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 if 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 central Indiana service area is preferred.

Responsibilities

Identify and engage relatives and kinship caregivers as placement options.
Assist kinship families in accessing resources, financial assistance, and support programs.
Facilitate family meetings and maintain ongoing communication to strengthen family connections.
Investigate reported incidents of child abuse, neglect, or dependency and determine whether incidents are substantiated.
Assess the risk of additional injury or harm to children, including whether a child is in imminent danger, and remove and place a child in a protected environment when warranted.
Conduct needs assessments to determine treatment options for families and children reported to be abused or neglected.
Testify, prepare pre-dispositional and progress reports, maintain case files, and develop briefing reports for the community child protection team.
Develop informal adjustment plans to divert children from the juvenile justice system.
Develop case plans that help families and children become self-sufficient in a safe and nurturing environment and 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 service capability of treatment programs and providers to ensure consistency 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 to coordinate family reunification, adoption, or independent living efforts.
Maintain data to support trend analysis of family and children’s needs.
Provide customer service and support to Family Case Managers to help create a kin-first child welfare culture.

Benefits

Three medical plan options, including prescription coverage, as well as vision and dental plans.
Wellness Rewards Program with gift card rewards for completed wellness activities.
Health savings account with bi-weekly state contributions.
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.
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.