Residential Children's Case Manager

YWCA NORTHEAST INDIANA INC•Fort Wayne, IN

About The Position

The Residential Children’s Case Manager provides trauma-informed and trauma-responsive services to children and families participating in Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, and Addiction Recovery residential programs while in shelter. The role supports the safety, stability, and overall well-being of children and their families during their shelter stay, using a Two-Generation (2Gen) approach that addresses the needs of both children and parents. The position is full-time and salaried, with normal working hours Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The work is performed primarily in a non-smoking office environment combined with remote and community-based work. The employee participates in a coverage on-call rotation and may travel in inclement weather. Occasional high stress may occur when working with clients, staff, and volunteers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, or a related field, or equivalent education and experience.
Obtain CPR and First Aid certifications within the first year of employment.
Knowledge and experience providing trauma-informed care and responses to children, youth, and families affected by domestic violence, substance use, and other trauma.
Knowledge of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their potential effects on child development, behavior, emotional well-being, family relationships, and long-term outcomes.
Experience providing child- and family-centered case management, including assessments, goal planning, referrals, follow-up, and service coordination.
Knowledge of child development and age-appropriate behaviors, including recognizing when additional support or referrals may be needed.
Experience facilitating or supporting parenting education or classes that strengthen parenting skills, healthy communication, positive discipline, routines, and parent-child relationships.
Knowledge of the effects of domestic violence and substance use disorders on children and families.
Experience using strengths-based, person-centered, and family-centered approaches with children and caregivers.
Knowledge and experience in conflict resolution, crisis intervention, de-escalation, and responding appropriately to challenging behaviors.
Ability to maintain healthy professional boundaries while building trusting and supportive relationships with children, youth, and families.
Experience collaborating with schools, behavioral health providers, child welfare agencies, community organizations, and other service providers.
Knowledge of educational supports and experience assisting families with school enrollment, attendance, transportation, and other educational barriers.
Experience planning and facilitating children’s activities, groups, family activities, field trips, and developmentally appropriate programming.
Knowledge of community resources and ability to make appropriate referrals and connect children and families with services.
Experience maintaining accurate, timely, and confidential case documentation, including intakes, progress notes, service plans, referrals, incident reports, and program outcomes.
Ability to collect and track program- and grant-related data to measure child, parent, and family progress and outcomes.
Knowledge of confidentiality, mandated reporting, professional ethics, safety practices, and organizational policies when serving vulnerable children and families.
Strong communication, teamwork, problem-solving, organization, and relationship-building skills.
Ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences while maintaining dignity, respect, and professionalism.
Ability to walk, stand, bend, stoop, reach, and lift or carry up to 30 pounds.
Full range of body motion, including manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination.
Corrected vision and hearing within the normal range.
Ability to sit at a computer workstation for extended periods and occasionally stand for long periods.
Ability to focus on detail and accuracy.

Responsibilities

Complete children’s intake and initial needs assessments for children and youth entering residential programs.
Provide Two-Generation (2Gen) case management to address parent and child needs and support family well-being and long-term stability.
Provide trauma-informed case management to children and youth impacted by domestic violence, family instability, and/or parental substance use and recovery.
Develop and monitor individualized goals and service needs for children and youth.
Observe parent-child interactions and provide appropriate support, redirection, and education on parenting and daily living skills.
Connect children and families with community resources, including educational, behavioral health, childcare, developmental, recreational, and other supportive services.
Assist families with school enrollment, transportation, bus arrangements, IEPs, and other educational barriers.
Facilitate or assist with children’s groups, activities, special events, and field trips.
Help create developmentally appropriate activities for children of different ages.
Support opportunities that promote family bonding, resiliency, social-emotional development, and healing from trauma.
Complete required documentation on client progress, services, referrals, activities, outcomes, program participation, and tracking and reporting of data.
Maintain accurate records and document interactions with children in all residential programs according to agency and funding requirements.
Maintain compliance with organizational policies, confidentiality requirements, grant expectations, and applicable state standards.
Collaborate with Residential Services staff, the Advocacy team, Recovery staff, interns, volunteers, schools, and community partners.
Attend required staff meetings, trainings, continuing education, CPR and First Aid training, and other professional development opportunities.
Assist with maintaining appropriate coverage and safe programming during children’s activities and community outings.
Respond appropriately to client and child concerns and help maintain a safe, respectful, supportive, and trauma-informed environment.
Participate in the coverage on-call rotation.
Perform other duties as assigned to support the goals of Children’s Services and Residential Services.
Uphold and promote the YWCA Mission, maintain compliance with state standards, adhere to policies and procedures, contribute to fund development, and support other departments and staff.