Social Worker - Family Teaming

Marathon County•Wausau, WI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Marathon County Department of Social Services is seeking a dedicated and skilled social worker to function as a Family Empowerment & Teaming Specialist. This position works within the Child Protective Services (CPS) Initial Assessment and Access unit to strengthen family engagement, promote collaborative decision‑making, and support safety-focused teaming practices. This position partners with caregivers and involved supports to facilitate Family Team Meetings and helps build capacity for sustainable family-driven safety, stability, and permanency. The Specialist ensures families have representation, self-determination, and autonomy throughout CPS involvement while coordinating closely with CPS and Youth Justice Social Workers, Safety Support Workers, and community partners. Working closely with families, caregivers, and natural supports, is an integral part of this social work position. This position requires flexibility to meet families, caregivers, and their supports during times they are available, which may include evenings and weekends. During periods of increased Protective Services Reports and assessments, this position may be required to complete initial assessments or service reports. Training and competency in initial assessments will be upheld to ensure coverage capacity.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Social Work or closely related field.
Must also be certified as a Social Worker by the State of Wisconsin Examining Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors; OR become certified within two years of employment.
Possession of a driver's license and a driving record that meets County standards; OR ability to obtain reliable transportation.

Nice To Haves

Understand the County's and department's mission, core values, plans, and priorities for the future.
Ability to contribute to a positive work culture that fosters excellent customer service and teamwork.
Ability to build rapport with clients, families, and associated supports; recognize and strengthen family assets; and obtain cooperation in challenging situations.
Skill in interviewing, interpreting relevant laws and procedures, and navigating difficult interactions with professionalism and empathy
Ability to maintain professionalism in high stress or crisis situations, effectively de escalate conflict, and make sound judgments.
Knowledge of child development, family dynamics, and child safety standards
Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills.
High attention to detail and documentation accuracy.
Knowledge of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.
Ability to integrate training and experience into practice.
Effective verbal and written communication
Skill in using a computer for e-mail, calendaring, basic word processing, and data entry.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with team members and community partners.
Ability to safely transport clients throughout Marathon County and occasionally outside the county, including during inclement weather.

Responsibilities

Engage the family and promote their active participation in decision-making, safety planning, and well-being of their children in collaboration with the department.
Support the implementation of family engagement and teaming initiatives within the department while modeling effective teaming and engagement strategies for CPS staff.
Ensure timely, detailed, and accurate documentation of Family Teaming activities in eWiSACWIS.
Support families in identifying natural supports and establishing sustainable networks while also assisting families in identifying strengths and solutions that reduce risk and enhance protective capacities.
Coordinate with CPS and Youth Justice staff to maintain unified family case plans and facilitate family team meetings on identified in-home cases. This would also include providing support to workers in developing, reviewing, and revising safety plans with family input.
Ongoing incorporation of culturally responsive practices, trauma‑informed engagement, and ICWA/WICWA requirements, when applicable
Collaborate in departmental consultation, family team meetings, and other multidisciplinary meetings to ensure informed decision making and to facilitate necessary services in the best interest of the children, youth and families.
Maintain communication with service providers, schools, courts, and community partners to strengthen team-based interventions.
Facilitate Family Team meetings throughout the assessment and case-planning process to ensure child safety, support in‑home safety planning, and explore reunification possibilities. This includes guiding discussions when youth are identified as unsafe and remain in the home with a safety plan, assessing whether relative placement is appropriate if in‑home planning is not viable, and focusing on the conditions, barriers, and solutions necessary for children to safely return home.