Child Welfare Caseworker 1-3 - Independent Living/Aftercare

Position Overview

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Under supervision and utilizing a team approach, provides direct casework services to children, birth families, kinship caregivers, and foster families in situations involving abuse, neglect, dependency, risk to harm, and/or families in need of services. Positions in this classification are responsible for conducting investigations, assessing child risk and safety, and providing ongoing, direct casework services to ensure the well\-being and permanency of children. Employees will exercise independent judgement within established policies, procedures, and legal guidelines. Work will include direct interactions and face\-to\-face contact with children, families, caregivers, and community partners, often in complex and high\-risk situations. Caseworkers are responsible for developing and implementing service plans, coordinating resources, and monitoring progress towards safety and permanency goals. Work is performed in a combination of office and field settings and is subject to strict, regulatory, legal, and documentation requirements.

Summary of Job Duties

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*If assigned to* *Intake/Ongoing*

• Provides direct casework services to families in which children may be dependent, neglected or abused; secures protection for children from potentially abusive environments.
• Conducts home visits with parents, children, kinship caregivers and foster families to ensure proper care of children.
• Assesses family functioning, risk to children, and available supports in order to establish a plan for services which ameliorates the conditions which place children at risk.
• Assess the needs of clients and implement services which promote family preservation, placement stabilization, family reunification, concurrent planning and permanency for children.
• Collects appropriate data for possible legal action and presents facts as evidence in court cases.
• Supports and develops team approach in working with birth families, kinship caregivers and foster families.
• Ensure that youth receive educational independent living services.
• Enables families and children to utilize appropriate community resources.
• Develops and/or maintains constructive relationships with other agencies involved with children and families.
• Maintains contact with service team members to include, but not limited to, treatment specialists, educational providers, medical providers, etc.
• Provides services to foster families which maintain children in their placement while supporting and facilitating timely reunification; provides an alternative permanent plan as a last resort.
• Performs required record keeping functions and required paperwork
• Prepares written assessment reports and related documentation as required
• Attend staff meetings, case conferences, workshops, in\-service training sessions and meetings.
• Ensures that cultural issues are addressed in client case plans, consulting with other knowledgeable staff as needed.
• Provides specific services to foster families to enhance their foster care experience, understanding of placement process, their roles and responsibilities, their capacity to accept and maintain child and support reunification process. Advocates for both natural families and foster families.
• Contributes to decision making for the matching of children with their foster homes. Responsible for the coordination of placements including pre and post placement activities.
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned.

*If assigned to Health Services*

• CWC will assess child’s history, needs and align Managed Care Plan (MCP) selection that best meets the child’s physical, behavioral health, vision and dental needs.
• Receive, process, track payment, file and track appeals, grievances on denied claims.
• Review invoices, ensure maximum benefit of payment is received from Medicaid prior to recommending the Health Services Supervisor that the Agency pay out of local funds.
• Coordinate with caseworkers, foster parents, and health services clerical to promote the completion of medical, dental, behavioral health and vision assessments as required in accordance with Ohio Administrative Code.
• Monitor performance and make recommendations to the Supervisor to improve outcomes for youth in custody of CSD.
• Coordinate with Managed Care Plan providers to ensure youth have an assigned Care Coordinator.
• Serves as a liaison with the MCPs.
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned.

*If assigned to* *Afterhours (Third\-Shift)*

• CWC will provide telephone intake services as scheduled and documents all referrals in the SACWIS system.
• Works cooperatively with police, hospital and other community professionals in coordinating a response to emergency situations primarily coming to the attention of the agency after normal working hours. This includes dispatching emergency/crisis workers to investigate and coordinate with the administrator on\-call.
• Locates placements for children as part of an emergency response for children when needed.
• Ensures that cultural issues are addressed in client case plans consulting with other knowledgeable staff as needed.
• Works cooperatively on open cases and/or on behalf of assigned workers during crisis situations.
• Documents activities as agency policy requires.
• Participate in departmental and agency activities (i.e. meetings, training, etc.) as required.
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned.

*If assigned to* *Independent Living*

• Attend scheduled supervision meetings, MCCS Independent Living Team meetings, Unit and Department meetings.
• Provides intensive aftercare services to youths ages 18\-21 to assist each youth's successful emancipation from MCCS and toward the achievement of an adult independent lifestyle.
• Develop and implement Independent Living and Emancipation plans; make referrals and maintain regular contact with youth and caregivers.
• Providesindividualand/orgrouptraining andsupport to14–21\-year\-oldyouthstoimplement lifeskill areas.Lifeskills include budgeting andmoney management, jobseeking skills, jobmaintenance skills, educational and vocational planning, obtaining and maintaining housing inthe community, homemanagement, awareness and useof community, health and legal services, and other identified areas.
• Complete SAIL (Support toward Adult Independent Lifestyle Services) assessments
• Collaborate with caseworkers and participate in team decision\-making, departmental meetings, and agency conferences.
• Maintain accurate records, prepare reports, and complete court reviews and service agreements.
• Track youth turning 14 for pre\-independent living engagement and manage data for course eligibility.
• Schedule and facilitate transition planning meetings
• Administer and score Daniel Memorial Inventory assessments.
• Coordinate transitions from Independent Living to Aftercare Services and refer youth to the Bridges program.
• Organize college and career seminars, Independent Living courses, and quarterly orientations for youth entering foster care.
• Evaluate Independent Living programs in congregate care settings and provide ongoing feedback on youth participation.
• Coordinates requests for financial assistance including processing stipends, requests for funds, purchase requisitions for transition activities related to their move to semi\-independent or community living site and other requests for funds
• Maintain face\-to\-face contact with youth in aftercare and oversee stipend distribution.
• Deliver annual foster parent training on Independent Living and emancipation services.
• Facilitate emancipation conferences and readiness orientations.
• Completes annual training hours.
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned.
• Servesasagencyliaisontospecifiedcommunity agencies.
• Develops emancipation plans for a smooth transition from foster care.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

(Performs Related Duties as Required)

Minimum Qualifications and Requirements

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CWC 1 – Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Education, or related field; OR alternative, equivalent evidence of the Minimum Class Requirements.

CWC 2 – Master’s Degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Education, or related field. Preference given to candidates with field placements or volunteer experience involving casework responsibility with families and children; OR Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Education, or related field and at least two (2\) years of related experience preferably in Child Welfare; OR alternative, equivalent evidence of the Minimum Class Requirements.

CWC 3 \- Master's Degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Education, or closely related field with two (2\) years of experience in Child Welfare, OR Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Education, or closely related field plus five (5\) years of Social Work experience in Child Welfare; OR alternative, equivalent evidence of the Minimum Class Requirements.

Driving Requirement: Must maintain a current valid United States driver's license with an acceptable driving record and have proof of valid auto insurance.

Training and Development: First Aid, Defensive Driving, Car Seat Installation \& Safety