
Family Case Manager
- Fort Wayne, IN
- $47,320 per year
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Investigate reported incidents of child abuse, neglect, or dependency, determine whether the incident is substantiated, and develop recommendations to a Juvenile Court or County Director for disposition.
- Assess the level of risk to the child for additional injury or harm, including whether the child is in imminent danger, and may remove the child from the family as the situation warrants, placing a child in a protected environment.
- Perform needs assessments to determine treatment options for families and children reported to be abused/neglected.
- Testify and prepare pre-dispositional and progress reports, maintain case files, and develop briefing reports for the community child protection team. Develops “informal adjustment” plans with families and children to divert children from the juvenile justice system.
- Develop case plans to assist families and children to become more self-sufficient in a safe and nurturing environment and to ensure a permanent home for the child.
- Develop discharge/transition programming to assist families and children to attain and maintain self-sufficiency in a safe environment.
- Monitor and assess the service capability of treatment programs and providers to ensure consistency with the case plan.
- Accept on-call responsibility as needed to receive and investigate allegations of child abuse/neglect.
- Conduct home studies and family histories and recommend placement for adoption to an adoption team.
- Visit children in out-of-home placements to coordinate family reunification, adoption, or independent living efforts.
- Maintain data to help management evaluate trends in family and child needs.
- Fulfill one of the following education/experience requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree, or
- Associate's degree with two years of human services experience, or
- Thirty college credit hours with three years of human services job experience, or
- At least five years of human services job experience
- Advanced knowledge of Social Work practices, casework, and group and individual counseling treatment theories.
- Thorough knowledge of state and/or federal laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards affecting child protection services, foster care, family preservation, and adoption.
- Thorough knowledge of related social services programs and ability to coordinate work among programs.
- Specialized knowledge of the interrelationships of the various behavioral sciences as they affect the care and treatment of patients/clients and/or objectives of social work projects.
- 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 with families of diverse cultural/ethnic backgrounds with sensitivity to differences in child-rearing practices, relationships, and needs.
- Ability to work with children with special needs, such as mental or emotional conditions, foster families, or homes willing to accept those children and the professionals who can appropriately provide services to them.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment while managing crises, including those involving confrontational, aggressive adults being investigated for child abuse or neglect.
- Must maintain a valid Driver's license.
- Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
- Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
- Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
- Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match
- Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
- A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
- 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 time off
- 12 paid holidays, 14 in election years
- Education Reimbursement Program
- Group life insurance
- Referral Bonus program
- Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
- Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
- Free Parking for most positions
- Free LinkedIn Learning access