Foster Care Case Manager

Job Job Summary At Catholic Charities of Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties, every team member plays an essential role in advancing our mission to serve vulnerable individuals and families with compassion and dignity. As part of our team, you will contribute to a wide range of services aimed at fostering hope, healing, and empowerment within the communities we serve.

The Foster Care Case Manager focuses on developing and implementing individualized permanency and service plans for each child, ensuring their emotional, social, educational, and medical needs are met, while working collaboratively with foster families, biological families, schools, healthcare providers, and CCIEC staff members.

Key Responsibilities

Attend, provide reports, and testify for required court hearings (Preliminary, Pre-Trial, Dispositional, Review, Permanent Wardship, etc.) Prepare and place child in his/her designated foster home, determine child’s need of clothing and personal items, and inform foster parents of child’s background and other necessary information.

Complete Initial Service Plan within 30 days of the child entering agency care. Complete Updated Service Plan quarterly for each child in care. Follow DHHS requirements for regular contact with the child and foster family including at least one visit per month in the foster home. Meet with the birth parents in their home(s) at least quarterly.

Follow DHHS requirements for regular visitations or contact between foster child and the birth family. Supervise parent/child visits quarterly, at minimum. Arrange for any necessary services to assist in reunification of families, including psychological or psychiatric evaluations, therapy, parenting classes, etc., and maintain contact with the professionals providing these services.

Maintain contact and monitor each child’s school progress. Work cooperatively with the foster parents, foster children, birth families, and agency staff in respect to the goals of each case. Assist in placement of foster children into foster homes or in their return to the birth family or other permanent placement. Attend required MISACWIS trainings provided by the state and become proficient in utilizing MISACWIS as a day-to-day tool in order to document contacts, trainings, and recruitment activities.

Input all reports in MISACWIS in a timely manner to ensure compliance with the current Modified Settlement Agreement. Meet all Child Welfare Training Institute requirements – be available to attend entire training of 9-12 weeks. Annually complete 32 hours of ongoing applicable continuing education. Participate in 24-hour on-call rotation to answer crisis calls and provide supportive services to foster parents, foster children, and their natural families.

Participate in regular, ongoing weekly supervision and informing the supervisor on work related issues as needed. Participate in any additional, reasonable, responsibilities as deemed necessary by the Child Welfare Director Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s Degree in social work or related human service field. The following degrees are acceptable: social work, sociology, psychology, family ecology, consumer/community services, family studies, family and/or child development, guidance/school counseling, counseling psychology, and criminal justice.

Experience: Some clinical and case management experience with children and families preferred. Required Licenses, Certifications, and Training: A valid Michigan Driver License, access to reliable transportation and maintain appropriate insurance. Personal Attributes Anticipated Mission-Driven: Demonstrates a deep commitment to the mission and values of Catholic Charities of Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton Counties, and incorporates them into daily work Collaborative Team Player: Thrives in a team environment, contributing positively and working effectively with others to achieve shared goals Solution-Oriented Problem Solver: Proactively identifies challenges and develops practical, innovative solutions to address them Culturally Sensitive: Demonstrates awareness and respect for the cultural diversity of both colleagues and clients, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment Integrity: Upholds a strong moral character, consistently doing what is right, and responsibly using time and resources to serve the organization’s mission Work Environment & Physical Demands The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Emotionally able to work with information that may be traumatic in nature, including working with individuals or families in crisis or experiencing trauma. Ability to stand and/or walk up to 8 hours per shift. Work involves talking, stooping, squatting, twisting, climbing, kneeling, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms.

Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus. May be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to 50 pounds. Ability to sit and use computer workstation, including keyboard and visual display terminal for extended periods of time. Work in an environment with various degrees of discomfort.

Driving as needed throughout the day. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Comments: This job description is intended to outline the essential functions, general supplementary tasks, and key requirements for successful performance in this role.

It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. Additional tasks may be assigned, and management reserves the right to modify duties as needed. Can you perform the essential functions of this job, either with or without reasonable accommodations? Yes __________ No ___________ Employee Name (Please Print) __________________________ Employee Signature ___________________________________ Date _______________________