Youth & Family Social Worker

Job Summary

To provide case management to foster children placed in licensed foster homes and to lead the treatment team, along with licensing, training, and supporting foster families. This position also seeks to preserve the family unit by providing comprehensive and family-focused intervention to increase the resilience of families, support parents as they help their children achieve their full potential and strengthen family stability.

Essential Duties

1. Establish and lead a treatment team for children in level 3 foster homes.
2. Develop, implement, and support treatment plans that address safety, stability, daily living, education, communication, permanency, skill development, and crisis management.
3. Monitor and evaluate the progress of treatment plans and the continued appropriateness and effectiveness of services and supports and placement of children.
4. Design and implement new treatment strategies as needed.
5. Develop aftercare plans for children that ensures continuity in managing a child’s needs after the child’s placement ends.
6. Conduct home visits to identified families and children in foster care.
7. Support foster parents by reviewing progress, setting short term goals, resolving problems, and addressing concerns.
8. Provide crisis intervention services. Emphasis is placed on responding to those crises that jeopardize a child’s placement and/or significantly impede a child/family’s treatment progress.
9. Assist with the ongoing training and licensing of foster parents.
10. Maintain knowledge of pertinent departmental, state, and federal policies, rules, and regulations.
11. Assist with transportation of children to scheduled or required appointments.
12. Work with families, service providers, and communities to promote and support the well-being of children and parents.
13. Assist families to obtain services by making referrals, providing transportation, and accompanying them to appointments.
14. Utilize assessments and screening instruments to measure risk, needs, and protective factors.
15. Facilitate parent education to strengthen families and reduce risk of maltreatment.
16. Support development and maintenance of client records and program documentation.
17. Coordinate and facilitate the Family Teaming process. Engage the family in interventions through the use of formal, informal and natural supports.
18. Establish detailed family care plans that identify the presenting issues, outline goals, and address the necessary action steps for success
19. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree (preferred) or a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Child Development, or Counseling.
• A Wisconsin license or certification under Ch. 457, Stats., and Ch. MPSW 3, 6, 11, 12, or 17 required.
• At least two years of post-graduate experience working with high-risk youth and families and seriously disturbed adolescents.
• Knowledge of the neurological, biological, and psychiatric components of emotional disturbances.
• Experience with case management, training, foster care, licensing, and knowledge in the human services field would be very beneficial.
• Able to read, write and speak the English language.
• Valid driver’s license. Personal automobile, if used for work-related travel, must be covered by an automobile insurance policy.
• Prompt and regular attendance.
• Ability to work 4 – ten-hour days each week (9am-7pm) on a rotating schedule.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within the agency, contracted partner agencies, other social service agencies, courts, schools, professionals, and the community.
• Ability to work with and understand the needs of a widely diverse client population including but not limited to people experiencing problems with abuse/neglect, AODA, mental illness, varied disabilities, parenting skills, self-esteem, problem solving skills, living arrangements, interpersonal relationships, economics and money management, self-care skills/limitations, mobility, education/training/employment.
• Ability to utilize motivational interviewing techniques.
• Ability to utilize effective time management and workload management techniques.
• Good understanding of child development.
• Knowledge of fundamental social work principles.
• Ability to work at a high level of efficiency with minimal direction.
• Punctual and possesses a great work ethic.

Become a part of the Racine County Team!!

To view a summary of the benefits offered, click on the link below

Racine County Benefits

01

Do you have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Child Development or Counseling?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have a Wisconsin license or certification under Ch. 457, Stats., and Ch. MPSW 3, 6, 11, 12, or 17.

• Yes
• No

Required Question