Job Details

Child Welfare Services Case Manager 1

Stronger Families for a Stronger Georgia. The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) is a dynamic state agency responsible for delivering a wide range of services to Georgia's most vulnerable populations. Our mission is to strengthen Georgia by providing individuals and families access to services that promote self-sufficiency, independence, and protect Georgia's vulnerable children and adults.

Start your career in public service. The DHS' Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS), Child Welfare, is seeking candidates to fill the position of Child Welfare Services Case Manager 1, reporting to the Child Welfare Services Supervisor. This position is in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia.

What we offer. Enjoy a generous benefits package that includes unique training opportunities, employee retirement plan: 401(k) plan and 457 plan, 13 paid holidays, vacation & sick leave, medical, dental, vision, long/short-term care, life insurance, and employee discount programs; in addition to telework opportunities depending upon the position(s).

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Initiates timely, face-to-face responses to screened-in reports of alleged child maltreatment and conducts assessments that identify and address safety concerns.
• Addresses identified safety concerns by immediately developing and implementing safety plans.
• Conducts diligent search efforts to locate the child/family when unable to make contact.
• Implement Solution Based Casework (SBC).
• Partners with children and parents in the development and utilization of the Family Functioning Agreement, Action Plan, and Family Plan to achieve desired individual and family-level outcomes.
• Completes genograms to identify available family support network.
• Collaborate with community partners to create systems of support for children and families.
• Ensures that frequency and quality of visits with children and families are adequate to ensure safety, permanency, and well-being.
• Identifies the physical, educational, and mental/behavioral health needs of children, parents, and foster parents and ensures identified needs are effectively addressed.
• Establishes permanency goals for the child(ren).
• Ensures foster care placements and/or living situations are stable and in the best interests of the child(ren) and are consistent with achieving established permanency goal(s).
• Makes concerted efforts to achieve permanency for children in a timely manner and consistent with regulations contained in the Adoptions and Safe Families Act.
• Ensures that siblings in foster care are placed together unless a separation is necessary to meet the needs of one of the siblings.
• Maintains child's connections to his or her neighborhood, community, faith, extended family, tribe, school, and friends.
• Promotes, supports, and otherwise maintains a positive and nurturing relationship between the child(ren) in care and their biological parents/caretakers by encouraging and facilitating activities and interactions beyond visitation.
• Documents case management activities within time frames established by policy.
• Celebrate positive outcomes with children and family.
• Utilizes privately owned vehicle for work-related travel and duties (including transportation of children).
• Routinely serves on after-hours on-call duty.
• Embraces ongoing learning and professional development opportunities.

Note:

• Applicants must pass the standard agency testing protocol for the position in which they are hired to maintain the position.
• Although agency employees are authorized to telework temporarily, employees are subject to being called into the office as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

The State of Georgia does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other protected categories in employment or the provision of services. Qualified applicants may request reasonable accommodation when needed during the application and/or screening process by contacting the appropriate agency Human Resources department.