Child Welfare Case Manager

FLITE (Fort Lauderdale Independence, Training & Education) Center was created in 2009 through a partnership of the Community Foundation of Broward, the United Way of Broward and the Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale, with the intent of offering comprehensive access to services for youth aging out of foster care. FLITE Center has become the hub of all support services for our transitioning youth to become successful adults within a safe, nurturing environment that promotes personal growth while developing practical life skills. FLITE Center is Broward County’s one-stop resource center offering all supportive services.

Join our team to continue to do good and create history serving Florida's children and families!

As a Child Welfare Case Manager you'll become a part of a strategic care team charged with overseeing the children in need, while addressing the factors that have put them at risk for out-of-home placement. Our end goal? To help create permanent, stable, and safe home environments for all of Florida's kids.

WHY JOIN FLITE Center?

• Uplifting mission-driven work culture
• Make an impact in your community and become a part of Florida's history!
• Growth and professional development opportunities
• Great benefits package, including generous paid time off and holidays

Please watch the day in the life "Get Real: Life as a Case Manager" video above in its entirety (required for application purposes) to see if this is the best fit for you!

Primary Job Functions

1. Identify and assess client and family needs of minors placed in care by DCF due to abuse or neglect by caretakers with the ultimate goal of permanency
• Conduct child safety assessments.
• Assess client needs and develop service plans.
• Coordinate delivery of services; plan referrals and linkages to clients and families.
• Monitor service plan progress and evaluates reports from multiple service providers.
• Develop and maintain case and program documentation (assessments, treatment and service plans, progress notes, termination summaries, etc.) according to contract and FLITE Center standards.
• Prepare case and status reports and make recommendations; testify in court or other prescribed body regarding reunification, termination of parental rights or other permanency plans.
• Conduct diligent searches as required by dependency laws.
• Coordinate services with other professionals and para-professionals.
• Conduct community outreach as needed.
• Provide specialized services such as detainment, interstate compact, post placement supervision, relative and non-relative caregiver home studies, court testimony, termination of parental rights and judicial review staffing.
• Facilitate stable placement and timely achievement of permanency by providing support to children, caregivers, and family members.
• Assist family and caregivers in accessing subsidy, medical coverage and other needed services for children.
• Coordinate cases with supervisor, team members, providers, DCF and attorneys as needed.
• Facilitate placement and independent living.
• May remove and place children, and/or facilitate mediation staffing for reunification, TPR and detainment.
• Arrange or provide transportation of clients when needed.
• Arrange for drug/alcohol screens as necessary.
• Provide on call support as required or scheduled.
• For Adoptions:
• Assess families for the purpose of adoption.
• Complete child assessments specific for adoption.
• Meet agency target/goal for adoption.
• Complete subsidy packets for families.
• Follow background requirements for adoption.
• Adhere to requirements as provided by Florida statue and required by lead agency.
• DCM Trainee candidates only: Attend a paid classroom training program, Phase I Child Protection Certification, and upon successful completion, enter Phase II, a hands on supervised field practice that leads to full certification. This on the job training opportunity will allow you to strengthen your skills in case management.

Job Qualifications

Education, Licenses & Certifications - DCM Trainee Candidates:
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, required.
• Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services related field from an accredited university, preferred.
• Master’s degree in Social Work, preferred.
• Florida Driver’s License within 30 days from hire is required, along with daily access to a reliable and insured vehicle.

Experience - DCM Trainee Candidates:
• Must successfully complete:
• Prescribed Child Welfare Case Management Certification training and examination.
• A considerable period of monitored field practice under close supervision and the associated field case requirement.
• The FLITE Center Dependency Experience Waiver learning path, unless the team member possesses one of the preferred qualifications.
• Two years of experience working with at risk children and families, preferred.
• The team member may advance to a Dependency Case Manager once all qualifications are met.
• Experience in these related fields/titles welcome: Child Welfare, Dependency, Social Work, DCF, Foster Care, Adoptions, Teaching, Psychology, Criminal Justice, etc.

Education, Licenses & Certifications - Certified DCM Candidates:
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, required.
• Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services related field from an accredited university, preferred.
• Master’s degree in Social work from an accredited university, preferred.
• Florida Child Welfare Case Manager certification, required.
•FLITE Center Dependency Experience Waiver may substitute for required qualifications.
• For Adoptions: Adoption Competent certificate or must acquire within 6 months of employment, required.

Experience - Certified DCM Candidates:
• Two years of experience working with at-risk children and families, required.

Competencies

Knowledge of:
• CHILD DEVELOPMENT | COMMUNITY RESOURCES | DEPENDENCY | PERMANENCY

Skills and Proficiency in:
• Planning, project management, organization and time management
• Oral and written communication, including presentation and platform
• Collaboration, teamwork, consulting, facilitation, coaching and mentoring

Ability to:
• Interact effectively with children and families from diverse backgrounds.
• Set appropriate limits and boundaries with clients; act decisively to protect clients, when necessary.
• Assess and apply proper intervention strategies.
• Identify and understand environmental stressors.
• Recognize importance of social, economic, environmental factors in the development and resolution of personal/family problems.
• Be sensitive to service population’s cultural/socioeconomic characteristics
• Perform at a high level of autonomy, with general supervision.
• Perform under strong demands in fast-paced, diverse, sometimes ambiguous environments.
• Commit to providing high customer satisfaction with positive service delivery results.
• Meet critical deadlines, while maintaining attention to detail, accuracy and quality.
• Handle highly stressful, sensitive situations; maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Demonstrate the behaviors of our FLITE Center Common Bond Values.

Together, good can be done