Refugee Foster Care Case Manager, URM

Bethany Christian Services - Kalamazoo, MI

Full-time - Entry Level

Kalamazoo, MI

Social Assistance

About the position

At Bethany Christian Services, we believe families provide the strongest foundation for care and connection. That's why we focus on strengthening and empowering families, always advocating for family-centered solutions to keep children safe. Our work began in 1944 with the care of a single child. Today, inspired by our faith, our aim is to demonstrate the love and compassion of Jesus in our services for children, youth, and families. Working at Bethany means joining a team of nearly 2,000 dedicated professionals with diverse skills, serving communities across the country. Together, we're united in our mission and these shared values: we're motivated by our faith, we support one another, we champion justice, we pursue excellence, and we're in it for the long haul. As an Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) Case Manager, you will be primarily responsible for providing case management services support to children in foster care, foster families, and biological families through the Refugee Services program. This individual is also responsible for conducting culturally sensitive home studies, assessments, and referrals for clients within the program. This position is expected to function effectively with moderate supervision while following the guidelines given on procedures, along with agency, federal, and state regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide culturally, and comprehensive case management services, while maintaining a caseload in compliance with contract terms and agency expectations
• Assess potential placements for Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM), to include but not limited to interviews and home study investigations
• May assist with home study of and licensure of foster families
• Complete and document all required reports, case notes, and case contacts in the appropriate database in accordance with the expected timeframes and requirements
• Assess the safety and appropriateness of the placement on an ongoing basis using child welfare principles and social work best practices
• Attend weekly meetings with supervisor to consult on cases, and to review case plan and direction
• Attend and be prepared for court hearings
• Conduct meetings with foster parents and foster children at least once a month
• Serve as an interpreter for clientele who speak Spanish and translate to English, as needed
• May serve as a co-therapist, as needed
• Provide transportation to clients for but not limited to medical appointments, foster homes, and other social agencies, as needed
• Assist with the training on new staff, as requested
• Facilitate and assist with providing the on-going education and support services for foster parents, while also attending all education and support meetings provided to foster parents
• Attend internal trainings and apply newly gained knowledge on the job
• Serve as lead or co-lead for therapeutic or educational groups
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of foster children in care while meeting DHHS, ORR, and Bethany's documentation and reporting requirements
• Keep abreast of community resources and refer families for support, as needed
• Maintain effective communication with community resources and individuals involved in providing service provisions to clients
• Stay abreast of all agency, federal, and state regulatory requirements related to social services
• Complete other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor's level degree in Behavioral Sciences, Human Services, or a Social Services field from an accredited college; Master's degree in Human Services, or related field of study from an accredited college, preferred
• At least one (1) year of prior case management experience in child and family services
• Bi-lingual English and Spanish, a plus
• Demonstrated ability to service a diverse group of clients, to include refugees or other minority families
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated clinical, therapeutic, and crisis intervention skills
• Ability to work independently and exercise a high level of confidentiality
• Computer skills sufficient to perform essential functions including knowledge of Microsoft Office suite
• Must be 21 years old with a valid driver's license with at least 3 years driving experience in the U.S. to operate a vehicle on behalf of Bethany. Must also pass a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check and maintain a reliable vehicle with proof of adequate insurance coverage
• Pass a criminal history screen, including state and local child protection agency registries
• Subscription to and integration of the agency Statement of Faith, Mission Statement, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment