Licensing Clerk jobs in Gary, IN

The Foster Care Coordinator/Licensing Specialist position is responsible for the case management functions of the caseload of foster youth and respective foster homes, recruiting, licensing and retaining foster homes and ensuring the foster homes meet and/or exceed community and organizational needs. The incumbent will support and uphold a commitment to racial and ethnic equity and antiracism.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Foster Care Coordinator)

• Reviews referrals of youth to determine if and where the placement may occur.
• Communicates with the foster parent(s) to discuss the potential placement of the referral, working in conjunction with the intake process used by the state and Choices licensing.
• With approval from the custodial agency, maintains contact with primary family with a visit the same day as youth’s placement, an additional visit within 3 business days of placement, and no less than monthly thereafter.
• Permanency, safety, well-being, and placement stability will be discussed with the child (if age appropriate) and with the family at each visit and documented. 
• Coordinates home visits for the youth with foster parents.
• Discusses issues pertaining to the youth in care with foster parent(s), youth, school officials, biological parents, placing agency and other appropriate parties involved with the youth according to state regulations and Choices’ policy.
• Attends hearings and Child and Family Team Meetings (CFTMs) for all youth assigned to caseload. Assists with enrolling youth in school and attends Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and 504 meetings. Assures that health care needs of youth are being realized including medical, dental, mental health, and special needs.  All must be completed timely and documented.

• Provides independent living skills that focus on self-sufficiency through specific outcomes as identified through an assessment process.  
• Completes assessments as required by state rules, Choices’ policies, and/or contract requirements.
• Prepares Treatment Plans and all required updates according to established time frames involving all appropriate parties as required by Choices’ policy and regulations of the state.
• Participates in an On Call rotation system as designed by Choices management staff.
• Attends foster youth activities as schedule permits or required by management.
• Attends staff meetings as required by Choices management, including regular supervision meetings.
• Attends meetings as required with partners and stakeholders as necessary.
• Ensures that an ongoing dialogue is established with all referral families and the parent and family involvement is maintained throughout the service period.
• Other duties assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Licensing Specialist)

• Ensures that an ongoing dialogue is established with all referral families and the parent and family involvement is maintained throughout the service period.
• Initiates contact with an inquiring family within one hour of receipt of inquiry.
• Responds to a question/concern from an inquiring or existing family within one hour of receipt of communication.
• Maintains creativity, flexibility, and optimism about the strengths of the family.
• Facilitates the opening and closing of the case and oversees transition to another stake holder.
• Completes home studies for referred families using the process required by the State supervising agency.
• Completes referred home studies.
• Conducts post-placement supervision for prospective foster family as required by court order, DCS, or interstate compact guidelines, unless responsibility is assigned to another Foster Care Solutions staff member. Each referred family receives access to services through the placement team.
• Completes all documentation using a computerized clinical record and maintains a central file which will consist of required paperwork such as payment, case notes, legal documents, and releases of information.
• Maintains communication with DCS, including timely monthly progress reports and any other documentation arranged by DCS.
• Meets regularly with supervisors to discuss growth and development, goal achievement, and performance issues.
• Attends required DCS and regional meetings as required by supervisor.
• Plans and attends foster placement conference, parent trainings, and other special events such as foster parent support groups.
• Organizes and executes an appreciation event annually for foster parents.
• Designs ways to appreciate foster parents on an ongoing basis. . ie. Birthday cards, thank you cards, foster parent of the month award.
• Develops a packet of information which includes an “at a glance” summary of the family including photos which can be provided to youth prior to placement.
• Markets Choices’ foster placement program and networks with other service providers.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, sociology, child & family studies, or other approved related field of human services.
• Minimum of five years of supervised, paid case work experience. Two years of this experience should have been in an approved child placing agency. One year of graduate training in a recognized school of social work, including supervised case work in the field, may be substituted for the required five years of supervised paid case work experience.
• Demonstrated skill of writing treatment plans, case notes, etc.
• Must possess strong organizational skills.
• Trained and certified in SAFE (Structured Analysis Family Education) home study.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing with the culturally diverse population of youth and foster parents as well as referral sources and c-workers.
• Ability to interpret and understand contract language provisions, provide problem solving direction to service providers, and prepare reports for internal use and as required by management.
• Ability to effectively engage all members of a foster family.
• Capacity to determine appropriateness of prospective foster parents and the best placement type.
• Ability to address sensitive and/or personal topics with prospective foster parents.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license in state of residence and auto insurance.
• Reliable transportation with an acceptable driving record is required to meet the travel requirements of this position.
• Current certification in First Aid, CPR, Universal Precautions, and de-escalation training.

Salary: $46,000 annually

Benefits Include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Employer Paid Life Insurance, Short & Long Term Disability
• 401k Match
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave
• Generous PTO plan
• Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program