Intensive Case Manager

Reports to: HSPRS Supervisor

Location/ Work Arrangement: Walnut Creek, CA

Salary Minimum: $60,800 Salary Maximum: $76,000

Geographical Difference:

This position may be eligible for 15% geographical differential,

raising the band to minimum $69,920; target max $87,400.

About CWS

Founded in 1946, Church World Service (CWS) is a non-profit and faith-based global humanitarian organization that provides sustainable self-help, development, disaster relief, and refugee and immigrant assistance around the world and in the United States (U.S.). CWS has assisted over 865,000 refugees and immigrants from across all faiths and backgrounds to start new lives in the U.S. and to integrate into their communities. Join us in this life changing work.

Through funding from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), CWS provides services to unaccompanied children (UC) through the Home Study (HS) and Post Release Service (PRS) program. UC are recently arrived in the US and released from federal custody to a sponsor, typically a family member or friend, and may require additional support once in the community to access resources and ensure stability of the placement and their safety. CWS also provides home study services to those children in ORR care when assessment of the proposed placement is warranted to ensure the sponsor can provide a safe and stable home and ensure the UC’s well-being. CWS provides HSPRS nationally through CWS local offices and affiliate partners.

Purpose

The Home Study and Post Release Services Caseworker (HS and PRS Caseworker) Level 3 provides focused, collaborative home study services to unaccompanied children and their sponsors in the Southern California areas to ensure and support the safe and timely release from federal care. In addition, the HSPRS Caseworker applies their clinical expertise in the provision of therapeutic, strengths-based and culturally and linguistically appropriate case management services to children identified as requiring a high level of care upon reunification and in the community where their sponsor resides. Weekly intensive in-home services are required in addition to paying close attention to the child’s affect, ability to be a reliable reporter, self-reflect about their immediate environment. This clinical assessment approach is part of ongoing efforts to build a viable support system, reliable communication conduits and constructive collaboration with the child, sponsor, and other household members. Caseworkers will conduct outreach and education to community service providers to supplement existing services that do not adequately address unique needs of immigrant children. The Level 3 Caseworker will regularly interact with Child Protection Services, Trafficking Victims Assistance Program and behavioral healthcare providers.

Responsibilities

Home Study

• Conduct in-person home visits to interview, assess, recognize priorities and trends to inform psychoeducational sessions with Sponsors.
• Complete home study recommendation within 10 days of referral.

Post Release Services

• Conduct weekly in-person home visits with children released from federal care to their sponsor to stabilize the placement and promote the safety of the child while assessing risk and protective factors.
• Conduct safety planning and risk assessment, crisis intervention, with a focus on family preservation and collaboration with behavioral healthcare providers.
• Advocate for the child and sponsor family to address barriers to accessing resources and to support them in navigating complex systems (child welfare, immigration court, etc.).
• Make decisions and recommendations that may have serious impact on the life of the child and sponsor family
• Conduct child centered needs assessments.
• Develop and prepare individualized strength-based, goal-oriented service plans.
• Coordinate referrals and address barriers in relevant service need areas such as legal, education, medical, mental health; Support unaccompanied children and sponsor with enrollment and access to services in community.
• Coordinate access to youth programming, services/activities that promote a connection to their culture and traditions.
• Provide psychoeducation to children and sponsor on relevant topics with particular attention to safety.
• Apply clinical insights in designing a supportive plan for the children and sponsor in coping with family reunification stressors.
• Monitor progress of goal completion.
• Monitor the safety and well-being of children including but not limited to indications of trafficking, abuse, and neglect. Create and revise safety plans as needed.
• Serve as a mandated reporter of child abuse and neglect and work with state child welfare as needed.
• Network and develop partnerships within the community to educate providers on children’s needs and to reinforce/increase partnerships in relevant areas.
• Prepare case notes; enter data; complete reports in a time sensitive manner.
• Coordinate internally with other supervisors and case workers to accept referrals of children receiving Level 1 or 2 services that would benefit from more intensive, Level 3 services.
• Participate in Supervision, Team meeting and trainings.
• Other Duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, or other relevant behavioral science in which direct clinical experience is a program requirement;
• Consideration will be given to those who hold a Bachelor’s degree and have at least five years of demonstrated clinical case management experience

Experience:

• MSW candidates must have at least 3 years of experience (at least 5 years of experience if applicant holds a BSW) working with children and youth, family reunification/preservation, and or foster care/child welfare and previous work experience and interest working with foreign born populations is required. Ability to provide trauma-informed assessment, crisis intervention, safety planning and other activities to support the safety and stabilization of the placement.
• Prior experience identifying community social services and other resources required.
• Experience navigating complex systems (child welfare, immigration, court system, etc.) required.
• Prior Clinical experience working with clients in acute crisis required.
• Licensure or licensed eligible based on state requirements
• A minimum of 2 years of post-graduate direct clinical service experience;

Skills:

• Ability to read and write in Spanish and English
• Ability to establish trust and rapport with clients
• Ability to maintain calm and use sound judgment in high stress situations

Special Requirements

• Possess and maintain active licensure or be eligible for licensure.
• Fluency in English and Spanish;
• Valid driver's license and insurance.
• Personal vehicle.
• Must be comfortable conducting visits in the client’s home, including in unfamiliar areas.
• Must be able to travel frequently and independently often with limited notice.
• Must be comfortable conducting home visits in the community in diverse areas of socio-economic backgrounds.
• Must be able to work evenings and weekends as assigned.
• Successfully pass PREA, FBI criminal and Child Abuse and Neglect Checks

Benefits

CWS offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

- 403 (b) Retirement Plan

- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

- Generous Paid Time Off (18 Paid Days Off; 24 Days Off after 2 Years)

- 14 Official Holidays

- 12 Sick Days Off (Accrued monthly)

- Life Insurance and AD&D

- Long Term and Short-Term Disability

- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

- Health Savings Account

- Flexible Spending Accounts

- Commuter Benefits

CWS is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.