Bilingual Case Manager

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionGENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Bilingual Case Manager for Residential and Foster Care Services plays a crucial role in providing culturally appropriate case management services aimed at the safe return and reunification of unaccompanied adolescents in care. They work closely with the Division of Unaccompanied Children Operations (DUCO) to oversee intake and transition processes, ensuring legal representation is secured when necessary. Additionally, they handle intake and exit paperwork, coordinate case planning and transportation, and facilitate translation services as needed. Serving as a liaison between youth, their families, and their countries of origin, the Case Manager strives to maintain, establish, and nurture connections that support potential reunification efforts. They engage directly with youth weekly to assess placement needs and ensure smooth transitions, documenting all interactions and service transitions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Key Responsibilities

Monitoring

• Maintain an assigned caseload of unaccompanied adolescents in foster care.
• Meet weekly with Program Supervisor to elevate questions, concerns and progress towards youth’s goals and reunification progress.
• Plan for successful transition of youth, involving family, sponsors, community resources, and other supports.
• Assist in the rotation of the emergency crisis phone and respond as needed.
• Minimize program vacancies by timely placement of appropriately screened clients.

Administration

• Organize and submit all required reports on various databases including intake and exit paperwork, assessment and service plans, trafficking and cognitive screens, authorization for placement, family reunification packet/sponsor background checks, and case management notes.
• Attend agency or professional seminars, training, or conferences to increase professional knowledge.
• Follow all Washington Administrative Codes, Department of Children, Youth and Families policy and procedures, Office of Refugee Resettlement Policies and Procedures, and Council on Accreditation guidelines.
• Interpret the program to individuals, groups, and organizations when requested.
• Train staff in data case management issues as requested.

Client Services

• Maintain direct contact with each assigned client and have at least one documented, scheduled weekly meeting with each client to discuss reunification options.
• Collaborate with the Mental Health Therapist in the development of culturally and developmentally appropriate treatment plans and treatment outcome goals for each youth.
• Assist foster parents in their role as primary life skills educators.
• Collaborate and facilitate quarterly treatment service plans, goals, modalities, and individualized approaches for each youth on their caseload.
• Contact and develop community resources to support youth's treatment plans, goals, and discharge planning.
• Establish aftercare treatment plans for all youth on caseload and monitor and implement these aftercare plans.
• Ensure completion of timely assessments as contracted.
• Maintain case notes as required, including documentation of all medical, dental, and treatment sessions and updated in the UC Portal where applicable.
• Disseminate and implement agency policies.
• Support MHT treatment methods that incorporate agency goals, policies, and procedures.
• Assist foster parents in providing transportation of youth to appointments, community resources, and meetings.

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

A. Education and Experience

1. Bilingual in English/Spanish
2. Bachelor's degree in behavioral sciences, human services, or social service fields.
3. 3 years of progressive employment experience in the aforementioned fields is preferred.
4. Child welfare, DUCO, and/or case management experience is strongly preferred.

B. Additional Requirements

1. Must be 21 years of age or older.
2. Must satisfactorily pass criminal history check
3. Must satisfactorily pass tuberculosis (TB) test.
4. Complete a de-escalation and restraint training within the first 45 days of employment to be eligible to be involved in the restraint of a resident if necessary.
5. Must have reliable transportation and a valid Washington State driver's license (or be able to obtain one by date of employment).
6. Employees and volunteers who operate their own or Friends of Youth vehicles on Friends of Youth business, must have a safe driving record as defined by Friends of Youth.
7. Employees and volunteers who operate their own vehicle(s) on Friends of Youth business must carry auto liability insurance that complies with the requirements of Friends of Youth.
8. Must successfully complete the following health certification requirements within 30 days of employment: CPR, First Aid and Bloodborne Pathogens.
9. Proof of the following vaccinations is required: First two doses of COVID-19, influenza (during flu season), Varicella (or titers indicating immunity), MMR (or titers indicating immunity). Tdap (one dose).

C. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Able to engage with diverse populations in a culturally responsive manner.
2. Demonstrate a commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion by honoring and celebrating diverse characteristics and expressions of personal identity.
3. Strong commitment to Friends of Youth’s mission, vision, and values.
4. Knowledge of various mental health treatment modalities, de-escalation, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills.
5. Strong organizational ability.
6. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
7. Knowledge of Washington Administrative Code (WAC) for group care.
8. Working knowledge of the principles of trauma informed care, positive youth development, and harm reduction within culturally appropriate frameworks.
9. Knowledge of Council on Accreditation (COA) and licensing standards for Group Care facilities preferred.
10. Able to adapt and respond to change effectively; proactively seek opportunities supportive of change.
11. Able to identify challenges and formulate and implement solutions, utilizing the expertise and input of others.
12. Ability to be flexible and responsive to the needs of youth in care and employees. 13. When on-call, must be able to respond in person, as needed, and address emergent and safety concerns within a reasonable amount of time 24 hours a day.
13. High integrity when dealing with restricted, and/or confidential information.
14. Ability to accurately maintain and produce files, records, logs, and reports.
15. Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients while building trust and respect.
16. Cultivate an atmosphere of inclusivity and respect for everyone.
17. Ability to develop and maintain community resources.
18. Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends required.

We offer:

• Generous time off including 15 vacation days per year, paid sick leave, 11 paid holidays, 2 social justice leave days per year for full-time employees
• Health insurance package including medical, dental, vision, 24/7 access to telehealth, long term disability and life insurance
• Retirement plan with match
• Transgender Health Benefits

Friends of Youth is committed to equity and creating a diverse and inclusive work environment as an equal opportunity employer. We welcome, honor, and celebrate our clients, colleagues, and communities’ diverse identities and cultures. For more information, email hr@friendsofyouth.org.

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