Caseworker II

About TRAC Services for Families:

Since 1979 TRAC has worked so that no child will have to face a life without permanency. TRAC was founded by adoptive parents and professionals and established as a volunteer staffed project of the Junior League of Pittsburgh. Today, TRAC is a full service agency that serves as the central resources for permanency information, adoption and foster family recruitment, placement of special needs children, post-permanency support, education, and referral services throughout Allegheny and its contiguous counties. Adhering to the permanency standards of the Child Welfare League of America, TRAC is a multi-service agency serving children who cannot remain with their birth families and the resource families who provide these children permanence. Primarily, the children served fall into several categories. More than half are African America; many are older and/or part of a sibling group who need to stay together; and others have emotional, physical, or mental challenges. Most of these children have experienced multiple moves in the foster care system and high percentages have been victims of abuse and neglect. TRAC works with public and private agencies to implement cooperative, cost effective programs to meet the placement and post-placement needs of these children. TRAC provides recruitment, information and referral services, counseling, family preparation, foster care supervision, post adoption services, in-home and outpatient therapeutic services, and parent and professional education services, to achieve and maintain maximum permanency opportunities for children and their families.

Mission:

To provide a range of services and resources for children, youth, adults & families to ensure stable relationships & strong community connections.

Basic Function

To provide intensive case management to the agency’s foster/adopt program throughout all phases of the adoption and/or foster care process.

General Responsibilities

1. Participate in family pre-service and re-certification training

2. Participate in training opportunities for families and professionals on local, state and national levels.

3. Participate in bi-monthly clinical case consultation with all line and therapeutic staff.

4. Additional responsibilities will/may be assigned as appropriate

Specialization – Caseworker II

Manage a minimum caseload of 15 active placements by:

• Conducting bi-monthly visits to child in their home environment
• Complete necessary paperwork to document each visit
• Complete monthly reports for children on caseload
• Attend court hearings as family and agency representative
• Obtain all medical, dental, educational, and psychological information for all children on caseload
• Ensure placing family is compliant throughout placement until finalization
• Transport children to and supervise any birth family visits
• Attend permanency planning meetings and family service plan meetings on behalf of family as needed
• Provide intervention during times of crisis throughout placement
• Refer family to other internal agency and external services that will help to support placement success
• Participate in the in the on-call rotation - additional pay when scheduled for on-call rotation

Technical Knowledge

• Understanding of Adoption/Foster care Regulations
• Understanding of family movement through adoption process
• Understanding of adoption issues
• Knowledge of MH/MR diagnoses
• Knowledge of SWAN system a plus
• Knowledge of KIDS/MPER system a plus
• Knowledge of county systems
• Knowledge of child welfare system
• Basic Computer skills (All programs)

Skills

• Organizational/Time management skills
• Problem solving skills
• Self-starter
• Strong writing skills
• Cultural competency
• Ability to multi-task
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to communicate with all levels of clients and colleagues
• Flexibility

Education/Training

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, psychology, human services or a related field,
• Act 33/34 clearances and FBI finger printing
• Use of insured automobile and valid driver’s license
• CPR/1st Aid Certification

Experience

3-5 years experience providing casework services to families a plus. Experience in adoption and or foster care a plus. A combination of education and experience may be accepted as approved by the CEO.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $45,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person