Courtesy Case Manager (Dallas)

Position Summary 

Courtesy Case Managers are responsible for ensuring a child’s welfare whenever they are removed from their home.  They work closely with parents, extended family, and other parties to help children find a permanent, safe place to live.  Courtesy Case Managers partner with families and appropriate others in the community to ensure that the therapeutic needs of a designated caseload of children are adequately addressed. The Courtesy Case Manager will ensure the services delivered both to the child/adolescent and to the family are individualized, appropriate to need, child centered, family focused, culturally competent, strengths based, and goal driven. Specifically, Courtesy Case Managers provide local supervision and services for children and families in other areas of the state.  

Responsibilities 

1. Support/Service Delivery 
   1. Monitors child/youth placement needs and collaborates with the Placement staff as needed.  
   2. Coordinates regular contact between the child and his/her biological family as appropriate. 
   3. Participates in meetings and conferences at times and places that are convenient for the family members, as well as everyone involved in the case.
   4. Participates in significant case events, meetings, and child/youth updates and meetings.  
   5. Learns the background of the family and child/youth on each case to strategize how best to support them.
   6. Uses tools and training to determine the child and/or parent’s needs and makes appropriate referrals for testing, evaluations, records, or other assessments. 
   7. Utilizes tools such as Collaborative Family Engagement to identify resources for the child/youth/family and to ensure connections are maintained with individuals the family identifies as important to them.  
   8. Works collaboratively with other systems (education, health, and justice systems) to improve outcomes for the child/youth and family.
   9. Works with children, families, and communities to plan for a child’s permanency. The Case Manager will ensure all work is geared toward positive permanency for the child/youth/family.
   10. Supervises activities related to the treatment and needs of children/youth in care through regular home visits and phone calls.
   11. Provides ongoing advocacy and support for the child’s educational needs.
   12. Transitions children home during reunification services and provides support to the family until the legal case is closed. 
   13. Attend and actively participate in court hearings about the child and family. 
   14. Effectively uses work Outlook Calendar as instructed by supervisor/director to reflect daily and weekly tasks. 
   15. Utilizes effective time management skills and tools to work efficiently and effectively to achieve positive outcomes for children/families.  
   16. Participates in Child Pending Placement shifts as needed. 
   17. Participates in on-call rotation and duties.
   18. Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or director.
2. Communication
   1. Provides, at least monthly, updates to the primary case manager.
   2. Maintains consistent communication with Primary Worker regarding the youth in our care. 
   3. Maintains communication with primary case management staff and supervisor to ensure all information received is recorded timely and accurately. 
   4. Works with foster parents to ensure they have what they need to care for the child/youth. The Case Manager will keep them informed about developments in the case, return phone calls, and ensure the family is aware of how they can assess assistance outside of normal business hours.
   5. Interacts with children, clients, families, and communities in a way that reflects commitment from the organization to create and maintain a strong collaborative relationship.
3. Growth
   1. Assures continuous professional growth and development by: 
   2. Actively participates in individual and/or group supervision and staff meetings. 
   3. Attends and participates in all required and other professional trainings. 
   4. Independently seeks out resources and learning opportunities to foster ongoing professional growth. 
4. Supervision
   1. Receive supervision. 
      1. Receive supervision from and actively communicate with supervisor on an ongoing basis throughout the week by phone, email, written message and when possible, in person regarding program matters. 
5. Leadership
   1. Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity among coworkers and all work-related contacts.  
6. Community Engagement
   1. Develops and maintains effective working relationships between TFCN staff, law enforcement, judicial officials, legal representatives, medical professionals, community partners and other professionals.
7. Documentation
   1. Documents case records in accordance with policy.  
   2. Ensures accuracy and timeliness of data entered into systems, ensure that all relevant information exists in their records (e.g. client, family, employee, billing, etc.).
   3. Completes appropriate forms and documentation concerning client contact including data entry into CoBris, IMPACT and other technology/case management systems.  
8. Finance/Budget
   1. Reports expenses and provides supporting documentation.  
   2. Adheres to deadlines for expense reports.
9. Risk Management and Safety 
   1. Complies and adheres to the professional and ethical standards of conduct established within the organization. 
   2. Adheres to mandated child abuse reporting laws. 
   3. Assures all policies, procedures, and standards relating to child safety and well-being are followed. 
   4. Meets with parents, at their residence, at least monthly, to assess risk and safety issues; identify behavior changes necessary to achieve child safety; refer parents to appropriate services/resources to address the identified needs; discuss parents progress toward goals and behavior changes. 
   5. Meets with the child(ren)/youth, at least monthly, in their placement, to evaluate safety, services/resources, discuss their wishes, provide case updates and plan for permanency. 
   6. Follows policies and procedures relating to responding to and handling a crisis situation.
   7. Completes online learning and policy acknowledgements by due date.  
   8. Attends and participates in all required trainings.  

Qualifications 

1. Education/Credentials/Licensure:
   1. Education:
      1. Option 1: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
      2. Option 2: Associate's degree from an accredited college or university plus two (2) years’ relevant work experience.
      3. Option 3: 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years’ relevant work experience.
      4. Option 4: 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience.
   2. Valid state driver’s license and safe driving record. 
   3. Reliable transportation and current auto insurance.
   4. Successfully complete the case manager 13-week training and become certified as case assignable.
2. Experience:
   1. One (1) to two (2) years of relevant experience in case management preferred.   
   2. Examples of relevant work experience in social, human, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations. 
3. Clearances:
   1. DPS  
   2. DFPS 
   3. FBI 
   4. CBCU Eligibility Determination 
   5. Child Abuse Clearances 

Working Conditions  

1. Physical Demands 
   1. This position requires operating a keypad device 20% of the day and electronic/office equipment 20% of the day. Frequent travel in and out of the state of Texas may be required daily along with travel by plane and may include travel in weather conditions - 80%. Fingers, thumbs, hands, wrists, elbows, legs and feet are all routinely used throughout the day. The lower and upper torso is used 75% of the day. Employee must meet minimum requirements for hearing, speech, and vision. Walking is required 50% of the day. Standing occurs 50% of the day. Sitting happens 75% of the day. Reaching above the shoulder as well as bending and twisting are performed 25% of the day. This function routinely lifts under 50 pounds. The maximum lift is 50 pounds, 1 time per day. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.    
2. Mental Demands 
   1. Occasionally makes quick decisions, needs to concentrate, and handles a diversity of problems.
   2. Frequently performs multiple tasks and handles distractions that interfere. 
3. Environmental Factors 
   1. Environmental factors require this position in community, residence, office, and in-home. 
4. Working Hours 
   1. This position works a non-traditional schedule that can vary based on client and department needs.  
   2. Participates in the on-call rotation.