Job Responsibilities
Manage cases involving children in foster care. I have 25-28
children in either foster care or in in home dependencies
(placed with their parents). My job is to provide referrals to
services to the parents to correct the deficiencies that
required their children to become dependent. This may be child
abuse (physical or in some cases sexual) or neglect and may
involve ilegal drug use, domestic violence or living conditions
non-conducive to child rearing. I also report to the Superior
Court (Juvenile division) the progress of services and recommend
future tracks the case may be on (return to parents, termination
of parental rights, placement with relatives or guardianship.
about 20 percent a week is writing reports, 30 percent visiting
children in foster or parent homes to monitor their safety in
the home. 10 percent is court time, 10 percent attending
staffings on cases, 20 percent consulting with providers of
services, 10 percent visiting schools.
|
Job Requirements
A bachelor's degree is required but hiring at this level is
unusual without years of experience in a related field.
Normally a masters degree in a human services field is accepted
as the requisite experience as well. Masters degrees are
preferred, especially a MSW.
|
Uppers
There is a wide variety of activities on this job. I don't necessarily know
what I will be doing that day when I enter the building, which makes the day pass
quickly. The knowledge that kids are served and made more secure through this
work is a good part. Compensation is good with good benefits.
|
Downers
Many people consider that they have the answer to the way the
case should go even though they do not have all the facts.
Service providers often make conclusions not justified by the
facts. Attorneys for the parents can be quite aggressive.
Foster parents at times become protective of the children in
their care and are upset if the parents begin to demonstrate
changes that may return the children to them.
|
Lifestyle
Work hours are normally daytime hours of 40 hours per week. We do some travel
when a child is placed in group care out of town. There are a number of social
events: company picnics, parties, lunches. Whle there is not a specific dress
code, appropriate atire for whatever task you are doing is expected. If you are
going to court you are expected to dress with a dress shirt and tie and sports
coat or suit. A woman in this position would be expected to wear a dress to
court. Jeans and slacks and T-shirts are ok at other times.
|
Compensation
48160 plus complete medical and dental, $25000 life insurance
and $5000 AD & D. There is also a basic disability policy and
you can also purchase a supplemental disability policy.
|
Advice to Jobseekers
This is a field that will always be growing due to its
dependence on social problems which are growing. It is limited
by public policy on funding the needs.
|
