Case Specialist

Jackson County CASA • Kansas City, MO

2d • $47,000 - $56,400

About The Position

Working closely with Jackson County CASA’s Staff Attorneys, the Case Specialist is responsible for the immediate engagement with child clients newly appointed to the agency and the preliminary investigation into their circumstances. Pending the assignment of a Volunteer Advocate, the Case Specialist will provide initial and on-going case support to children represented by the agency to ensure that those children receive the highest quality of service and representation, including advocating for timely services and family-based permanency.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or another human services degree required. Three years of case management experience in child welfare or serving at-risk populations will be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
• Demonstrated commitment to providing client-centered advocacy.
• Working knowledge of issues that impact CASA’s clients and their families, including the effects of poverty, trauma, intimate partner violence, substance use disorders, untreated mental health, and SOGIE. Must also have familiarity with child development.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Ability to exercise objectivity in assessing and making recommendations for children and families.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a diverse, inclusive, and multi-disciplinary environment. Must value collaboration and teamwork.
• Empathetic and solution-oriented, using a blameless problem-solving approach.
• Commitment to remaining current on research and best practice standards and carrying out these practices.
• Promotes the dignity and well-being of all clients, staff, and volunteers.
• Comfort with respectful confrontation.
• Practices healthy professional boundaries and observes self-care practices.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple assignments and meet short deadlines.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Commitment to Jackson County CASA’s mission and values.
• Must submit to and pass a criminal and child abuse and neglect background check.
• A valid driver’s license and reliable personal transportation are required for this position. Frequent travel within Jackson County and surrounding areas, including long-distance travel, will be required. Mileage will be reimbursed.

Responsibilities

• Completes an immediate and thorough investigation of the case and explores the child’s circumstances to ensure safety while minimizing disruption to the child’s world.
• Meets with the child as early as possible after appointment to introduce CASA and the court process in a developmentally appropriate way, assess their decision-making capacity, ascertain their wishes regarding placement/family time/participation in services, and gather other information to understand their perspective and how decisions will impact their experience.
• Engages with the child welfare agency, family members, parents, and others to establish a working relationship, collect all available information about the child and family, and identify additional information sources for further investigation.
• Formulates recommendations regarding placement, family time, and immediate service needs for the child, parents, and family to present at the initial court hearing.
• Ensures seamless transfer of the case to the on-going CASA team by providing an overview of the case, review of information gathered and documents prepared, and direction on further investigation needed.
• Develops a trusting, professional relationship with clients through regular contact to determine their wishes and evaluate their circumstances. Contact may take place in multiple settings to best observe and document the child’s living situation, developmental progress, educational needs, and emotional well-being.
• Communicates regularly with the child’s Family Support Team, including family, social service workers, therapists, educators, and medical professionals, to collect the information needed to make recommendations regarding the child’s best interest.
• Attends and actively participates in case-related meetings, including 72 Hour Meetings, Team Decision Making Meetings, Stability Staffings, and Family Support Team meetings, and other collateral matters (e.g., IEP meetings).
• Reviews case documentation to assist with determining client well-being. Reports findings to the Staff Attorney assigned to the case.
• Communicates regularly with staff attorneys, both verbally and in writing, with relevant information concerning the child and the case.
• Monitors court orders and advocates for the implementation of timely and necessary services for clients.
• Becomes familiar with community resources and links the child and their family to resources specific to their needs.
• Maintains a sense of urgency for getting children and their families to safety in their permanent home and diligently investigates and assesses placement alternatives for the child if the child is not placed with their family.
• Provides timely communication to clients, Staff Attorneys, Volunteer Advocates, and Advocate Supervisors.
• Schedules and facilitates case transfer meetings with Volunteer Advocates and Advocate Supervisors to ensure continuity of advocacy to children.
• Responsible for providing thorough records and ensuring all case-related data and activities are promptly updated and/or documented in CASA’s online database Optima.
• Commits to understanding and complying with the Missouri Guardian ad Litem Standards, Rules of Professional Conduct, and other court rules and develops a robust understanding of safety vs risk, trauma-informed care, and best practices in child welfare.
• Engages in respectful and collaborative relationships with clients, community partners, and staff.
• Maintains strict confidentiality of Jackson County CASA’s clients.
• Shares in the agency-wide responsibility of Volunteer Advocate recruitment, engagement, and retention.
• Will complete a minimum of 12 hours of annual continuing education programming. Will identify personal development goals and training opportunities that will prioritize DEI and child welfare best practices.
• Embraces a culture of continued development by participating in an annual performance review with the Manager of Specialists and documents one’s own milestones and achievements, as well as opportunities for growth.
• Maintains a positive image of Jackson County CASA and provides excellent customer service at all times.
• Acts in the best interest of Jackson County CASA and its clients at all times.
• Must complete CASA Pre-Service Training within three months of start date.
• Performs other related duties as requested.

Benefits

• Benefits include 15 days paid time off & 15 days paid leave earned within the first year of employment, and paid holidays.
• 100% employer paid health insurance options, 100% employer paid dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance.
• Simple IRA with match.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Jackson County CASA is a child-centered, supportive, and collegial work environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees