Case Planner (SBC)

Bronx Family Services Center (958 East 176th St)

$50,000 - $55,000

*Sign-On Bonus Eligible*

Children’s Aid provides comprehensive community services to children of all ages and their families residing in underserved communities. An array of services supports families from cradle to college to alleviate societal challenges that can interrupt a child, adolescent, or young adult’s abilities to thrive and maximize their potential.

Children’s Aid offers a continuum of short-term evidence-based interventions of varying levels of intensity, in four boroughs. The prevention services continuum consists of Family Support, therapeutic and Family Assessment Program (FAP) program services as well as the Safe Way Forward Program for families impacted by Domestic Violence. Our prevention service interventions are charged with the responsibility to avert current, future, or repeat involvement in child welfare, and juvenile justice systems.

Solution Based Casework Program (SBC) is an evidenced-informed casework practice model that prioritizes working in partnership with families, focuses on pragmatic solutions to difficult situations, and notices and celebrates change. The model is based on three theoretical underpinnings: solution-focused family therapy, family life cycle theory, and relapse prevention. Solution Based Casework (SBC) provides a common conceptual map for child welfare Case Planners, Supervisors, Leadership staff, and treatment providers to help focus everyone’s efforts on clear and agreed upon outcomes. The Solution Based Casework Program (SBC) of the Children’s Aid serves 384 families in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. Using an evidence-based, family-centered framework we strive to strengthen families and reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect.  Our evidence-based clinical approach supported by the case management piece is crucial in addressing safety and risk issues for our families to become independent of system involvement. 

Position Summary: The Solution Based Casework (SBC) Case Planners assist parents/caregivers in addressing any barriers to their children’s health, safety, and well-being so that families can stabilize, strengthen, and reduce the need for future involvement with the child welfare system. Case Planners’ primary responsibilities are to make safety-focused assessments of child and family functioning, develop intervention plans, and help families activate change in their situations. This is a wonderful opportunity for an early career social worker to gain experience in a wide range of social work areas in a very supportive environment with a strong team culture. Clinical supervision is offered for those interested.

Essential Duties:

• Understand and promote the organization’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.
• Maintain an average caseload of 12 families with a minimum of 2 contacts/month, 1 being in the home.  Visit to all families on caseload and all children seen each month.
• Complete all required documentation both SBC model and ACS.
• Provide services including family and individual therapy, advocacy (Public Assistance, Child Support, Housing, and School systems), educational monitoring, parenting support and general case management services.
• Receive training and certification in Solution Based Casework Model and provide services to families in adherence to model fidelity.
• Collaborate with and refer to appropriate service providers for case coordination.
• Be responsible for maintaining up to date progress notes, completing Family Assessment and Service Plans, inputting contact data into PROMIS and CONNX systems, and obtaining any other documents required by ACS, such as school records and medical records. 
• Participate in weekly individual supervision and monthly group supervision, other professional development activities, including trainings and workshops.
• Schedule and participate in Family Team Conferences for all cases on caseload.
• Attend staff meetings as required.
• Participate in division events and core training at Children’s Aid.
• Complete required training hours through the Work Force Institute (ACS).
• Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree OR Bachelor’s in Social Work required.

Key Competencies: 

• Strong interest in learning Family Therapy theories and interventions from a systemically-oriented perspective.
• Commitment to working in a strengths-based framework with at-risk families and individuals. 
• Self-starter: We are looking for highly motivated workers who will intervene actively and support families as needed while keeping an eye on how to build the client's skills. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage many tasks and respond to crises.
• Strong engagement skills and experience with children, teens, parents, or families.
• Bilingual in Spanish/English preferred.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination.   Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children’s Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children’s Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children’s Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy. 

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team.  This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes.  The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.