Case Services Aide (Child Welfare) - Temporary (Part-Time) - DHS

Mesa County Department of Human Services is a forward-thinking agency that has over 300 employees serving the needs of nearly 40,000 residents. From the Colorado National Monument to the thriving agricultural lands and city centers, Mesa County contains a diverse, natural landscape that provides many outdoor activities and adventures. As individuals and an organization, we value and respect humanity, honesty, balance, inclusion and teamwork. We provide a level of flexibility for staff to be able to accommodate their lives outside of the office environment. We value family and the relationships that make our lives rewarding. 

Our Mission:

The Mission of the Mesa County Department of Human Services is to help individuals and families achieve safety, stabilization and opportunity for meaningful employment.  

Our Values:  
Mesa County Department of Human Services values represent our behavioral anchors for how we conduct ourselves. Simply stated, we value Humanity, Balance, Honesty, Inclusion and Teamwork  

JOB SUMMARY:
Responsible for a variety of duties to assist the Child Welfare Division.

Assist Social Caseworkers with administrative and clerical duties to help support timely documentation and service delivery for clients working with child welfare.

Perform work of moderate difficulty with multiple projects and interruptions.  Compile information and prepare reports; tracks and processes documents; enter and retrieve information in a variety of automated systems, to include, but not limited to State System (Trails), Google forms and Excel spreadsheets.  

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

(The following duty statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other non-essential or marginal duties that may be required. Mesa County reserves the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of this job at any time. All responsibilities may not be performed by all incumbents.)

Communicate effectively with multiple teams within the Child Welfare Division, community agencies, and families.

Enter data into and retrieve information from multiple computer systems in order to update records, process transactions, or in response to requests for information, and maintain data.  

Review foster care placement requests received from Social Caseworkers and call prospective foster homes to locate a placement home option for child/youth.

Document all attempts and responses, including if a home was not found.

Review kinship care placement requests received from Social Caseworkers and call prospective kinship homes to gather household member information in order to complete background clearances.

Complete all background clearances for the kinship home and follow procedures to determine initial suitability of the kinship family and communicate results to the Social Caseworker.  

Communicate with the DHS Support Team (Medicaid transfers, service authorizations, address/telephone number changes, etc.) as needed to support foster and kinship families.

Consistent communication and collaboration with Placement Social Caseworkers to support foster and kinship families including but not limited to referrals for ongoing services or supports.

Consistent communication and collaboration with Assessment Social Caseworker to support families including but not limited to referrals for ongoing services or supports or record requests.

Connection with foster and kinship families regarding Bear Necessities closet.

Assist in the development and publication of foster and kinship newsletter and support manual.

Assist in website maintenance and managing social media sites related to foster and kinship families.

Cultivate and maintain relationships with local businesses and other community organizations in order to recruit from diverse populations.

Participate in foster and kinship meetings with the State when necessary and attend quarterly meetings.

Coordinate communication between Social Caseworker and Community Agencies when a youth has been identified with an intellectual disability.

Compile or complete necessary applications to community, state, or federal agencies to support youth identified with an intellectual disability are connected to appropriate services and supports.

Oral and written communications must be clear and effective.

Performs other related duties as assigned.  

Adhere to strict compliance with maintaining confidentiality when reviewing records.  Records are sensitive and can include information pertaining to child abuse and neglect, sexual abuse, severe trauma, mental health diagnosis, substance abuse diagnosis, medical history and child fatality.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Education and Experience:

High school diploma or equivalent required

Two (2) year of general office experience preferred

Any combination of education, training and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the job.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

This position requires standing, stooping, sitting, bending, twisting, and lifting up to 10 pounds.

Work is generally confined to a standard office environment.

In compliance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act the following items can be used as a determining factor in the starting and ongoing wage of an employee working in this position:

A seniority system that rewards employees based on length of employment.

A merit system that rewards employees for exceptional job performance.

Education, training, or experience to the extent that they are reasonably related to the work in question.

Another factor related to job performance or business operations, such as paying a shift differential to workers on less popular shifts

Travel, if the travel is a regular and necessary condition of the work performed

This position is eligible for the following Mesa County benefits;

• Medical
• Leave accrual per the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (HFWA)

Salary : $21 - $23