CASE MANAGER – FOSTER CARE & JUVENILE JUSTICE
Make a Difference. Build Futures. Change Lives.
Are you an experienced child-welfare professional who knows that great case management is about more than paperwork—it’s about relationships, advocacy, accountability, transportation, connections, and helping young people see a future beyond their current circumstances?
Our private agency is looking for a dedicated, knowledgeable, and driven Case Manager to join our youth-centered team and make a lasting impact on the lives of children, teens, and young adults involved in Michigan's child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
If you understand the complexities of foster care, juvenile justice, and the Michigan child welfare system—and you're ready to put that knowledge to work for young people—we want to meet you!
THE ROLE
As a Case Manager, you will be a trusted advocate and a critical member of each youth's support team. You will coordinate services, monitor progress, maintain meaningful relationships with youth and families, provide or coordinate transportation, connect youth to essential community resources, and ensure that case plans and services are aligned with MDHHS requirements, best practices, and the individual needs of each young person.
This is a position for someone who can balance compassion with accountability, navigate complex systems, communicate effectively with multiple professionals, and remain focused on the ultimate goal:
Helping young people achieve safety, stability, permanency, and success.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Manage an assigned caseload of foster youth and/or juvenile justice-involved youth.
- Develop, monitor, and update individualized service and case plans.
- Maintain consistent contact with youth, families, caregivers, and service providers.
- Provide reliable transportation to youth as required for appointments, school, employment, court, visitation, community activities, services, and other approved needs.
- Coordinate and/or transport youth to medical, mental health, educational, behavioral, employment, and community-based services.
- Advocate for the needs, rights, safety, and well-being of youth.
- Maintain strong knowledge of local, county, and statewide resources available to youth and families, including housing, education, employment, transportation, healthcare, behavioral health, mentoring, independent living, financial assistance, food assistance, and other supportive services.
- Actively connect youth with appropriate community resources and follow up to ensure services are accessed and barriers are addressed.
- Collaborate with MDHHS, courts, schools, attorneys, probation/juvenile justice professionals, caregivers, and community partners.
- Prepare accurate and timely case documentation, reports, referrals, and other required records.
- Conduct required visits, assessments, staffing, and case reviews.
- Monitor youth progress and identify barriers to permanency, stability, education, and independent living.
- Participate in court hearings, case conferences, treatment team meetings, and other multidisciplinary meetings as required.
- Maintain compliance with agency standards and applicable MDHHS policies and procedures.
- Utilize MiSACWIS accurately and efficiently for case documentation and required data entry.
- Respond appropriately to crises and emerging safety concerns.
- Build genuine, trusting relationships with youth while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
- Help youth develop the skills, confidence, connections, and resources necessary to successfully transition into adulthood.
WHAT SETS YOU APART
We're looking for someone who doesn't simply meet the minimum requirements—you know the system, know the resources, and know how to get things done.
Our ideal candidate has:
✔ CWTI Training
Completion of Child Welfare Training Institute (CWTI) training is required based on applicable role requirements.
✔ MiSACWIS Expertise
You are proficient in MiSACWIS and understand the importance of timely, accurate, and thorough case documentation.
✔ MDHHS Knowledge
You have a solid working knowledge of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services policies, procedures, and child welfare requirements.
✔ Foster Care Experience
You understand the realities of working with children and youth in foster care and can effectively navigate permanency, placement, visitation, service planning, and reunification-related processes.
✔ Juvenile Justice Experience
Experience working with juvenile justice-involved youth is highly valued. You understand that accountability and rehabilitation can—and should—work together.
✔ Community Resource Knowledge
You have a strong working knowledge of resources available to youth and families and can quickly identify appropriate services and supports based on an individual youth's needs.
✔ Transportation Capability
You understand that case management is sometimes hands-on. You are willing and able to provide transportation to youth when required, helping remove transportation barriers that could prevent youth from accessing services, education, employment, appointments, court, visitation, and other opportunities.
✔ Strong Documentation Skills
You can write clear, professional, timely documentation and understand that excellent case notes are an essential part of quality case management.
✔ Strong Communication Skills
You can communicate effectively with youth, families, caregivers, courts, MDHHS staff, providers, attorneys, and other professionals.
✔ A Youth-First Mindset
You see the young person—not the case number, placement, behavior, or circumstance.
THIS JOB IS FOR YOU IF...
- You know your way around MiSACWIS.
- You understand MDHHS policies and procedures and can apply them to real-world case situations.
- You know where to turn when a youth needs housing, employment, education, healthcare, behavioral health services, transportation, financial assistance, or other community supports.
- You don't just hand a youth a phone number—you help connect them to the resource and follow up.
- You are comfortable providing transportation when needed to help youth access essential services and opportunities.
- You can handle challenging conversations while maintaining professionalism and empathy.
- You know how to advocate for youth while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
- You are organized enough to manage deadlines, documentation, appointments, visits, court requirements, and transportation responsibilities.
- You can work independently while being an active member of a multidisciplinary team.
- You believe young people deserve adults who show up, follow through, and don't give up on them.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice, or a related human services field required according to applicable position requirements.
- Relevant professional experience in child welfare, foster care, juvenile justice, behavioral health, or related human services.
- CWTI training required as applicable.
- Working knowledge of Michigan child welfare practices and MDHHS requirements.
- Demonstrated proficiency with MiSACWIS.
- Strong knowledge of community resources and services available to youth and families.
- Ability and willingness to provide transportation to youth as required by the position.
- Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and an acceptable driving record.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to maintain accurate documentation and meet deadlines.
- Ability to pass required background checks and meet applicable licensing/employment requirements.
WHY JOIN OUR TEAM?
We are a mission-driven private agency committed to serving youth with compassion, dignity, structure, and purpose.
Our work is rooted in a simple belief:
Every young person deserves someone in their corner.
Here, you won't simply manage cases—you'll help build futures.
You'll have the opportunity to work alongside professionals who understand the importance of teamwork, advocacy, accountability, individualized care, and strong community connections while helping youth navigate some of the most challenging circumstances of their lives.
READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT?
If you're an experienced Case Manager who knows Michigan's child welfare system, understands the importance of quality documentation and compliance, knows the resources available to youth, and—most importantly—believes in the potential of every young person...
We want you on our team.
Bring your experience. Bring your knowledge. Bring your passion for youth.
Come help us change lives—one young person at a time.
COMPETITIVE SALARY RANGE: $49,920 - $53,760
Based on experience and qualifications in accordance with agency guidelines.
APPLY TODAY! SEND COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO: [email protected]
Pay: $49,920.00 - $53,760.00 per year
Work Location: In person
