Indian Child Welfare Worker

Job Description

Job Description

Commitment to Citizen Service

Service encompasses all aspects of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indian’s governmental operations. Every employee shares the responsibility to provide exemplary service, dignity, and respect to all Tribal Citizens, the Tribal Council, and staff members. To this end, all employees have an obligation to identify and report any service problems, issues, or concerns and through designated channels, initiate, recommend, and actively participate in solutions

Position Summary : Assist with the management of child protective services to promote family stability and reunification and provide services in areas such as protective services, foster care, adoption, delinquency, and foster home licensing. Work closely with the Director of Social Services to identify, recommend, develop, implement, and support cost-effective solutions for all child protection aspects of the organization adhering to the Child Protection Code of the Pokagon Band Children’s Protection Code as applicable to the Department of social Services and Tribal Court proceedings.

Essential Functions :

• Provide leadership and consultation to the Tribal Government and Social Services Director in all areas of child protective services, policies, and programs. Establish and implement short- and long-range program goals, objectives, policies, and procedures in alignment with the Pokagon Band’s Vision, Mission, Expected Outcomes and Strategic Initiatives and compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
• Serve as monitoring agent, services coordinator, and liaison between service providers and State / Provincial Case Managers. Serve as Pokagon Band representative and contact person for State and Tribal service providers in development of service plans, provision of services and reporting of progress in all cases in Tribal Court and State Court. Present case information to the Family Welfare Commission and advocate for the Tribe through the General Counsel’s office and the attorneys representing the Tribe.
• Provide information and facts and collaborate with Legal counsel in developing stance taken by Social Services on behalf of the Tribe in child protection and child welfare cases coming before the courts.
• Represent the Social Services Department in child welfare proceedings in State Courts in person and by phone. Respond to inquiries requested under the ICWA regarding citizenship or eligibility for Band enrollment. Initiate interventions when a notice involves pending court action on a Pokagon child.
• Compile data and other relevant information from Tribal service providers, caregivers, and the Family Welfare Commission, and develop reports for Director of Social Services and the Courts and advise in decision making meetings with the State and Tribe
• Develop and maintain service plans and case materials as identified by the Bureau of Indian Affairs 638 Contract as required for continued funding of Social Services Programs.
• Provide and coordinate social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the functioning of children. Monitor Pokagon Band children placed out of the home, consult with children, parents, caregivers and others involved in the provision of services,
• Train and educate staff and State workers and Court workers in Indian Child Welfare Act.

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