MCFS Family Protection Advocate/Liaison

Under general and direct supervision, provides compassionate, professional social work and case management services to children, parents, and families.

1. Provides family focused, solution-based risk assessments of families and conducts home studies.
2. Determines the need for intervention and provide appropriate support and/or action to assist families in maintaining children in the home or, if child is placed out of the home; support for swift and sustainable reunification.
3. Facilitate family meeting’s to offer support and encouragement to families in order to maintain children in the home; or, advocate for voluntary placement and preventative services; and, coordinate resources for reunification.
4. Initiates alternative out-of-home placements such as in the home of a relative or in foster care for children needing care.
5. Initiates court intervention in Muckleshoot Tribal court, prepares court reports and other required court documents.  Provides testimony in Tribal court and other courts, as appropriate, in regards to cases involving Muckleshoot youth.   
6. Completes individual service plans and group care packets, as needed.
7. Writes and reviews progress reports and status change reports.  Document all contact and services.
8. Monitors visits between children and their families when appropriate.  Ensure monthly contact with placement families and individually with the children.
9. Diligently pursues active efforts with parents to ensure rapid and viable reunification.
10. Maintains contact with collateral agencies, families, relatives, foster parents, schools, service providers (internal/external) and other Indian Child Welfare Program staff to coordinate services and advocate for available resources to clients.
11. Meets with youth to assess needs and determine goals for care, monitoring progress and growth.
12. Assists with Child Protective investigations and monitors interviews with children, parents, relatives, other Tribal members or professionals.
13. Determines jurisdiction of child in question to ensure appropriate services.
14. Maintains case records and required forms, including service episode records, case plans, risk assessments and /or safety plans and ensures other documentation is obtained and filed appropriately.
15. Transports clients when necessary.
16. Attends mandatory and/or approved training.
17. Because of the Tribe’s commitment to community service and the well being of its members, each employee may be expected to perform a wide range of office and field duties from time to time. Such duties may or may not be related to their regular responsibilities.

Required:  Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with a degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or a closely related field; and three (3) years experience providing professional casework management to families and children; three (3) years experience working with Native American or diverse populations.  

Preferred:  CPR-First Aid, HIV- AIDS Training/Certificate. De-escalation Training/Certificate.

Special Requirements:

• Must pass MIT criminal background and drug screen.
• Completion of Washington State Department of Social and Health Services form to complete and pass a criminal background check clearance, which may include fingerprinting.
• Completion of a psychiatric evaluation and assessment test.

Skill in: Crisis intervention; client advocacy; oral and written communication; managing a large caseload in an efficient and effective manner; working cooperatively with in a professional manner with others; organization and time-management; operating standard office equipment, including personal computer and software. 

Knowledge of:  Professional social casework principles, methodology and ethics; human psychosocial development within the context of the family, community and culture, with an understanding of the principles of child development; techniques for facilitating client motivation; health and social issues impacting client and community well being; risk assessment and decision making; basic understanding of the intake process; current practices of child welfare and systems theory and social welfare policy; Native American history/culture.

Ability to:  Serve as an expert representative in both court proceeding and multidisciplinary team service deliver; maintain confidentiality; sustain wellbeing in the field of duty due to the nature of the work; develop case plans, establish realistic and attainable goals and demonstrate success criteria; recognize and identify treatment for risk indicators and establish model approaches for problem-solving; establish and maintain working relationships with clients, staff, agencies, and the general public; write effective and comprehensive case histories and related reports.

The working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this class.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occassionally required to walk and climb stairs; use hands to operate, finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occassionally life and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.