Foster Care Specialist
Date Posted: Mar 2, 2026
Requisition ID: 473491
Location:
Terre Haute, IN, US, 47803
Work for Indiana
Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.
About the Department of Child Services (DCS):
Join a group of passionate, dedicated public servants to support one of Indiana's most critical missions!
The Department of Child Services helps children who are victims of abuse or neglect and strengthens families through services that focus on family support and preservation. We pursue permanency for children and families through reunification, guardianship, and adoption. Our services also encompass foster care, child support, and transitional support for those adjusting to adulthood. Our culture is built upon our MVP foundation:
Mission: Champion Indiana's future by protecting children and strengthening families with compassion and determination.
Vision: Every child in Indiana thrives in a safe, loving, forever home.
Purpose: Ignite hope. Cultivate joy.
Role Overview:
This position is for a Foster Care Specialist which will move from Vanderburgh station to Vigo station. This FCS position will provide foster care support in Vermillion/Parke, Vigo, Clay, and Sullivan Counties.
Salary:
The salary for this position traditionally starts at $47,320.00 but may be commensurate with education or work experience.
Use our Compensation Calculator (https://in.accessgov.com/spd/Forms/Page/spd/compensation-calculator/) to view the total compensation package.
A Day in the Life:
The Family Case Manager (FCM) is responsible for ensuring child safety, permanency, and well-being through comprehensive case management services. This role may be specialized and expand traditional FCM duties to include kinship navigation and foster care support, providing holistic assistance to families and caregivers within the child welfare system.
The essential functions of this role are as follows:
Investigate reported incidents of child abuse, neglect, or dependency, make determinations of whether incidents are substantiated, and develop recommendations to a Juvenile Court or County Director for disposition.
Assess level of risk to a child for additional injury or harm, including whether a child is in imminent danger, and may remove a child from their family as the situation warrants, then requiring placing a child in a protected environment.
Perform needs assessments to determine treatment options for families and children reported to be abused/neglected.
Testify and prepare pre-dispositional and progress reports, maintain case files and develop briefing reports for the community child protection team. Develop "informal adjustment" plans with families and children to divert children from the juvenile justice system.
Develop case plans to assist families and children to become more self-sufficient in a safe and nurturing environment and to ensure a permanent home for the child.
Develop discharge/transition programming to assist families and children to attain and maintain self-sufficiency in a safe environment.
Monitor and assess the service capability treatment programs and providers to ensure consistency with the case plan.
Accept on-call responsibility as needed to receive and investigate allegations of child abuse/neglect.
Conduct home studies, family histories and recommends placement for adoption to an adoption team.
Visit children in out-of-home placements to coordinate family reunification, adoption, or independent living efforts.
Maintain data which provides management an opportunity to evaluate family and children needs on a trend analysis basis.
Kinship Navigation:
Identify and engage relatives and kinship caregivers as placement options.
Assist kinship families in accessing resources, financial assistance, and support programs.
Facilitate family meetings and maintain ongoing communication to strengthen family connections.
Foster Care Support & Licensing:
Guide prospective foster and kinship caregivers through the licensing process.
Conduct home studies and ensure compliance with state and agency standards.
Provide ongoing support, training, and monitoring for licensed foster homes."
The job profile is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time, with or without notice.
What You'll Need for Success:
You must meet the following requirements to be considered for employment:
Fulfill one of the following education/experience requirements:
Bachelor's degree; or
Associate degree with a minimum of two (2) years of human services job experience; or
Completion of thirty (30) college credit hours from an accredited institution with a minimum of four (4) years of human services job experience; or
A minimum of at least five (5) years of human services job experience
Advanced knowledge of principles and practices of social work, casework, sociology, and group and individual counseling including new methods and theories of treatment.
Thorough knowledge of state and/or federal laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards affecting child protection services, foster care, family preservation and adoption.
Thorough knowledge of related social services programs and ability to coordinate work among programs.
Specialized knowledge of the interrelationships of the various behavioral sciences as they affect care and treatment of patients/clients and/or objectives of social work projects.
Ability to investigate and interview alleged victims and perpetrators of child abuse or neglect in an appropriate and effective manner.
Ability to formulate and monitor project guidelines or treatment plans.
Ability to learn and navigate digital case management systems to prepare clear, accurate reports.
Ability to work with families of diverse cultural/ethnic backgrounds with sensitivity to differences in child rearing practices, relationships and need.
Ability to work with children with special needs such as mental or emotional conditions, the foster families, or the home willing to accept those children and the professionals who can appropriately provide services to them.
Ability to exercise sound judgment while managing crises situations including those involving confrontational, aggressive adults being investigated for child abuse or neglect.
Ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
You must satisfy the following requirements to continue employment:
Must maintain a valid Driver's license.
Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:
This role may be utilized in a supervisory capacity based on agency needs.
Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:
The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:
Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match
Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers
Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave
Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
12 paid holidays, 14 on election years
Education Reimbursement Program
Group life insurance
Referral Bonus program
Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Free Parking for most positions
Free LinkedIn Learning access
Equal Employment Opportunity:
The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at jobs@spd.IN.gov.
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