St. Jerome | Case Manager, Family Reunification

Catholic Charities is looking for the right people; people who wish to serve their community as a part of a family friendly organization doing good within the Houston-Galveston area. We attract and retain the best talent by investing in our employees. People of all faiths helping people in need.

St. Jerome Emiliani Foster Care Program provides services to immigrant and refugee children who arrive to the United States unaccompanied. Safe Passages Family Reunification services, which operate under the St. Jerome Emiliani Foster Care Program, ensures safety and well-being to minors who discharge from Office of Refugee Resettlement custody to sponsors in the community. Minors and their sponsors are provided with referrals to community services, as well as guidance on educational, legal, and other processes.

Safe Passages Family Reunification Case manager (hereinafter referred to as FR Case Manager) is responsible for assessing and documenting needs of clients reunifying with sponsors. FR Case Manager conducts home visits with Unaccompanied Children and their sponsors, and follow all requirements outlined by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Department of Children’s Services (ORR/DCS) and United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB/MRS) program guidelines. FR Case Manager will conduct home assessments for potential sponsors prior to reunification, as well as conduct home visits to ensure safety, and to ensure that the needs of reunified minors are appropriately met.

What you Deliver

• Conduct home studies and assessments with prospective sponsors to assess the suitability and safety of the potential placement, home and verify relationship. FR Case Manager will identify and report any issues or challenges that may indicate an unsafe or inappropriate environment, or sponsor who does not appear to hold the best interests of the child in high regard.
• Conduct home visits for children released from ORR custody who are referred to Safe Passages, as meeting the criteria for Post-Release Services. During home visits, FR Case Manager may assist post-release clients with understanding and utilizing the local health system through referrals in their areas of residence. FR Case Manager may also provide information and education to sponsors regarding school registration, attendance requirements, teacher communication, building relationships with key school personnel, monitoring grades and educational progress and resources for academic assistance for minors. Other referrals, such as those for legal representation, will be provided as necessary. FR Case Manager will complete comprehensive report following the visits and submit them within the identified timeframe. FR Case Manager may also provide both telephonic and in person crisis support to families.
• Complete all required documentation and reports and submit within specified timeframes. Maintain orderly case files and comprehensive documentation on client services and referrals. Ensure that all information reported is accurate, documented, and reliable.
• Utilize training and expertise to assess safety and well-being of minors and/or sponsors or prospective sponsors, and subsequently make all necessary reports in a timely manner, if needed.
• Ensure confidentiality and privacy of all client information. Always maintain appropriate and professional boundaries/relationships with clients.
• Meet with immediate supervisor on a regular basis and actively utilize supervision time to strengthen skills and grow as a professional.
• Maintain appropriate safety practices when engaging with clients in their homes, office, or alternative setting, and address areas of concern in a timely manner.
• Attend all trainings and meetings and develop and maintain working knowledge of federal contracts for unaccompanied children services.
• Ensure that the activities of this position and relevant programs are consistent with the mission, vision and values of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and meet individual benchmarks and other performance measures.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

The Expertise We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or another related field
• One (1) year of experience working with juveniles, especially adolescents and families
• Bilingual in Spanish in English.

The Skills and Assets You Bring, and More

• Ability to assess for safety, and proper service delivery.
• Knowledge of Social Work principals and ethics.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
• Ability to work collaboratively with all stakeholders and maintain a professional courteous demeanor.
• Ability to demonstrate skill in written and oral communication.
• Ability to keep accurate files and records.
• Ability to work within the community and perform outreach duties.
• Excellent administrative, data collection, typing and intermediate computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to establish and maintain and positive and professional relationship with colleagues, clients and community service providers.

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Catholic Charities is an equal opportunity employer.  We actively foster an environment that is free of racism, discrimination, bias, and harassment where all individuals are treated with dignity, safety, and respect.  Successful applicant must comply with federal contractor vaccine mandate requirements.

The work you do will help us advocate for the vulnerable among us, a network of support services to people of all ages and from all walks of life and religious backgrounds.