Job Details

Overview

The Children's Services Department (CSD), which includes the Home Study and Post Release Services (HSPRS) Program, is driven by a mission that promotes the safety and well-being of unaccompanied children as they reunify with their families across the United States.As a department, our approach to care is through a child-centric, culturally competent, and trauma-responsive lens that empowers the children and families we walk alongside. To fulfill our mission, we employ shared guiding principles of integrity, compassion, cooperation, accountability and belonging. The Children's Services Department launched inaugural programming to serve unaccompanied children in 2021. In 2025, in partnership with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), CWS provides home study and post release services throughout the United States.

This is a temporary position for approximately three (3) months. The assignment may end early or be extended predicated on program needs.

About CWS

Imagine waking up every morning with the chance to change someone's life. Imagine knowing your efforts will benefit both your career and our neighbors around the world. At CWS, our team knows they are making a difference every day. Whether you're in our U.S.-based offices supporting refugees, asylees or unaccompanied children ... implementing hygiene initiatives in Cambodia or rebuilding projects in Central America ... or even connecting remotely from your home on fundraising campaigns, grant reports, or critical communications - you have the opportunity to work towards a world where everyone has food, a voice and a safe place to call home.

Purpose

The Home Study and Post Release Services Caseworker, Level 2, will provide trauma-responsive, strengths-based and culturally and linguistically appropriate case management services to children upon reunification and in the community where their sponsor resides to ensure their safety and stabilization, and access to needed resources. Services are typically provided in the child's home in communities across the country. Caseworkers will conduct outreach and education to community service providers to supplement existing services that do not adequately address unique needs of immigrant children. At times, Caseworkers may be engaged to provide collaborative home study services to unaccompanied alien children and their sponsors to support the safe and timely reunification from federal care.

Responsibilities

Post Release Services

• Manages a caseload of up to 25 cases with extensive travel throughout the US.

• Conducts in-person and virtual home visits with children and their caregivers to promote safety and stabilization and assess risk and protective factors.

• Conduct child centered needs assessments.

• Identifies viable resources, often in unfamiliar communities, to address reasons for referral and ensure access to basic supports (school registration, medical and mental health care, legal services, youth programming, etc.).

• Assists the family in addressing barriers to accessing needed resources.

• Assesses the need for changes in level of care (up to intensive in-home interventions) and works collaboratively with other caseworkers across the CWS network when a transfer or transition is required.

• Develop individualized SMART goals.

• Completes documentation (case notes, goals, home visit reports, assessment tools) in a timely manner and without prompting.

• Provides psychoeducation to children and sponsor on relevant topics.

• Supports children and sponsor to cope with family reunification stressors.

• Monitors progress of goal completion and adjustment to the placement by the child and caregivers.

• Monitors the safety and well-being of children including but not limited to indications of trafficking, abuse, and neglect. Creates and revises safety plans as needed.

• Serves as a mandated reporter and works with state child welfare as needed.

• Networks and develop partnerships throughout the US to educate providers on children's needs and to reinforce/increase partnerships in relevant areas.

• Participates in supervision, team meetings and trainings as assigned.

• Other duties as assigned.

Home Study

• Conduct in-person home visits to interview, assess and prepare sponsors for reunification.

• Identify viable resources to meet the child and families needs.

• Complete home study report and recommendation within 10 days of referral.

*Based on need and availability of Level 2 referrals, the Case Worker may also serve Level 1 (virtual services) as well as conduct Home Studies.

Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) or an equivalent degree in education, psychology, sociology, or other behavioral science required. MSW Preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum 1 year of experience working with children and youth, family reunification/preservation, and or foster care/child welfare and previous work experience and interest working with foreign born populations is required.

• Demonstrated ability to provide trauma-informed psychosocial education and case management is required.

• Prior experience identifying community social services and other resources in unfamiliar areas required.

• Prior experience providing case management required.

• Prior experience conducting home visits required.

Skills:

• Fluency in Verbal and Written Spanish and English required.
• Strong rapport and trust building skills.
• High degree of emotional intelligence, ability to remain calm and use sound judgement in high stress situations.
• Receptive to growth and learning.

• Must be comfortable conducting visits in the client's home, including in unfamiliar areas and in the communities in diverse areas of socio-economic backgrounds.
• Requires frequent and independent travel throughout the U.S. often with limited notice.
• Must be comfortable with long distance travel (navigating airports, flying, renting cars, traveling by taxi, navigating in unfamiliar communities, etc.).
• Reasonable proximity to airport for travel required.
• Must have reliable internet and adequate work space to perform duties of remote based position.
• Able to sit for an extended period.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
• Remote position must have access to reliable internet and appropriate work space.
• Standard work hours with evening or weekend assignments
• Successfully pass Motor Vehicle Records, SEA, FBI, and Child Abuse and Neglect Checks and federal Suitability Determination by third party vendor (not affiliated with CWS).
• Valid driver's license, personal vehicle and insurance required.