SAFY·Gahanna, Ohio
Manage a caseload of foster homes by conducting home visits, environmental audits, and foster parent evaluations. Ensure compliance with state rules and SAFY policies through timely documentation and reporting.
SAFY is seeking a full time Foster Home Worker for our Columbus division in Ohio. As a Foster Home Worker, you will be responsible for the case management functions of a caseload of respective foster homes.
This position is hybrid, with the first 30 days of employment being in-office then transitioning to Mondays and Wednesdays in-office. Outside of being in-office this employee will be completing home visits in the community.
At SAFY, our mission is Preserving Families & Securing Futures. For 40 years, our work has rested on a single, radical idea – children belong in families. We believe that every child and family deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential. We are a team of 500 employees across seven states providing services such as Family Preservation & Reunification, Behavioral Health, Therapeutic Foster Care, Adoption Services and Older Youth Services so the families and children we serve can build resilience and thrive.
Complete Facility logs to document monthly phone calls to all foster homes that do not have foster youth placed in the home.
Complete Quarterly Environmental Audits for all assigned Foster Homes.
Complete Foster Parent evaluations in conjunction with the assigned Case Coordinator.
Complete Annual Interim paperwork for all assigned foster homes.
Complete Home Study Addendums as required and collect all paperwork needed for foster home moves and/or the addition of new household members (Addendums are required for all moves into or out of the foster home; when new Household members enter the home, etc.) All Home Study Addendums are approved and signed off by the TD or Case Coordinator.
Complete all Rules Investigations of assigned foster homes under the supervision of the Case Coordinator.
Responsible for tracking Foster Parents training hours, along with tracking all paperwork needed by Foster Parents to remain in compliance with SAFY policies and state specific rules.
Completion of the Large Family Assessment (the state required assessment if a Foster to Adopt home has 5 or more youth)
Completion of the Individual Training Needs Assessment (ITNA) every 6 months.
May conduct foster parent training
May cover case management duties including carrying a caseload
Will be included in on-call rotation
Assist with auditing foster home files
May facilitate foster parent support groups
Assist recruiter with retention duties
Timely document outcome of home visits, support sessions, interaction with parties involved in the foster home. Document any incidents as required by policy, regulations and contract requirements.
Compile profile using pre and post assessment tools for outcome measures. Report information to DOM/Finance department for billing and foster parent payroll as indicated.
Review all foster home files pertaining to caseload as part of the quality improvement process.
Be in compliance with monthly and quarterly requirements as defined annually by STARS standards.
Inform youth and foster parents of company policies, procedures, rights and responsibilities. Enforce policies by writing corrective action plans, incident reports, and conducting rules investigations.
Assist clinical staff with completion of surveys and tools, collect and organize necessary paperwork from foster parents, foster youth.
Report any concerns/ incidents concerning assigned youth or foster parents immediately to clinical staff.
Perform other duties as assigned or identified by TD.
Plan schedule with supervisor and document activities on weekly log. Assist with planning and preparation for Divisional trainings, activities and special events. Meet with supervisor a minimum of once a month for staffing. Submit all required reports on time
Establish and maintain a positive working relationship with all levels of SAFY staff by participating in joint meetings, and problem identification and resolution.
Establish and maintain a supportive and positive working relationship with youth, foster parents, referring agencies, and other SAFY stake holders.
Attend relevant in-house and external seminars, trainings, conferences and workshops to develop and enhance knowledge in the designated area as well as achieve relevant education hours per year to enhance professional and job related skills.
Attends required meetings within division, region, and central office (team and/or community partners).
Participate in assigned committees and chairs if so appointed. If appointed, maintains liaisons with state and national organizations.
Meets regularly with supervisor to discuss issues and performance.
Submit monthly/quarterly reports to immediate supervisor.
Sensitive and responsive to the cultural differences of staff, SAFY youth, foster parents, referral sources and the public.
May be on call 24 hours or on a rotating basis to address crisis with clients.
Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
We are looking for people from diverse backgrounds and experiences who are inspired by our noble mission to make a difference in the lives of the children and families in our care. You’ll be right at home if you are willing to learn from successes as well as setbacks, persevere in challenges and adversity, cultivate collaborative relationships, understand and leverage diversity, advocate for equity, aspire to work inclusively, and partner to drive your work and that of your team to the next level.
SAFY is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a non-discriminatory work environment. SAFY does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, arrest record, conviction record, or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable law. This policy covers all programs, services, policies, and procedures of SAFY, including recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, and administering all personnel actions, such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs or terminations.
Requires a Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or a related human services field and one year of child welfare experience. Must possess a valid driver's license and obtain Adoption Assessor certification within six months.
Market context
In Ohio, foster home worker roles are typically tied to ongoing child welfare needs, so employers often look for candidates with direct experience and a human services degree. These positions can be competitive because agencies want applicants who can manage home assessments, documentation, and family support while meeting licensing and certification timelines. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to confirm fit quickly, then be ready to show child welfare experience and a valid driver’s license in your application.
