Job Description of a Foster Care Caseworker

Foster care caseworkers work in conjunction with the state and the courts to place abused, neglected or abandoned children into temporary foster homes to prepare them to return home or move to a permanent placement. In order to become a foster care caseworker, individuals must complete bachelor's and master's degree programs and fulfill state-determined licensure and certification requirements.

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Foster Care Caseworker Job Description

In order for foster care parents to open their home to a child, foster care caseworkers must first ensure the parents are licensed; for licensing, foster parents are required to be evaluated through a home study and take a short training course. For foster care caseworkers, home studies involve checking the medical, financial and criminal backgrounds of prospective foster parents as well as visiting their home to ensure it's an appropriate environment for raising a child. Prospective parents complete a short course, which is scheduled by the caseworker, on what it means to be a foster parent, what caseworker visitation involves and how to care for an abused child.

Once a child is placed with foster parents, caseworkers conduct regular visits to ensure the child is safe and receiving adequate care. Caseworkers help foster parents set up a monthly stipend for expenses. They also arrange outside services the child may need, such as medical or psychiatric care. If the court decides the child will eventually return home, caseworkers may then invite the child's biological parents to attend visits at the foster parents' home. If the court orders the child not to return home, then foster care caseworkers may work with adoption caseworkers to establish a permanent placement.

Requirements for Foster Care Caseworkers

Education

Foster care caseworker training involves completing a bachelor's degree program in social work through a college or university. Students take courses in psychology, abnormal psychology, sociology, economics, ethics, child welfare polices and complete a supervised internship. After graduation, students further their education by enrolling in a master's degree program in social work, which prepares students to work in their field. The graduate degree program also teaches students how to perform field assessments, manage caseloads and obtain managerial roles.

Licensure and Certification

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, all states, including the District of Columbia, require some sort of licensure and certification. Each state differs on the years of experience and the number of supervised internship hours, so careful research is advised (www.bls.gov).

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