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Position Summary:

Marathon County Department of Social Services is seeking a dedicated and skilled social worker to function as a Family Empowerment & Teaming Specialist. This position works within the Child Protective Services (CPS) Initial Assessment and Access unit to strengthen family engagement, promote collaborative decision‑making, and support safety-focused teaming practices. This position partners with caregivers and involved supports to facilitate Family Team Meetings and helps build capacity for sustainable family-driven safety, stability, and permanency. The Specialist ensures families have representation, self-determination, and autonomy throughout CPS involvement while coordinating closely with CPS and Youth Justice Social Workers, Safety Support Workers, and community partners. Working closely with families, caregivers, and natural supports, is an integral part of this social work position.

Role Flexibility
This position requires flexibility to meet families, caregivers, and their supports during times they are available, which may include evenings and weekends. During periods of increased Protective Services Reports and assessments, this position may be required to complete initial assessments or service reports. Training and competency in initial assessments will be upheld to ensure coverage capacity.     

Examples of Work Performed:

The following duties are typical of this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required or assigned.

• Engage the family and promote their active participation in decision-making, safety planning, and well-being of their children in collaboration with the department.

• Support the implementation of family engagement and teaming initiatives within the department while modeling effective teaming and engagement strategies for CPS staff.

• Ensure timely, detailed, and accurate documentation of Family Teaming activities in eWiSACWIS.

• Support families in identifying natural supports and establishing sustainable networks while also assisting families in identifying strengths and solutions that reduce risk and enhance protective capacities.

• Coordinate with CPS and Youth Justice staff to maintain unified family case plans and facilitate family team meetings on identified in-home cases.  This would also include providing support to workers in developing, reviewing, and revising safety plans with family input.
• Ongoing incorporation of culturally responsive practices, trauma‑informed engagement, and ICWA/WICWA requirements, when applicable
• Collaborate in departmental consultation, family team meetings, and other multidisciplinary meetings to ensure informed decision making and to facilitate necessary services in the best interest of the children, youth and families.
• Maintain communication with service providers, schools, courts, and community partners to strengthen team-based interventions.
• Facilitate Family Team meetings throughout the assessment and case-planning process to ensure child safety, support in‑home safety planning, and explore reunification possibilities. This includes guiding discussions when youth are identified as unsafe and remain in the home with a safety plan, assessing whether relative placement is appropriate if in‑home planning is not viable, and focusing on the conditions, barriers, and solutions necessary for children to safely return home.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Social Work or closely related field. Must also be certified as a Social Worker by the State of Wisconsin Examining Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors; OR become certified within two years of employment.

NECESSARY SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS: Possession of a driver's license and a driving record that meets County standards; OR ability to obtain reliable transportation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Understands the County's and department's mission, core values, plans, and priorities for the future.

• Ability to contribute to a positive work culture that fosters excellent customer service and teamwork.

• Ability to build rapport with clients, families, and associated supports; recognize and strengthen family assets; and obtain cooperation in challenging situations.

• Skill in interviewing, interpreting relevant laws and procedures, and navigating difficult interactions with professionalism and empathy

• Ability to maintain professionalism in high stress or crisis situations, effectively de escalate conflict, and make sound judgments.

• Knowledge of child development, family dynamics, and child safety standards

• Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills.

• High attention to detail and documentation accuracy.

• Knowledge of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.

• Ability to integrate training and experience into practice.

• Effective verbal and written communication

• Skill in using a computer for e-mail, calendaring, basic word processing, and data entry.

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with team members and community partners.

• Ability to safely transport clients throughout Marathon County and occasionally outside the county, including during inclement weather.

As an employee of the Department of Social Services and Marathon County, you will play a crucial role in managing and safeguarding confidential and sensitive information. This position requires a high level of impartiality, integrity, neutrality, and confidentiality.

Work Conditions:

• Hybrid office and field-based work.
• Regular business hours with with flexibility to meet families, caregivers, and their supports at times that work best for them, which may include evenings and weekends.
• Exposure to sensitive and emotionally challenging situations.

Compensation: 

If certified or eligible to take the open-book online State statute exam and the subsequent in-person State certification exam, starting annual salary: $65,748.80 + Marathon County benefits

If not certified and not yet eligible to take the open-book online State statute exam and the subsequent in-person State certification exam, starting hourly rate of pay: $29.53 + Marathon County benefits

Physical Requirements:

Moderate Physical Requirements - Job requires a combination of desk work and some physical activity, such as standing, walking, or carrying light to moderate loads. This job typically requires navigating various environments (e.g., office to field).

All physical requirements are described with the intent to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job.

Selection Procedure:

The selection of the successful candidate may be made by assessment of education and work experience, oral interview, review of references, and/or other job-related selection procedures. Depending on position requirements, the selected candidate may be required to satisfactorily complete post-offer assessments, including but not limited to education verification, background checks, driver license verification, physical examination, psychological assessment, and drug screening paid for by the County.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Marathon County is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information or protected veteran status.

Special Accommodations:

Marathon County will make arrangements to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary and reasonable to afford an individual with a disability the opportunity to participate in the recruitment process. Please notify the Employee Resources Department office or phone (715) 261-1451 to request special accommodations prior to the application deadline.

Notice to Applicants:

Wisconsin Statutes, Sections 19.36 (7), 64.09 (5), and 64.11 (7) require public employers to treat the following items as a public record: Each applicant’s application, records, recommendations, and qualifications except as provided in Section 19.36 (7), Wis. Stats. that allows the identity of an applicant to remain confidential if the applicant requests in writing that the County not provide access to this information.  If you choose not to have this information become a public record, you must make such a request in writing to the Employee Resources Department. If you become a finalist for the position, your identity may be disclosed as required by law