Job Description
Job Description
The Therapeutic Case Manager (TCM) provides intensive case management services to youth placed in Friends of Youth’s BRS (Behavior Rehabilitation Services) foster homes, with a specialized focus on supporting neurodivergent youth and youth with complex behavioral health needs. The Therapeutic Case Manager is a critical member of a multidisciplinary team that includes foster parents, therapists, Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) caseworkers, and community-based providers. This position requires demonstrated experience in trauma-informed care, familiarity with Dialectical Behavior Therapy principles, and strong cultural responsiveness.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
A. Client Care and Case Management
- Maintain a caseload of 6–8 youth with intensive therapeutic needs.
- Build collaborative treatment plans with youth, families, DCYF, therapists, and caregivers.
- Conduct weekly in-person visits and maintain regular contact (phone / text / email) with youth and foster parents.
- Provide DBT-informed coaching and psychoeducation to youth and foster parents, particularly around emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.
- Facilitate Child, Family, Team meetings at least monthly.
- Develop, implement, and monitor individualized treatment and aftercare plans, incorporating neurodiversity-affirming practices.
B. Therapeutic Support and Coordination
Serve as the central care coordinator for each youth, ensuring wraparound service delivery.Partner with Licensed Mental Health professionals and behavior specialists to support behavioral stabilization and promote healing.Assist youth and caregivers in accessing services such as therapy, education supports, neuropsychological evaluations, and developmental services.Engage youth in goal setting and track progress with measurable outcomes.Foster Home and Community Engagement
Participate in the youth placement process by reviewing referral packets and collaborating to determine appropriate program placements.Collaborating with the Licensor to identify foster parent training needs such as neurodivergent-inclusive care strategies based on youth-specific care plans and observed trends.Support foster families by providing case consultation, crisis de-escalation planning, and emotional coaching.Participating in joint home visits, file reviews, and foster parent coaching as needed to support consistency in documentation and quality of care.Elevating concerns or areas for development in foster homes to the Licensor and Compliance Coordinator to facilitate timely support and corrective action if needed.Attend and amplify youth voice school meetings and other community-based appointments.Documentation and Compliance
Complete all documentation including assessments, progress notes, incident reports, and quarterly summaries in accordance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC), Council of Accreditation (COA), and Department of Children, Youth and Family (DCYF) requirements.Maintain accurate and up-to-date client files.Ensure compliance with Friends of Youth policies and Behavioral Rehabilitation Services contract deliverables.Participate in on-call weekly rotation for crisis support and emergency placement response.OTHER DUTIES
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
A. Education and Experience
Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or a related field preferred - or equivalent lived, professional, and / or academic experience. A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience with at least 3 years of providing intensive case management and / or supporting system-impacted youth with high behavioral health needs is also strongly considered.Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) training or certification highly preferred.Prior experience supporting neurodivergent youth and understanding of supporting youth with autism spectrum conditions, ADHD, sensory sensitivities, and / or executive functioning challenges.B. Additional Requirements
Must be 21 years of age or older.Must satisfactorily pass criminal history checkMust satisfactorily pass tuberculosis (TB) test.Complete a de-escalation and restraint training within the first 45 days of employment to be eligible to be involved in the restraint of a youth if necessary.Must have reliable transportation and a valid Washington State driver's license (or be able to obtain one by date of employment).Employees and volunteers who operate their own or Friends of Youth vehicles on Friends of Youth business, must have a safe driving record as defined by Friends of Youth.Employees and volunteers who operate their own vehicle(s) on Friends of Youth business must carry auto liability insurance that complies with the requirements of Friends of Youth.Must successfully complete the following health certification requirements within 30 days of employment : CPR, First Aid and Bloodborne Pathogens.Proof of the following vaccinations is required : First two doses of COVID-19, influenza (during flu season), Varicella (two doses or titers indicating immunity), MMR (two doses or titers indicating immunity). Tdap (one dose).C. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Able to engage with diverse populations in a culturally responsive manner.Demonstrate a commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion by honoring and celebrating diverse characteristics and expressions of personal identity.Strong commitment to Friends of Youth’s mission, vision, and values.Excellent verbal and written communication skills.Strong organizational ability.Excellent verbal and written communication skills.Working knowledge of the principles of trauma informed care, positive youth development, and harm reduction within culturally appropriate frameworks.Knowledge of Council on Accreditation (COA) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) for Foster Homes preferred.Able to adapt and respond to change effectively; proactively seek opportunities supportive of change.Able to identify challenges and formulate and implement solutions, utilizing the expertise and input of others.Ability to be flexible and responsive to the needs of youth in care and employees.When on-call, must be able to respond in person, as needed, and address emergent and safety concerns within a reasonable amount of time 24 hours a day.High integrity when dealing with restricted, and / or confidential information.Ability to accurately maintain and produce files, records, logs, and reports.Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients while building trust and respect.Cultivate an atmosphere of inclusivity and respect for everyone.Ability to develop and maintain community resources.Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends required.We offer :
Generous time off including 15 vacation days per year, paid sick leave, 11 paid holidays, 2 social justice leave days per year for full-time employeesHealth insurance package including medical, dental, vision, 24 / 7 access to telehealth, long term disability and life insuranceRetirement plan with matchTransgender Health BenefitsFriends of Youth is committed to equity and creating a diverse and inclusive work environment as an equal opportunity employer. We welcome, honor, and celebrate our clients, colleagues, and communities’ diverse identities and cultures. For more information, hr@friendsofyouth.org.