Case Manager for Indigent Child Protective Cases - Western Maine

This position covers Western Maine including Androscoggin, and Oxford counties.

Maine Pretrial Services (MPS) appreciates the value of providing specialized case management services to individuals involved in the Maine Court system. This specialized position is in collaboration with the Maine Commission on Public Defense through a contract with the State of Maine.

The purpose of the contract is for MPS to provide case management services for the benefit of indigent parents in child protective cases.

MPS will commit its resources to case managers to provide education and training regarding the delivery of case management services to indigent individuals involved in child protective cases.

MPS will receive referrals for cases from attorneys and after a thorough conflict check, will provide comprehensive case management services to indigent parents in child protective cases by agreement with their attorneys.

The case manager shall have knowledge of child protective case issues, community resources, state and federal entitlements, and shall commit to best practices for case management. The case manager’s duties are as follows.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

• Accept clients who are referred by Assigned Counsel (see 4 MRSA §1802 (1)) or Employed Counsel (see 4 MRSA §1802 (3-A)) on cases to which that have been appointed or assigned.
• Ensure all clients sign a standard engagement letter on a form approved by the Department.
• Conduct initial (prior to accepting a case) and ongoing conflict of interest checks. If a conflict is identified, immediately notify the counsel for the affected party or parties.
• Complete case management intakes with informed consent.
• Provide case management services, including case planning and risk identification.
• Provide risk mitigation services and strategies.
• Make referrals to appropriate, effective, evidence-based community resources.
• Engage in barrier removal advocacy for improved service access.
• Make collateral contacts with community resources and providers.
• With consent of the client and their counsel, report to third parties regarding status of case management (plan development, plan progress, plan completions).
• Maintain confidentiality and “screen or wall” procedures within the agency and larger system.
• Collect data, including: the status of the case when Provider received the referral from the attorney, the client’s race, the client’s gender, the client’s county of residence, duration of case management services provided to the client, status of the client’s child protective case at the time the client stopped receiving services; and
• Collaborate with Department and present or facilitate training for attorneys and other system partners as requested by the Department; and
• Unless there is an ongoing emergency which poses a threat to the safety of the client or another, Provider shall not report any client information, or anything learned from providing services to the client without first consulting the client’s attorney.
• Attend all Public Defender Services provider staff meetings
• Maintain full, current client records, compile periodic reports on case loads
• Network with other agencies and providers of services necessary to the provision of services
• Attend county supervision and other agency meetings as required

Required Skills:

• Quality Oriented with strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Superior written and verbal communication skills

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree

Physical Requirements:

• This position is situated in an office environment
• Regularly required to sit, walk, bend, and stand.
• Sitting 75%, Standing 10%, Walking 10%, Bending 5%
• Travel within the state of Maine up to 60%
• Expected to effectively communicate in person, on phone, and via email and other electronic devices on a continual and repetitive basis.

Maine Pretrial Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees, and our decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs

• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance