David Riehl

• Provide assessment, service planning, casework, court and teaming services on assigned cases
• Conduct ongoing assessment of safety and risk
• Assess resource needs of children and caregivers and provide placement and placement stabilization supports
• Identify and develop community supports and resources
• Provide referrals for assessments and resources that respond to the identity, cultural, and psycho-emotional needs of children and clients
• Assess the need for alternative placements, and prepare and counsel adults and children regarding the need for placement, separation of family members, grief and loss, and steps to adoption, or other permanent plans if the plan changes from adoption
• Provide case management and education regarding the adoption of special needs children
• Develop and implement informed permanent plans that are responsive to the child's permanency needs
• Actively recruit adoptive families for youth not in their identified permanent resource
• Prepare the child and family for adoption and work to expedite the plan within legal and mandated time frames
• Supervise and place, as necessary, dependent children in foster or other approved placements, and prepare child for and support visitation with and siblings
• Prepare legal documents for court, placement service delivery, and adoption finalization
• Document case activities and maintain case records

Permanency worker:

• Provided intensive time-limited casework services to children in substitute care and in the home of their parents,
• Identified parenting strengths and barriers to safe parenting while developing a case plan to meet the family's current needs,
• Monitored child safety and well-being both in home and in substitute care,
• Facilitated visits between children in care and their families,
• Performed case management services throughout the life of a case,
• Provided referrals to community partners to enhance parenting abilities related to the reason for agency involvement,
• Provided direction and support to families in appropriately meeting the individual needs of their children and communicated clearly with clients about expectations,
• As needed, developed a concurrent plan, such as adoption or guardianship

• Investigated complex, systemic complaints against the children and youth services systems and prepared written reports of findings and recommendations
• Gathered and disseminated accurate statistical data related to services and needs to administration for state planning, needs assessment and budgeting efforts
• Responsible for agency's yearly IV-E case review and determination
• Because of previous employment experience and expertise, was assigned special duties related to foster care and adoption inquiries, and complex child death and near-death case reviews and investigations
• Assigned as Level III to work highly independently and permitted great latitude in making decisions regarding investigative findings

• Served as liaison between the state office, area office and field offices which were involved in the delivery of child welfare services
• Regularly visited local offices in an assigned area as a representative of the area office to insure proper interpretation and uniform application of policies, procedures, rules and regulations of the agency in Child Welfare Services program areas
• Regularly conducted frequent on-site reviews of local records, files, and other documents; personally observed work activities of local staff to determine quality and quantity of work performed; analyzed and evaluated both administrative program plans and operations on an on-going basis
• Prepared written reports and recommendations regarding the general status and progress or issues to the area and state office; as directed, conducted studies and investigations of unusual occurrences or special projects within the Child Welfare program area
• Advised local administrators on all phases of program staffing, organization and management; conducted local on-site staff meetings and training sessions to provide information about program policies and procedures and to communicate relevant changes; counseled with local officials about needs and problems at the local level
• In short, utilized as a 24/7 crisis contact for staff and supervision since considered an expertise in foster care and adoption policy and procedure

Leadership position that served as direct supervisor to a unit of Child Welfare Specialists.

• The position included close coordination and consultation with Supervisors and District Directors regarding appropriate case actions and referrals, auditing and tracking of referrals with providers to ensure and verify the delivery of contractual services
• As a direct supervisor, position was involved in the interviewing and selection of child welfare services staff; maintaining personnel records and completed performance evaluations; monitored the unit's work assignments, turnover, staff experience and case evaluation
• Trained new staff, performed case reviews and developed and administered in-services training programs
• Conducted monthly staff meetings to discuss individual cases, training, and development

Assignments throughout tenure included Child Protective Services, Permanency Planning, Adoption Transition and Preparation, and Foster Care Home Assessment:

• Assessed or investigated allegations of abuse or neglect completing appropriate documentation, and assess child safety and recommend the appropriate level of intervention;
• Initiated procedures to remove the child from the home if in present danger;
• Coordinated actions with law enforcement entities and the District Attorney;
• Provided social work services to families applying or approved for adoption or foster care;
• Conducted home visits and reviewed the child's psycho-social, medical, developmental and education histories;
• Completed evaluations;
• Facilitated and participated in family team meetings
• Prepared and coordinated legal documents for presentation to the court, attended court hearings and provided testimony