Child Welfare Specialist

HOW TO APPLY:

 Complete this Online Application,please visit our website for this & other positions >>> www.littlecity.org/careers/ & and enter the position title in the search engine.  Please include your Cover Letter and Resume.

Salary : $ 45,000- $ 55,000/ Year Depending on years of Experience

PURPOSE:
To initiate, facilitate, and perform a variety of casework-related functions pertaining to foster care and adoption within the child welfare system in Illinois.  To perform all casework ensuring the safety, well-being and permanency of the children assigned to their caseload.
 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The list of essential duties and responsibilities, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the task to be performed. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein is such duties are a logical assignment to the position of Child Welfare Specialist (CWS).

1.    Child Welfare Specialists (CWS) are responsible for a blended, weighted caseload of approximately 10 clients (with an agency caseload ratio of being 15:1  or less, and total number of visits being approximately 25 or less a month).  Clients served by Little City as youth in the care of Illinois’ Department of         Children and Family Services (DCFS) and have been determined to be abused, neglected or dependent by the State of IL, and reside in foster homes.  
2.    Foster care is intended to be short-term until the youth(s) may reunify with their families.  Youth served by Little City Foster Care & Adoption Program are  from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds; may identify as male, female, non-binary, or LGBTQIAP+, be between the ages of 0-21, and most      youth have a diagnosed intellectual or developmental disability or autism, or a behavioral and emotional disorder.  CWS work with the assigned youths and  his/her/their immediate family members including siblings, parents, and the likes, to assess the ongoing safety and well-being of the individuals, with the           goal of reunifying the youth with their biological immediate or extended family, fictive kin, or a non-relative placement option if placement with family is not           an option.

3.    Assesses the on-going safety and well-being of the child in his/her/their foster home through 3x/month in-person contacts with the youth, with two of the          visits being within the home each month.  Clients served by Little City’s Foster Care & Adoption Program clients reside within a 45-mile radius in all                  directions of the administrative office in Chicago.  Home Visitation often occurs during the after-school and evening hours during week-days.  Ongoing              monitoring of safety and well-being also occurs through in-person visits and/or collateral contacts with community-based providers including the youth’s             school, medical providers, day cares, Court, and more.  On-going assessment includes clinical support, upholding policies and licensing standards,                   addressing issues regarding care of the youth in their home and monitoring and aiding in obtaining services.

4.    Engages in assessment and treatment planning including CANS assessments, Service Plans and comprehensive case review documents required by            Federally-mandated Administrative Case Reviews (ACR) updated 2x/year; completing Vineland, Ansell-Casey and other assessments as applicable;                Social History/Integrated Assessment upon case opening; and other assessments and documentation as applicable.

5.    Maintains regular, ongoing contacts with and provides counsel and training for biological parents of children in the foster care program in order to                      facilitate  a  successful reunification when applicable to the case per the Court-set goal.  Provides assessment and services as outlined on the service              plan, including a minimum of weekly parent-child visitation (visitation often occurs in the after-school, after-work and evening-hours.)  CWS is                            oftentimes responsible for providing transportation for the parent(s) and/or children to/from visits.   DCFS policy requires a minimum of 1x/month