Child Welfare Specialist

This position is responsible for providing child welfare services to youth in foster care and adoption within the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. The Child Welfare Specialist will work with assigned youths and their families to assess their ongoing safety and well-being, with the goal of reunifying the youth with their biological family or finding a suitable placement option.

1. Assess the ongoing safety and well-being of assigned youths through regular home visits and collateral contacts with community-based providers.
2. Develop and implement service plans to address the needs of assigned youths and their families.
3. Provide counseling and training to biological parents of children in foster care to facilitate successful reunification.
4. Collaborate with other staff members, DCFS, and collateral providers to ensure the best interests of assigned youths are met.
5. Attend court hearings and provide testimony as necessary.
6. Engage in ongoing continuous quality improvement to ensure the upkeep of critical records required for case management.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited school and licensure as a Child Welfare Employee (CWEL) in the state of Illinois or eligibility to receive licensure within the first 90 days of employment.
• 1 year of relevant experience working with children with developmental, behavioral, and/or emotional challenges preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in the use of a computer to complete all documentation and proficient with entering case-related documentation into a centralized database.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and have valid auto insurance to perform duties necessary for the position.